Butterbox Point in the Blue Mountains marks the final trail along Mount Hay Road, and despite being shorter than Lockleys Pylon and Fortress Ridge, it delivers breathtaking views of the Grose Valley, Mount Hay, Mount Banks, and the towering Walford Wall.
Here you will be treated to a landscape brimming with natural beauty, from rare hanging swamps to surreal geological formations shaped by ironstone erosion.
The trail starts off gently, but as you progress toward Butterbox Point, it narrows and becomes more thrilling, taking you along cliff edges that offer spectacular views.
I’ll cover everything you need to know to prepare you for this scenic hike.
How To Get To Butterbox Point
The Butterbox Point track begins off Mount Hay Road, just north of Leura. You can find the exact location by clicking here for the Google Maps pin.
You’ll be driving 12.7km (approximately 30 mins) on an unsealed fire road. While a 4WD isn’t required, the road does have a few bumps and potholes.
I drove my small 2WD car without any problems, and it looks like the road has been graded recently, making the drive much smoother compared to a few months ago.
Mount Hay and Butterbox Point Carpark
There’s a good-sized parking area at the end of Mount Hay Road offering spectacular views and a helpful information board right at the trailhead.
Butterbox Point Trail Overview
At the trailhead map, you’ll see there are three trails to choose from:
- Butterbox Point hiking trail
- Mount Hay Summit hiking trail
- Butterbox Canyon (or Mt Hay Canyon)
In this article, I’ll focus on the first two trails, leaving out Butterbox Canyon since it requires abseiling equipment to navigate the 40m descent over a chockstone and through a waterfall into a plunge pool.
Here are the key trail stats for both of these trails combined:
- Start & Finish: Mount Hay & Butterbox Point Carpark
- Distance: 5.5 km return
- Elevation Gain: 252 m
- Time: 2-3 hours
- Difficulty: Medium
- Location: Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
Trail To Butterbox Point
Beginning at the Mount Hay and Butterbox Point Carpark, the trail immediately immerses you in the stunning bushland and sandstone cliffs characteristic of the Blue Mountains.
One of the most remarkable features along the first part of the trail is the Hanging Swamps, an endangered ecological community unique to this region.
These swamps are perched along steep slopes, fed by slow-draining groundwater. They play a crucial role in supporting rare species like the Blue Mountains Water Skink and Giant Dragonfly.
As you hike along the ridge, you’ll notice the swamp vegetation—grasses, sedges, and mosses—that thrive in this fragile environment, providing an important habitat for endangered fauna.
The surrounding area is rich in ironstone formations, created through natural erosion. These geological structures, visible as you approach Butterbox Point, are particularly striking.
Razor-sharp, wave-like stone patterns form an almost alien-like landscape, with some areas resembling amphitheaters or fossilized ripples frozen in time.
These surreal formations result from Liesegang Rings, a process where iron precipitates and hardens in concentric layers over thousands of years.
As you reach the final stretch of the trail, you’ll be greeted with a stunning view of Butterbox Point, resembling a small castle surrounded by a circular trail, with Mount Banks looming to the right.
On the eastern side of Butterbox Point, there’s a trail that leads you an incredible viewing platform at the top.
I recommend taking this detour first, as it offers an amazing viewpoint overlooking the Grose Valley and gives you your first peek into Butterbox Canyon from above.
Trail To Butterbox Canyon
As you follow the loop trail along Mount Hay Wall toward Butterbox Canyon, you can descend further down to a second viewing platform, bringing you closer to the imposing cliff faces and offering a deeper view into the canyon itself.
Although the direct access to the canyon is restricted to protect the endangered swamp nearby, those with the right experience and gear can still venture further down the trail.
Trail to Mount Hay
For those seeking an extra challenge, you can extend the hike to include Mount Hay Summit. If this sounds appealing, retrace your steps back to the car park and follow the signs pointing toward Mount Hay.
The first section of the trail is well-marked and undergoing upgrades at the time of writing. However, as you progress, the trail becomes much more demanding.
The second part involves rock scrambling and, at times, is heavily overgrown, making the path difficult to follow.
With volcanic origins stretching back over 17 million years, Mount Hay provides an interesting geological contrast to the surrounding sedimentary landscapes.
Though the summit is simply a pile of rocks with no views due to dense overgrowth, I found the hike through the purple-hued Indigofera Australis forest during spring a rewarding experience nonetheless.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How long does the trail take?
- Few hours
What about signage and trail quality?
- There are multiple signs along the trail
How difficult are the trails?
- Easy / Moderate (Mount Hay is harder than Butterbox Point)
What essentials should I carry?
- Plenty of water, snacks, hat and a sunscreen
Is the trail wheelchair accessible?
- No
When is the best time to visit?
- I would start early in the morning on a hot, summer day
Is there a phone service?
- Yes
Can I bring my dog?
- Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted
