A complete guide to the Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Hike in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia!

This is one of the most underrated and magical hiking trails in the Blue Mountains! It’s definitely up there on the list of my favorite hikes in the Blue Mountains, and that’s saying something because I come here a lot.

The Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Loop Walk feels like a magical, fairy-tale destination that only you have been lucky enough to discover.

We hiked this epic trail on a Saturday in Summer, which is prime time for tourists to visit the Blue Mountains from Sydney. Yet we pretty much had the entire trail to ourselves!

This trail is stunning the entire way. But the real highlight is the secret slot canyon waterfall near Centennial Glen, often called “The Grotto”.

I’m going to cover everything you need to know about visiting the secret waterfall and tackling the Porters Pass Loop Walk. I would say it’s tied with the Hanging Rock Trail for my favorite hikes that I’ve done in Australia.

Porters Pass and Centennial Glen – Complete Hiking Guide

Here is my complete hiking guide to the Porters Pass and centennial Glen Circuit Hike. I’ll cover all the basic logistics of this incredible hike, as well as my own personal experience and photos.

Part of the reason why I’m writing this guide is that the info is hard to come by online. The Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Hike is not listed on the NSW National Parks website, which is where the most popular hiking trails are listed. Centennial Glen is briefly mentioned on the VisitNSW website, but there isn’t much info.

So I hope this guide is helpful for all my fellow hikers, adventurers, and Blue Mountains-enthusiasts. Definitely consider this hike if you’re looking for a remote, rugged, and peaceful trail in the Blue Mountains!

Check out my full list of the 42 Best Things To Do In The Blue Mountains for more ideas.

Where to find Porters Pass, Colliers Causeway, and Centennial Glen

Porters Pass, Colliers Causeway, and Centennial Glen are all part of the same loop walk. It can seem confusing, especially when you see the hike referred to by all these different names including:

• Porters Pass and Colliers Causeway
• Centennial Glen Circuit Walk
• Centennial Pass Loop
• Porters Pass and Centennial Glen
• Porters Pass to Clifftop Walk

These are all just different landmarks in this section of the mountains. Porters Pass, Colliers Causeway, Centennial Glen, and the Clifftop Walk are all walking tracks that connect when you do this loop walk.

Here is a Google Maps screenshot so you can visualize the different sections of the loop walk. I couldn’t get the map to continue the trail back to the starting point, but the trail does continue and brings you back to the Porters Pass Trailhead after the Clifftop Walk.

How to get to Porters Pass Trailhead

To reach the Porters Pass Trailhead, head to the town of Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. From the town centre, it’s just a 5 minute drive to Porters Pass Trailhead.

The best way to explore the Blue Mountains is with your own car. If you don’t have a car already, you can rent one in Sydney.

Otherwise, you can book guided tours to the tourist hotspots. This particular hike is remote and non-touristy, so guided tours probably won’t go here.

But you can do this hike via public transport! Take the train from Sydney to Blackheath Station, then either walk 15 minutes or take a taxi/Uber to the trailhead.

Read more: How To Get To The Blue Mountains From Sydney

Where to start the Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Hike

You can start the loop walk at the Porters Pass Trailhead, or at the Centennial Glen Car Park. We started at the Porters Pass Trailhead, which consists of street parking at the end of a quiet, residential road called Burton Road. There is a big sign at the trailhead so it’s easy to find.

Centennial Glen Car Park has more parking spaces, so you can start here if there are no parking spots on Burton Road.

Because this is a loop hike, you can start at either location. But I would recommend trying to reach the Grotto Waterfall near the middle or end of the hike rather than at the beginning. It’s a gorgeous place to swim, but the water is freezing so you may not want to swim if you haven’t yet worked up a sweat!

So if you’re starting at Centennial Glen Car Park, I would recommend heading north first so you can reach the waterfall near the end of the loop (see the map above for reference, the below sign from the trail doesn’t have the waterfall on it).

Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Hike – Quick Facts

• Distance: Around 5km total
• Duration: 2 hours without stops (it took us 3 hours because we got lost and relaxed at the waterfall for a while)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Terrain: Mostly dirt tracks with some stone stairs and rocky paths, would recommend good hiking boots
• Location: West of Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW

Find more trails to try on my list of 12 Amazing Day Hikes in the Blue Mountains

How long is the Porter’s Pass Walk?

The Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Walk is around 5km total, or 3 miles. It may be a bit longer if you venture off the trail to visit the secret slot canyon waterfall (which you should!).

It’s really not a long hike but I thought it felt long because you cross so many different views and terrains.

We also got a bit lost and went off the trail so I think our hike was longer than 5km. After visiting the slot canyon waterfall, we weren’t sure how to get back to the loop walk and ended up following the Walls Ledge Loop that took us further south.

But we just found our way back to the Centennial Glen Car Park and looked at the big maps there which made it easy. If you do get lost, you can also ask someone for help or use Google Maps.

How hard is the hike?

The Porters Pass, Colliers Causeway and Centennial Glen trail is pretty easy, but the track is a bit rugged. There are some rocky sections and you pass a few little waterfalls where the trail is slippery. Railings are in place wherever the trail is a bit sketchy so it’s very safe.

I loved this hike because it wasn’t too steep or challenging, which allows you to enjoy the majestic views. The trail winds up and down along the cliffside and through the Eucalyptus forest. There are a few steep sections, a few flat sections, and everything in between.

It’s a beautiful, leisurely hike with stunning views and enough difficulty to get your heart rate up. I would recommend decent hiking shoes because of the rocky and sometimes wet terrain.

Highlights of the hike

Here is a quick rundown of the different sections on this epic Blue Mountains walk.

Porters Pass

Porters Pass consists of the northernmost section of this loop walk. You’ll descend down to a lush, shady rainforest trail and then ascend again for some magnificent views.

Lamberts Lookout is an epic spot on the Porters Pass Walk where you’ll emerge from under a sandstone cliff and get amazing views of the rocky cliffs and the vast forests in the distance.

Colliers Causeway

I’m not sure exactly where the trail transitions from Porters Pass to Colliers Causeway, but I think it’s after the Lambert Lookout. You don’t notice the trail changing when you’re there as it’s all one walk.

But Colliers Causeway is maybe the most scenic stretch of trail. You’re hiking on a track that snakes along the edge of the cliffs.

On one side you see the giant sandstone cliff faces streaked with natural colors.

On the other side you see the sprawling rural valley west of Blackheath. Plus, there are native birds and vibrant plants throughout the entire trail. It’s truly gorgeous!

Centennial Grove “Grotto” Canyon – Secret Waterfall

Continue along Colliers Causeway until you reach the turn off for the incredible Grotto Canyon at Centennial Glen. This slot canyon waterfall is easy to find and has a sign, but it still feels like a hidden gem that you’ve just discovered by lucky chance.

We did the Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Hike at 10am on a sunny Saturday in February (Australian summer). So this is peak time for hiking in the Blue Mountains, and there was still barely anyone else on this amazing trail.

When we arrived at the Grotto waterfall, there was just one local man there with his dog. They were having a grand time in the little canyon swimming hole. We sat and admired the gentle curves of the canyon walls, with the sunlight streaming in and the waterfall pounding down into the pool.

It looks like a spot straight out of a fairy tale. When the friendly man and his happy dog left we had the waterfall all to ourselves. We spent about 30 minutes here, swimming in the little pools and feeling energized by the cold water.

The Centennial Glen “Grotto” Waterfall is easily one of the coolest places I’ve been in the Blue Mountains!

Read next: 23 Stunning Waterfalls Near Sydney

Centennial Pass Track, Clifftop Walk, and Walls Ledge Track

After enjoying the Centennial Glen “Grotto” Waterfall, you’ll head up the cliffs and start walking north. This section starts off as the Centennial Pass Track and eventually you turn onto the Clifftop Walk.

Honestly we got a bit lost because we weren’t sure where to go after the waterfall. We ended up walking part of the Walls Ledge Track, which winds along the cliffs further south from the Centennial Pass Track.

The Walls Ledge Track is a small loop that starts and ends at Centennial Glen Carpark. It was actually gorgeous and is a great way to extend the original loop if you want a longer hike!

So we found our way to the Centennial Glen Carpark, and the signs there helped us get back onto the right track.

We spent the rest of the hike following the Clifftop Track, which has rougher and more sparse vegetation than Colliers Causeway since you’re on top of the cliffs and exposed to the elements. This track takes you right back to the Porters Pass Trailhead!

What to pack for the Porters Pass and Centennial Glen Hike

Here are the essentials that I would recommend for this day hike in the Blue Mountains. There are a few shops in Blackheath nearby if you need to grab anything before or after the hike.

☼ Good hiking boots – As I mentioned, the trail is pretty rocky and muddy. Matt was fine in sneakers but I was glad to have hiking boots.

☼ Comfortable active wear – Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and sweaty.

☼ Swimwear – For the waterfall! There is nowhere to change so either wear your swimsuit under your clothes or wrap your towel around you while you change. You may also want a change of clothes for after so you’re not wet for the rest of the hike.

☼ Towel – I love a microfiber towel for outdoor adventures. It takes up minimal space and is quick-drying.

☼ Water – Definitely bring at least 1L, 2 liters is even better.

☼ Snacks – Not really necessary since it’s only a 2-3 hour hike, but it’s always fun to have snacks on a hike. Remember to take all your trash with you!

☼ Camera – Because it’s a seriously gorgeous hike.

☼ Sun protection – Porters Pass, Colliers Causeway, and the Grotto Waterfall are mostly shaded, but the rest of the walk is on top of the cliffs in the sun. Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are a great idea.

☼ Travel insurance – Always a good idea to have travel insurance while traveling abroad just in case. For US citizens, I recommend Squaremouth Insurance!

Thanks for reading my hiking guide to Porters Pass and Centennial Glen in the Blue Mountains!

I was completely in awe of this amazing hike and I would love to do it again. For more articles about hiking, exploring the Blue Mountains, and living in Sydney, check out these posts:

The Castle Hike, Budawangs: Complete Hiking Guide

Hanging Rock, Blue Mountains: Hiking Guide

Hiking The South Lawson Waterfall Circuit, Blue Mountains

How To Spend A Day In The Blue Mountains

15 Best Day Trips From Sydney

1 Week In Sydney: Itinerary For The Outdoorsy Traveler

21 Non Touristy Things To Do In Sydney, Australia