One of the most photographed tourist attractions in the Blue Mountains is set to be closed off due to fears it’s being ‘loved to death’ by visitors.

Huge crowds of visitors have flocked to Lincoln’s Rock at Wentworth Falls, west of Sydney, in recent years to pose on the cliff’s edge and post photos to their social media accounts.

The once little-known spot has become inundated every weekend with tourists, leading to increased erosion, vandalism and fears a major accident is ahead.

‘Lincoln’s Rock will temporarily close from Thursday, January 22, for a minimum of three months,’ Blue Mountains City Council said in a statement.

‘The closure responds to serious safety concerns and environmental damage at this unfenced clifftop lookout, where visitors have increasingly ignored safety warnings despite recent improvements.

‘Public safety is our absolute priority. 

‘The site will close for at least three months while we develop solutions to ensure safe access and manage the area’s rapid growth in visitation.’

Council Mayor Mark Greenhill said Lincoln’s Rock’s popularity skyrocketed after South Korean pop star Jennie Kim of Blackpink shared it with her 80million followers during a trip Down Under in 2023.

Greenhill said he was concerned about safety. 

‘I don’t wait for someone to be killed before I act,’ he said.

‘It’s too much – it’s too unsafe and it’s degrading the environment.’

The ‘uncontrolled’ amount of tourists visiting the spot has also been ‘exacerbating congestion’ and destroying the ledge.

‘The growth has been so fast and so alarming that it has resulted in our infrastructure on the site unable to keep pace with the numbers that are going there,’ he said.

‘You can actually see a shiny white part on the rock where thousands of bums have literally worn away the rock.’

Locals are also seem frustrated with the site’s uptick in popularity.

An unauthorised sign was recently erected by residents claiming Lincoln’s Rock was closed due to ongoing issues with vandalism and neglect.

It was quickly removed but another similar sign was later found nearby. 

Like many other lookouts around the Blue Mountains, Lincoln’s Rock is unfenced. 

In 2019, a teenager fell 30m off the cliff’s edge and suffered fractured ribs, cracked vertebrae and a broken shoulder blade.

Councillors voted in November to begin ranger patrols of the area during peak periods, install extra signs, install temporary toilets and create an advisory group for long-term management.