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Trail Partially open

Lapstone Knapsack Viaduct and Zig-Zag

NSW Sydney and Blue Mountains

4 based on 2 reviews
Location: 60 km west of Sydney
Length: 1.5 km
Surface: Fine gravel, Sealed
Start / End: Glenbrook to Lapstone
Public Transport: Bus, Train
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Mountain BikesCycling – Mountain Bikes
  • PramsPrams
  • Scooters and Inline SkatesScooters and Inline Skates
  • WalkingWalking

  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway
Trail Partially open
View Map
  • The impressive sandstone viaduct over Knapsack Gully. When construction began in 1863 the viaduct was the largest in Australia, being 118 m long and 36 m high, with five spans of 16 m and two of 6 m.
  • Remnants of zig-zag formation and Lucasville Station. The Lapstone Zig-Zag was the first full zig-zag constructed on any main-line railway anywhere in the world. The structure was later repeated on the western side of the Blue Mountains at the arguably more famous zig-zag railway between Clarence and Lithgow.

As of March 2024 the top section of the rail trail is closed for maintenance.

Nearby Attractions

  • The sandstone viaduct
  • A network of walks and mountain bike tracks in the area, including to lookouts and the historic Lennox Bridge on the Macquarie Pass.
  • Blue Mountains World Heritage Area to the west
  • Sydney Harbour and CBD around 60 km east
  • Potential for a possible opening of the old Glenbrook Tunnel

Last updated: 18 March 2024

The Knapsack Viaduct and Zig-Zag are in the Lower Blue Mountains suburb of Lapstone.

Knapsack Viaduct is signposted from the M4 Motorway/Great Western Highway at the Emu Plains exit. From the car park at the junction of the old highway and historic Mitchells Pass, a concrete footpath rises gently and follows the former railway and highway route to and over the viaduct. From here, dirt paths (suitable for walking only) descend below the stone arches or climb to Elizabeth lookout, upper Zig-Zag ‘roads’ and Lucasville station.

Alternatively, the Zig-Zag and other sites can be approached from the top, from the east end of Knapsack Street.

An 634 metre-long 1892 tunnel, which bypassed the Zig-Zag, is located mainly south of the Great Western Highway. The tunnel is not open at this stage but Blue Mountains City Council are working on reopening it for cyclists and pedestrians. The entrances to the tunnel can be reached by walking tracks. The eastern entrance can be reached via a tunnel beneath the M4 to Governors Drive and then a track (overgrown at times) from near a water tank. The western end can be reached from the top of Tunnel Gully on the northern side of the Great Western Highway. Once closed in 1913, the tunnel was at times used to house a mushroom farm and to store mustard gas.

Do you know of a bike hire or transportation service on this rail trail that should appear here? If so, let us know at admin@railtrails.org.au.

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2 reviews of “Lapstone Knapsack Viaduct and Zig-Zag”

Explored this trail again over the new year weekend. It is justifiably popular with locals (great for short walks and cycling for littlies), and probably under appreciated by the thousands of tourists who travel past it unawares to the more famous parts of the Blue Mountains. Well worth a visit.

I walked this trail this morning (28/3/16) and it is a very popular with locals – riders, walkers and their dogs. It’s an easy walk up to the viaduct and then stairs up to the rail zig zag section. I found it really interesting, because it gave great views over the west Sydney region, good insight into the geology of the edge of the Blue Mountains, and great bush. I really recommend this trail, though the zig zag section is more for walking than riding, because of the difficulty in getting to it from the carparks.

Background Information

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Dharug people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.

Development and future of the rail trail 

Much of the abandoned rail route can be reached via the rail trail.

Rail line history 

This section of railway including the Knapsack Viaduct and the Lapstone Zig-Zag was completed in 1865 and opened for traffic in 1867. The Lapstone Zig-Zag and Lucasville station were officially closed in December 1892 after the first (1892) Glenbrook Tunnel Deviation was completed.

Around 1910 the lower section of the track, including the historic Knapsack Gully Viaduct, was converted into the Great Western Highway, the main road up Lapstone Hill until the M4 motorway replaced it in 1993.  The M4 motorway still utilizes part of the lower section of the zig-zag, which now un-available as part of this small rail trail.   The first tunnel was also bypassed by a double track tunnel with a gentler grade at this time.

Trail descriptions are maintained by volunteers. Please consider a donation to help improve this website. Rail Trails Australia gets no government funding.
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