Mount Solitary & Kedumba Valley Hike | An Epic Blue Mountains Multi-Day Adventure

The Blue Mountains is a quintessential part of New South Wales, a place that sits at the top of almost every traveller’s bucket list. But while most flock to the popular sights of the Three Sisters and Wentworth Falls, the wonders of the Mount Solitary Track remain a mystery to all but the few who take on the epic adventure.

On a recent visit to the Blue Mountains, we had the good fortune to explore the Kedumba Valley and hike along the rough and rugged ridgeline to the summit of Mount Solitary – without another soul in sight!

Sadly, the main circuit trail that includes the Ruined Castle is closed due to landslides, but you can still create a worthwhile adventure by heading into the Kedumba Valley and hiking to Mt Solitary from the east.

The best part is, since you’re returning the same way, you can leave your camp set up at Kedumba River Crossing Campground and enjoy an easier trek to the peak with a small daypack!

In this post, we will explain everything you need to know to explore the beauty of the Kedumba Valley, the Kedumba River Crossing Campground and the ridgeline hike to Mt Solitary.

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Essential Information About Hiking To Mount Solitary Via The Kedumba Valley In Blue Mountains National Park

Where Does The Kedumba Valley & Mount Solitary Track Start?

There are several ways that you can complete the Mount Solitary Hike, the most popular being a circuit route that starts and ends at the Katoomba Falls or the Golden Stairs. However, as of August 2024, the western trails to Mount Solitary are closed due to landslips and the only access to the peak is via the Kedumba Valley in the east.

The Kedumba Valley and Mount Solitary Track is an out-and-back route that begins roughly 1.5 km past the Old Queen Victoria Hospital site at a locked gate at the park boundary. There is a large area where you can park off the road, but there are no toilets or any other facilities – other than a few information boards.

How To Get To The Kedumba Valley Trailhead

Unlike most of the national parks in Australia, the Blue Mountains are easily accessible by public transport or by car. A train line passes through the main towns scattered across the Blue Mountains, with plenty of train stations conveniently located close to the walking tracks.

🚊 Tripview is a great app to help plan your public transport travel in Sydney & Regional NSW

If the full loop is accessible, you can catch the train to Katoomba and then a bus to Scenic World where you will begin the hike. But unfortunately, there are no public transport options for the route that we took to Mt Solitary.

While the full Mt Solitary Walking Track Loop is closed, the only option you have to access the trailhead by public transport is to walk out and back via the Sublime Point Track, which will allow you to start at Katoomba. However, this would mean adding an extra 30 km or more to your hike!

Getting To The Kedumba Valley Trailhead By Car

To reach the Kedumba Valley Trailhead by car, you’ll simply turn south off the Great Western Highway onto Tableland Rd. Continue for roughly 4 km before veering right onto the unsealed Kedumba Valley Rd. You’ll follow this road past the Old Queen Victoria Hospital site and stop at the locked gate 1.5 km later. The dirt road is well-maintained and easily accessible for all vehicles.

Click here for directions from Sydney to the Kedumba Valley Trailhead

How Hard Is The Kedumba Valley & Mount Solitary Hike?

The initial walk into the Kedumba Valley to the campground is very easy – albeit steep! It consists solely of a winding dirt road that descends to the valley floor. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can spice things up and take the goat track through the dense forest – but be warned that this is far more challenging and requires a good level of rock scrambling skills on near vertical terrain.

But the Kedumba Valley is where the easy trail ends – almost. From the Kedumba River Crossing Campground, the Cedarland Ridge Trail will lead you to the official beginning of the Mount Solitary Walking Track. From the official start, the trail was steep initially and seriously overgrown and rough throughout its entirety.

With that said, there were only a few sections that required a little bit of scrambling. The majority of the time we were just pushing through overgrown shrubs on a narrow and loose track.

Navigation On The Kedumba Valley & Mount Solitary Track

Once you leave the wide dirt roads, navigation becomes a challenge. Trail markers are non-existent throughout the Mount Solitary Walking Track and we didn’t even see a single rock cairn.

The trail was obvious for the most part, but there were several sections where additional tracks could confuse you. We used AllTrails to ensure that we stuck to the correct route, which eliminated any possible confusion.

AllTrails has been our go-to for over three years and we rely on AllTrails + for all our adventures. From our experience, we wholeheartedly recommend this platform for your navigation and trail research. Use our code LESSTRAVELLED30 to receive 30% off your subscription!

Best Time To Hike To Mount Solitary

While the Mount Solitary Track is far quieter compared to other popular tracks in the Blue Mountains, it can still get busy during summer weekends or holidays. If you can, try to avoid staying at the Kedumba River Crossing Campground during these times.

We visited during the week in winter and had the entire campground and the trails to ourselves. The mornings were quite frosty but the days were the perfect temperature for hiking!

Given the loose and steep trail conditions of the Mount Solitary Walking Track, we don’t recommend doing this hike during or after heavy rainfall. Some sections were already quite slippery when dry, and we can only imagine how much worse it would be! Not to mention, the river crossing beyond the campground could become impassable if the river rises.

Can You Hike To Mt Solitary In A Day?

The trek out to Mount Solitary via the north-western trails – Furber Stairs, Federal Pass and past the Ruined Castle – is roughly 22 km return and can be done in a day for experienced and fit hikers.

However, access to Mount Solitary from the northwest is currently closed which means that the quickest available route is from the locked gate on Kedumba Valley Road. You can cut off 7 km from the route we took by jumping onto the Mount Solitary Walking Track from halfway down Kedumba Valley Road – avoiding Kedumba River Crossing Campground. 

This route is 26.3 km return and takes an average of 8 – 9 hours to complete. We would only recommend packing this hike into a day if you’re physically fit and seeking a challenge.

What To Pack For Your Hike To Mount Solitary

The hike to Mount Solitary typically takes two to three days to complete. There are no facilities except for a toilet, picnic benches and firepits at the campground, so you’ll need to pack all the essentials for overnight hiking.

The only reliable water source is the river and streams at the Kedumba River Crossing Campground. However, this water is contaminated and MUST be treated before consumption. We used our Sawyer Squeeze filtration system, but if we were to return we would also pack purifying tablets as well.

If you don’t have a filtration system or purifying tablets, you can boil the water. But be sure to keep it boiling for a few minutes to be sure you’ve eliminated anything harmful.

Aside from the essentials such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and cooking equipment, here are a few specific items that we recommend for the Mount Solitary Hike:

• Bug spray – even in winter, a few mosquitos were lurking around. We imagine that this campground would swarm with bugs in summer.
• Hiking poles – the trail is quite steep and loose in sections and our poles were a great help for keeping us upright!
• Water filtration system – I know, we’ve already gone through this, but it’s important that you don’t forget to pack it!
• Kindling – there are several firepits at the campground and loads of driftwood. We didn’t have any issue finding firewood, but some more kindling or paper would have been very helpful!

🥾 If you’re looking to upgrade your hiking equipment or need some extra advice, check out our hiking gear guides that we have developed over the last 5 years of extensive hiking.

Camping Options For The Kedumba Valley & Mount Solitary Hike

The complete Mount Solitary Circuit features two main campgrounds, the Ruined Castle Campground and the Kedumba River Crossing Campground. However, for the Kedumba Valley & Mount Solitary out-and-back route, you’ll only have access to the Kedumba Valley River Crossing Campground – along with several wilderness campsites scattered along the ridgeline.

Note: Ruined Castle Campground is currently closed due to landslides restricting access from both directions.

The Kedumba River Crossing Campground

The Kedumba River Crossing Campground (aka Kedumba Campground) is situated in a vast green valley, sprawled out beside the Kedumba River and Waterfall Creek. It lies smack bang in the middle of Mt Solitary’s summit and the trailhead on Kedumba Valley Road – making it the perfect place to base yourself for this multi-day hike.

This campground has 20 flat, grassy sites that offer views of the iconic red cliffs high above. We stayed here for two nights, leaving our tent set up while we walked to Mt Solitary and back. We were lucky to have this campground all to ourselves, but we expect it would get busy during summer.

We noticed that there are signs at Kedumba River warning of contamination. To be safe, we only filled up our water bottles from Waterfall Creek – the closest water source to the campground – and treated the water with our filtration system before drinking or cooking.

Kedumba Campground Facilities

• Drop toilets & toilet paper
• Picnic tables
• Firepits
• Water from the creek (treat before drinking)

How To Book The Kedumba River Crossing Campground

Camping at Kedumba Campground is free, but reservations are required and come with a $6 booking fee. You can book for up to 6 people under one reservation through the NSW Parks website, with only one booking fee needed.

Remote Wilderness Camping At Mt Solitary

Our favourite wilderness camp on Mt Solitary Ridge – at the 13.2km mark on our Alltrails Map.

If you prefer solitude and rugged camping, you can spend a night on the ridgeline at one of the many wilderness campsites along the trail. These campsites are nothing more than a clearing large enough to pitch your tent. There are no facilities at any of these sites, including no toilets or reliable water sources.

This option is only suitable for those with plenty of remote wilderness camping experience. You must carry all your water for drinking and cooking, and dig a hole at least 20 cm deep for your poop. Remember to get as far away from the trail as possible and avoid any possible water sources – no matter if they’re dry or not.

We’ve pinpointed all potential wilderness campsites on our AllTrails map below. While many are nestled within the trees without direct valley views, some sit on the escarpment’s edge, offering stunning vistas at sunset and sunrise.

View this Map on Alltrails

Mount Solitary & Kedumba Valley Track Notes

Kedumba Gate Car Park To Kedumba River Crossing Campground

Distance: 8.7 km
Time: 2 – 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 76 m
Elevation Loss: 749 m

Begin your journey by passing through the gate at the park boundary, stopping for a moment beside the information signs to admire the view into the valley. You’ll then follow the wide dirt road as it winds its way down the escarpment, shaded by towering mountain blue gums.

After roughly 20 – 30 minutes, you’ll arrive at a trail sign that marks the turn-off for the Cleary Memorial Lookout. Follow the overgrown track for about 100 m to the memorial that lies in a little clearing.

There’s not much to see at the memorial other than an ancient piece of machinery and the memorial stone, but the views across the Jamison Valley are worth the quick 5-minute detour.

Returning to the road, you’ll quickly come to another clearing just off to the side that offers incredible views of the imposing rock faces plunging to the valley floor. From here, the road sweeps to the right and almost immediately after, you’ll pass the first goat track shortcut – which we’ll explain below.

Keeping to the Kedumba Valley Road, the gradient steps it up a notch as you continue along the arduously steep descent, passing beneath an overhanging rock shortly after.

Once you pass the Sublime Point Trail junction (and the second goat track roughly 500 m later), the fern-filled forest becomes even more dense, offering a pleasant distraction from the never-ending road.

Eventually, the descent eases slightly and you’ll enjoy an easier walk for the final 3 km to the Kedumba River Crossing Campground. Just before you reach the campground, you’ll come across the historic Kedumba Slab Hut (aka Maxwell’s Hut). You can’t enter the hut, but it’s a worthy little detour to read about the history of the hut and the Maxwells before reaching camp.

The wide grassy campground is set beautifully amidst the iconic red cliffs of the Blue Mountains and alongside a bubbling creek, offering magical sunsets and sunrises. While we were the sole humans at the campground, we had plenty of visitors including wombats, wallabies, kangaroos and wild horses!

Optional Goat Track Shortcuts

There are two goat tracks marked on AllTrails that cut off a few kilometres and offer experienced hikers an alternative to walking on the road. However, due to the technical difficulty, these tracks don’t really save any time!

The first goat track is located roughly 2 km from the trailhead and is marked by an elusive rock cairn. We don’t recommend this section as it was ridiculously steep, loose and covered in fallen trees and other forest debris. It required loads of scrambling and the route was very difficult to follow – it was basically non-existent for the most part.

The second goat track is located 600 m past the Sublime Point Track Junction, marked by a red spray-painted circle on a tree. This shortcut was fun and well worth it for experienced hikers, especially if you hate road walking as much as we do!

This goat track descends a loose, leaf-littered spur on a barely visible trail. After a while, you’ll arrive at a particularly steep section full of rough boulders – there’s even a chain bolted onto the rocks to help you navigate the steepest part.

The scramble doesn’t last long and after the chain, you’ll return to the leafy forest trail for a little while before emerging onto the road once again.

Kedumba River Crossing Campground To The Col

Distance: 4.6 km
Time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 612 m

To begin the adventure to Mount Solitary, you’ll leave the Kedumba River Crossing Campground via the Cedarland Ridge Trail that runs behind the toilet block. Head west on the dirt road towards Kedumba River, which you’ll need to cross almost immediately.

There is no bridge over the Kedumba River, but there is a concrete slab for cars to cross easily. In summer, the water usually doesn’t flow over the concrete, but it was ankle-deep when we crossed in winter. Crossing the river is usually straightforward, but if there has been substantial rain before your visit, it’s best to check the river level with NSW Parks.

After crossing the river, you’ll continue ascending along the wide dirt road for roughly 40 minutes before reaching the turn-off for Maxwell’s Track. Entering the bush, you’ll follow a rough and overgrown trail as it traverses across the mountainside to meet up with the Mount Solitary Walking Track.

Note: The sign at the beginning of the bush track doesn’t say ‘Maxwell’s Track’, but it does indicate that it is the way to the Mount Solitary Walking Track.

Shortly after a particularly deep and muddy gully that’s aided by a rope, you’ll arrive at a little remote wilderness campsite that’s located at the Mount Solitary Walking Track Junction. A signpost points you in the right direction and you’ll begin the steep ascent up the escarpment to the rocky ridgeline above.

In the beginning, the trail is quite loose, but stairs have been built into the hill for the steepest sections. As you gain elevation, the mountainside becomes increasingly rocky and multiple trails seem to appear. Luckily, these off-shoot trails all converge so it doesn’t matter which you choose – as long as you continue heading west.

The terrain continues to increase in difficulty as you near the ridgeline, requiring you to clamber over fallen trees and boulders before reaching the summit. But once you’ve overcome a particularly awkward obstacle, you’ll find yourself at The Col.

Veer left to the rocky outcrop to enjoy the magnificent views across the Kedumba Valley, spreading as far as Lake Burragorang. We stopped here for a break to soak in the warm winter sun and admire the red rocky ridgelines jutting above the verdant green valley.

The Col To Chinamans Cave

Distance: 3.4 km
Time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 303 m

Returning to the Mount Solitary Walking Track, you’ll begin traversing along the dense undulating ridgeline. The trail becomes a little more elusive on the ridge, mostly due to the seriously overgrown shrubs spilling onto the path. We wore long pants, but we would also wear long sleeves next time!

The path mostly remains hidden amongst the dense bush, but occasionally leads you to little clearings with sensational vistas over the canopy of towering blue gums below. You’ll pass through several makeshift campsites and down one particularly rocky section before making it to one of our favourite viewpoints and campsites on the track.

Almost 6 km into the walk, you’ll find a shady clearing beside an enormous rock wall that makes for a peaceful campsite. But if the weather is fine, you could also tuck into the rocks on the cliff edge, where you’re gifted incredible views across to Wentworth Falls and the Three Sisters.

From this cute bush camp, you’ll steeply climb to two more high points separated by a deep saddle before descending to Chinamans Cave. The second peak is often mistaken for Mount Solitary, but you’ve got one more climb before you reach that final summit.

Chinamans Cave To Mount Solitary

Distance: 1 km
Time: 20 – 30 minutes
Elevation Gain: 89 m

Chinamans Cave is the largest clearing, with plenty of flat spots to pitch a tent under the trees. To the north, you’ll find some incredible displays of Aboriginal art in a cave. And if you walk to the edge of the escarpment in the south, you’ll step out to our favourite lookout of the trail.

Note: Please be respectful of the historic art and remain out of the cave. Fires and the oil from our skin can ruin the already fading and vandalised Aboriginal art. 

To be honest, this is as far as you really need to walk. The summit of Mount Solitary is nothing more than a forested knoll with no views. But it’s hard to walk so far and not reach the peak, especially when it’s only 800 m away.

One final steep ascent through the thick shrubbery will lead you to the shady summit of Mount Solitary. The clearing offers space for several tents, but to find vistas of the surrounding landscape, walk a little further along the track to a small rocky clearing.

We stopped at this small rocky clearing for lunch, savouring the vistas across the rest of the Mount Solitary Walking Trail that traces the steep ridgeline to Federal Pass and eventually, Katoomba. From this vantage point, you’re gifted unobstructed panoramic views of the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley – it’s amusing to realise that while hundreds of people are at the Three Sisters Lookout in Katoomba, you’re relishing this exclusive perspective all by yourself!

Returning To The Trailhead

Mt Solitary – Kedumba Campground

Distance: 9 km
Time: 3 – 4 hours
Elevation Gain: 203 m

Kedumba Campground – Kedumba Gate Car Park

Distance: 8.7 km
Time: 2.5 – 4 hours
Elevation Gain: 749 m

Sadly, this is where your adventure must come to an end. Once the trails are rebuilt, we will most certainly return to finish the full Mount Solitary Circuit, but for now (August 2024), you will have to backtrack the way you came.

The return journey to Kedumba Campground was tiring, especially with the loose terrain making the descent even more challenging. We were glad to have left our tent set up and rolled into camp just before sunset.

If you choose to camp at Kedumba River Crossing Campground for another night, you’ll be rewarded with a relatively easy walk out the following day. You can expect the journey to take roughly 30 minutes to an hour longer than the descent, but after navigating the elusive and overgrown trail the previous day, it will feel like a breeze!

Other Important Information For Hiking To Mount Solitary In Blue Mountains National Park

Leave No Trace

The Blue Mountains holds a wealth of history and provides a home for countless native wildlife species. The landscape is remarkably diverse, encompassing mountain heath, cool temperate rainforests, and towering blue gum forests.

But sadly, the crowds over the years have polluted the water sources surrounding Mount Solitary with human faeces due to improper remote toileting practices. Furthermore, we were sad to see so much rubbish left over at the wilderness camps on the ridgeline.

There are no rubbish bins throughout the entire hike and toilets are only accessible at the Ruined Castle Campground and Kedumba River Crossing Campground.

It’s crucial that we all do our part by hiking and camping responsibly so that we can continue to enjoy these wonderfully wild places. It’s as easy as packing out what you pack in – including tissues and food scraps – and when there is no toilet to use, dig a hole at least 20 cm deep and 100 m away from a water source and cover it back up once you’re done.

For more information on how to sustainably hike and camp in the wild, check out our guide to the 7 Leave No Trace Principles.

Where To Stay Near Mount Solitary, Blue Mountains National Park

Mount Solitary lies across the valley from Katoomba, Leura, and Wentworth Falls – all lovely quaint towns to stay in before or after your hike. 

Katoomba is the largest and busiest of the three towns, but it also offers the greatest selection of cafes and restaurants to pick from.

Leura is our favourite of the bunch, offering a more peaceful getaway while still being close enough to Katoomba to take advantage of the plethora of shops.

Wentworth Falls is similar to Katoomba, but it presents a more local vibe rather than the touristy one you’ll find at Katoomba.

Camping In The Blue Mountains

Unfortunately, there aren’t any free or cheap campgrounds close to the Mount Solitary Walking Track, but there are several options within an hour’s drive. The nearest free campgrounds are Blackheath Glen Reserve and Mount York Campground, both located roughly 40 minutes from the Kedumba Gate Trailhead.

Final Thoughts

The Mount Solitary Walking Track offers a great hike for those seeking a challenge and some peace and quiet. We didn’t encounter another person during the entire three days in the Kedumba Valley and on the Mt Solitary ridgeline, which is quite a feat for the popular Blue Mountains!

This out-and-back route is a fantastic option while Federation Pass and the Ruined Castle are closed. But if you can wait until they’re open, it would make the hike even more worthwhile.

We hope you have found our guide to hiking Mount Solitary helpful. If you have any further questions about the trail or the area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by dropping a comment below or leaving a DM on Instagram.

Happy Hiking 🙂