Empress Falls is the Blue Mountains with the volume turned up. Hidden in the Valley of the Waters at Wentworth Falls, it drops in stacked tiers into a shadowy amphitheatre of ferns and black rock — and on warm days, tiny figures in wetsuits abseil straight down the middle of it, finishing the Empress Canyon run.
The descent
From the trailhead near the Valley of the Waters picnic area, the track wastes no time: stone steps switchback steeply into the valley, passing smaller cascades as the walls close in. Empress announces itself with spray and noise. The viewing area at its base is one of the most theatrical waterfall vantage points in the mountains. Allow about an hour return — the climb out is honest work.
Canyon country
Empress Canyon, a beginner-friendly slot above the falls, ends with a roughly 30-metre guided abseil down the face — licensed operators run trips through the warmer months, and watching descents from the base has become half the spectacle.
Know before you go
Entry is free. Wear proper shoes, expect the steps to be wet, and pack a rain layer even in summer. From the same valley you can continue on the National Pass or link lookouts back toward Wentworth Falls itself — some of the finest track engineering in the Blue Mountains. Details correct at the time of writing (July 2026).
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