Atlas › Blue Mountains NP - Grose
Empress Canyon
verified
ACA 3B
Moderate flood risk
Wentworth Falls, NSW
Single big abseil under a waterfall into a short slot, the entry-level Blue Mountains tech canyon and a commercial guide favourite.
The exit climbs the Valley of the Waters track back to Wentworth Falls. Cold water year round, wetsuit recommended. Fatality recorded in 2005, treat the abseil seriously despite the social atmosphere.
Logistics
| Manager | NSW NPWS Blue Mountains NP |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. |
| Distance | 0.3 mi |
| Elevation | ~197 ft loss, ~476 ft exit climb |
| Time | 1 to 2.5 hr (20 min approach, 45 min descent, 25 min exit) |
| Technical | Single abseil canyon, max about 92 ft. Main drop is a 15 m river-left option to a ledge or a 28 m option to the pool, with a 28 m river-right alternative. Short swims, optional jumps, and a 3 to 4 m natural slide. Australian v3a2 II. |
| Season | Sep-May |
| Flood risk | Moderate. Short catchment but the single rappel waterfall amplifies any flow. Wait out recent storms before descending. |
| Vehicle access | 2WD car to Valley of the Waters carpark, Wentworth Falls |
| Crowd | Very crowded midday in spring and summer; rappel queues of up to an hour are documented |
| Coordinates | -33.72, 150.3634 |