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Hiking trails & Routes

Australia

New South Wales

Ruined Castle & Mount Solitary via Golden Stairs

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Australia

New South Wales

Ruined Castle & Mount Solitary via Golden Stairs

Hard

5.0

(1)

hikers

Ruined Castle & Mount Solitary via Golden Stairs

05:42

14.6km

770m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 9, 2026

Tips

Includes segments that may be dangerous

Parts of this route comprise highly technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience is required.

After 4.12 km for 46 m

After 5.87 km for 625 m

After 8.35 km for 603 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

118 m

Golden Stairs

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Prepare well for the Golden Stairs, bring lots of water, and remember you go down before you go up!

Tip by

3.87 km

View of Ruined Castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

From this break in the trees, bushwalkers can get a great viewpoint of Ruined Castle and the Blue Mountains. Continue heading south to the base of Ruined Castle.

Tip by

4.11 km

Ruined Castle is not actually a man-made castle, but a series of sandstone pillars formed by erosion that look like a castle in ruins. The views here are fantastic, and only experienced climbers should attempt to climb the pillars.

Tip by

5.83 km

Rocky outcrops and view of Mount Solitary

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

A rocky path over a ridge and there are a number of outcrops to clamber over. Good hiking shoes and plenty of water and food are needed.

Tip by

7.33 km

Chinamans Gully Lookout

Highlight • Viewpoint

Chinamans Gully Lookout sits on the ridge of Mount Solitary with fantastic views across the rugged sandstone cliffs, deep valleys, and the escarpments around Katoomba. It’s a memorable spot to …

Tip by

8.36 km

Mount Solitary Ridge Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

This informal lookout sits along the western side of Mount Solitary, where the view opens up across the forested Jamison Valley, with rugged sandstone cliffs and layered escarpments stretching toward …

Tip by

14.6 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.4 km

4.25 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

14.0 km

540 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (940 m)

Lowest point (650 m)

Weather

Saturday 18 July

13°C

6°C

21 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

December 18, 2023,Blue Mountains: Ruined Castle and Mount Solitary ( AUSTRALIA NSW)

We parked at the Golden Stairs Carpark. Only a very few parking spots are available here.
The walk starts right here with the stairs going down approx 250m. This is a reminder that these will be uphill on the way back ;-)
Eucalyptus forest walk on reasonably good trail as far as the turn off for Ruined Castle. This is …

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This route was planned by komoot.

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Ruined Castle & Mount Solitary via Golden Stairs

Golden Stairs

View of Ruined Castle

Ruined Castle

Rocky outcrops and view of Mount Solitary

Chinamans Gully Lookout

Mount Solitary Ridge Viewpoint

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