Chain Ladder Pass, Tugela Falls & Beacon Buttress Gully ^Popular

A circular day hike starting at Sentinal Car Park and up to the Chain Ladder which is one of the easiest passes. The final 30m of the cliff face is ascended by means of a two-section chain ladder.

Once at top you make your way to the Amphitheatre / Tugela Falls for stunning views and the return is down the short and steep Beacon Buttress gully, a fun alternative to the Chain Ladder Route.

Follow the path from Sentinal Car Park, up to the right of the Witches, toward Sentinel, where the zig-zags take their toll, skirting around the base of Sentinel, along the contour path to the chain ladder. Along the way, one passes the Sentinel Cave (tucked 20 metres above the path) and also the Gully, which presents an alternative route up, for those too nervous of the ladder.

From the Car Park to the base of the ladder usually takes the average walker about an hour to an hour and a half. From the top of the ladder there is a well-defined path leading to the “Hut” and to the top of Tugela Falls.

Return via Beacon Buttress gully. Use the gps map to find the gully for your return. This hike can also be done by going up Beacon Buttress gully and then down the chain ladders. This route direction is a lot more difficult and makes this a difficult hike. It takes 45 minutes to an hour to climb up Beacon Buttress gully, depending on your fitness level.

Read our hiking checklist should you plan to sleep overnight on top of the Amphitheatre.