Blue Mountains Tourism (BMT) will deliver the inaugural Grand Cliff Top Race, a 17.5km trail event taking place on Sunday, 12 April 2026, along the spectacular Grand Cliff Top Walk in Blue Mountains National Park.
The event marks the first time a formally organised race has been held across the full Grand Cliff Top Walk route.
Designed to both showcase the region and raise funds to support sustainable growth of the Blue Mountains visitor economy, the event invites runners and walkers from across NSW to experience one of Australia’s most dramatic escarpments in a professionally supported event environment.
Spanning the iconic cliff line from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba, the course traverses ancient sandstone cliffs, shaded bush trails and sweeping Jamison Valley vistas. Participants will begin at Charles Darwin Walk in Wentworth Falls before finishing at Scenic World in Katoomba, at the official end of the walk.
Accessible by train via the Blue Mountains Line, competitors can step off at Wentworth Falls and finish in Katoomba without needing a car – reinforcing the event’s sustainability focus. Participants are encouraged to turn the race into a weekend getaway, supporting local accommodation, hospitality and retail businesses across the region.
As well as prizes for the fastest runners on the day, every single participant has a chance to walk away with something special, thanks to local businesses.
Highlights:
- Easily accessible by train from across NSW
- Open to runners and walkers (6-hour cut-off)
- Beginner-friendly trail event
- The staggered wave starts to reduce track congestion
- Fully supported aid station at Gordon Falls (drinks and snacks)
- Public transport, buses and Explorer Bus options from the finish
- All finishers receive a race memento
- All finishers receive a Blue Mountains Explorer Bus pass
- Podium prizes for male, female and non-binary categories (donated by Scenic World, La Sportiva and Summit Gear Katoomba)
- More than 40 additional prizes donated by local businesses will be awarded to random places across the whole field, not just the fastest
Blue Mountains Tourism General Manager Lou Clifton said the event reflects growing demand for meaningful, nature-based experiences.
“The Grand Cliff Top Race is about connecting people to place. It’s an opportunity to experience one of NSW’s most spectacular escarpment walks while directly contributing to the sustainable future of the Blue Mountains visitor economy. Every entry gives back.”
Participant numbers are capped to protect the natural environment and ensure a high-quality experience. Early registration is encouraged.
Organised by Blue Mountains Tourism, the official local tourism organisation for the region, the race is a purpose-driven initiative. As a not-for-profit organisation, BMT reinvests all surplus revenue into destination marketing, working with stakeholders to protect the region’s World Heritage values and ECO Destination certification.
The Grand Cliff Top Walk was officially opened by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Blue Mountains City Council in 2024.
For more information and to register, visit:
https://raceroster.com/events/2026/113619/grand-cliff-top-race
