There We got to the top and walked about 2km when we came across pink markers, little did we realised they go to cottage rock. There are a confusion of competing tracks in the area. It was this desperate 'rushing' through the dense foliage, coupled with my chaotically negligent state of mind which caused me to lose my GPS. Cross the main fire trail onto a track that heads ENE over Mt Debert. red spotted gum, Blakely's red gum, red stringybark and forest oak are also found. Ashley Burke's Three Peaks Page - Ashley Eylenburg I want to provide you a pathway that will help you regard the bush as your home, the place you go for solace, to get away from it all, and to learn self reliance and confidence. From Dex Creek it is about 45 minutes' walk on a gently rising trail to reach the summit of Mt Cloudmaker, one of the, 3 day trip (only if all clients and the leader agree to 3 day option)*. . Stop at the top of the steps and peer out over Kanangra Deep to Kanangra Walls, and in the distance, Mount Cloudmaker, which is often circled by mist. Mt Cloudmaker is on the Kanangra Walls to Katoomba route and on the route from Ti Willa Plateau to Kanangra Walls. Time:3 days Distance:36 km Fitness:M Skill:M Ascent:1380 m, A variant on one of the classic Blue Mountains walks - finishing at Carlon's Farm below Blackheath, rather than at Katoomba, Time:5 hrs Distance:11 km Fitness:EM Skill:M Ascent:440 m, An interesting trip exploring of one of the old miners' passes of Narrow Neck, with good views of the Megalong Valley. Fatality, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, NSW - Google Groups arrived. couldn't raise my arm above my head. There is a log book on top of the summit cairn that you can sign. Two of the features most spoken of in the Kanangra-Boyd National park are the Kanangra Falls and Kanangra Walls. Keep to the right of the cliff until you can walk up a gully on to the tops. That night the campfire was more to our liking, plenty of space for all of us and the rain held off until most had retired for the night. Shoalhaven Bushwalkers I We got there first, but by the time we started collecting a meagre supply Presumably this was to try to reduce erosion on the Kanangra-Boyd National Park. Understand [ edit] Created in 1969, Kanangra-Boyd National Park covers 66,681 ha. Play. way to the top of the ridge. like this. Carpark by Kanangra Walls. Continuing along the track from Mt Cloudmaker for about 1km brought The hike should take around 3-4 days to complete. started to look a bit dodgy as the weather began to deteriorate. Take in the magnificent scenery the sheer sandstone cliff faces of Kanangra Walls or mist-wreathed Mount Cloudmaker before walking down forest-lined trails to . The skies stayed clear for us up on top, before the heavy mist once again descended to make our journey back to the Kanangra Walls carpark a misty, white-out, where the usual dramatic views of Thurat Spires and the gorge were off limits . You can find out more about how DPE handles the personal information it collects online by reading our privacy policy. You may also be walking through regrowth that is dense and head high in places. Kanangra Walls to Carlons Farm - OZultimate.com bushwalking Crossing two national parks, it takes in some of the best scenery of both, including excellent views from the high plateaux of Narrow Neck and Kanangra Walls. The group was a bit larger thanwhat Id recommend for walking in Kanangra, but Len was sure everything would be fine. Being the June long weekend Cyclists will want to bring their mountain bikes to explore the parks fire trails. It is believed that he was planning to walk from Kanangra Walls to Katoomba via Crafts Walls, Mount Cloudmaker and Dex Creek. Head left on the fire trail for 700m and cross a locked gate to reach Medlow Gap. Once on the trail the route was easy all the way to the Mount Well-worn tracks were present for the entirety of the third day, making navigation simple. Considering our late start we opted for lunch here while we could We took the new trail Guide to Overnight Walks near Sydney | Hiking the World The main Upper Silurian limestone belt, in the Jenolan River valley to the north-west, is 300 metres (980ft) thick, 8 kilometres (5.0mi) long and located in a valley 460 metres (1,510ft) deep. My trips allow you the autonomy of bringing your own gear and food, whilst providing you full guiding services, navigation, knowledge of the route and area, and organisation of all the logistics. Water can usually be found in the creek below the campsite, or a little further along where the creek crosses the main track. The scramble down Gordon Smith Pass is slippery and exposed but not technically difficult. We arranged to meet Fee, Sal and some of Sal's friends at Mobbs Soak Since then I have done countless trips along the Kanangra to Katoomba route and have explored the surrounding country extensively. Mount Cloudmaker (Ian Brown) Mount Cloudmaker emerging from dawn mist As part of the Great Escarpment this is big country, with the greatest relief in the whole Blue Mountains: nearly 1200 metres from the Coxs River to the summit of Mount Guouogang on the Krungle Bungle Range. Our four beginners kept their sense of humour though when the going got tough and I hope that theyll give Kanangra another go (maybe in a year or so!). slushy. Directly across from our campsite is the base of the long spur up Mt Strongleg. Ashley puts a lot of effort into the organisation of the trip and provides very professional information both prior and during the hike. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your adventure to your emergency contact. Kanangra Walls - Mt Cloudmaker Hike 31/5/03 - 1/6/03 Another group we bumped into was Gingra Hike - Mar 2016 - Brookvale Curl Curl Scout Group We broke for lunch at the top, High altitude areas subject to strong winds generally support heath and closed scrub communities. No chardonnay tour operators, signs or huts please. Was a very wet and misty day so views not their best, but a pretty good walk only medium difficulty. Take the afternoon off and have a swim in the river, and for those interested, learn some navigation skills similar to those taught on my. The Coxs River is generalleasy to ford just before a small set of rapids on the west side of Yellow Pup Ridge. The Three Peaks - The Lazy Way - Lotsafreshair Jonathan and Nicole on Kilpatrick Causeway looking up at Kanangra Walls. Descent off of the plateau was difficult to find. For the fishing enthusiasts, trout can be caught along Kowmung River and, for the adventurous, canyoning is popular during the warmer months. KanangraWalls, photos on Flickr | Flickr - Brennan Top We did the 3 day option which i think suits someone who likes a physical challenge, the 4 day option would be good for some physical down time and allow more opportunity to stop and take it all in. The views in this section are excellent, with the spectacular Kanangra Falls and Kalang Falls in full glory after rain, and the magnificent Thurat Spires glowing red in the morning light. As this is a hobby and not a business, I don't have the the financial backing that some companies do, so any support you can offer is really appreciated. It's located in New South Wales, Australia. Traverse around the west side of the cliff for about 20m to find Tarro's Ladders. Kanangra walls to Mt Cloudmaker - Blue Mountains - YouTube Drop down into Little Cedar Gap, and climb on the fire trail, and then on another track, to the bottom of Narrow Neck Peninsula. As well as including theTen Essentials, my planning, food and packing checklists provide an summary of things to consider on your day, overnight and multi-day hikes. Leave one car in Katoomba, either on Narrow Neck at the Golden Stairs car park or the locked gate, or in Katoomba itself. If you are lost or require help and have phone reception, call 000 and ask for police. The size of the group will be capped at 8 clients, and the trip will not proceed unless a minimum number of 5 clients sign up. both north and south and endless photo opportunities. After a break, continue on to Mt Stormbreaker. trails, the relevant topographic maps should be carried on most walks. From Mt Amarina it is easy walking over Kullieatha Peak, down into the saddle and around the east side of Mt Strongleg. At Mt Dingo, a well defined track branches off to the right up to the summit, and you can visit the lookout at Splendour Rock if you have the time. Below I share some of the feedback that they have kindly provided from past K2K trips and agreed to have published on this website. Become an active member of this fun, rewarding and adventurous community. Len S had put this three day walk on the BWOC calendar mainly because Id convinced him it was a good walk, neither of us had been to 100 Man Cave before, and he loves Kanangra. Over the crest of Mt Berry was the Keep your eyes peeled for echidnas and lyrebirds, particularly during summer. Pause Kanangra Tops at the south-eastern end of the Plateau is one of the Permian outliers. However, they can be crowded at times. The 13km walk to Mt Cloudmaker is varied and rugged, and takes longer than you might expect, with lots of ups (900m) and downs (1000m). Plateau Walk turns off before the main lookout and leads into the Kanangra Wilderness and onto the expansive heath-covered Kanangra Tops Plateau. Carlon Creek - were hard on the legs but not too difficult given what This area is unforgiving and there's not water on route to Mt Cloudmaker. My first venture along parts of the Katoomba to Kanangra walk was a day hike from Kanangra Walls to Mt Cloudmaker in 1982. Kanangra-Boyd National Park - Wikipedia The international standard emergency number is 112, if you dial this number in Australia you will be treated exactly the same as a 000 call. Good navigation and prior knowledge of the route is therefore essential. Likewise there are numerous flat grassy areas between Mt Yellow Dog and Medlow Gap. Kanangra-Boyd lookout | NSW National Parks Several species listed on Schedules 1 and 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW) are found in the Wilderness Area including: The powerful owl (Ninox strenua), squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus volans), tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), and brush-tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata). You need to be careful to avoid slipping or straining an ankle on this uneven rough path. Many parties have run into trouble over the years, and walkers need to be competent navigators. arriving in the wee hours of the morning. An overnight trip toMt Cloudmaker sleeping in Hundred Man Cave, Kanangra Boyd National Park, in April was the last of myqualifying walks to become a member ofSBW. From Kanangra Walls, we follow the scenic ridgeline to Mt Cloudmaker and on to 100 Man Cave where we will camp for two nights enjoying the ambience of this great spot. We were obviously not the first to use it as there was a well Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, Become a Parks Eco Pass licensed tour operator, Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch. worn path at the bottom leading in the right direction. Splendour Rock is a truly spectacular place, a prominent rock outcrop from where panoramic views of the southern Blue Mountains can be beheld. We were all too wet and cold to stop at any of the lookouts, and I doubt we would have seen much anyway with the rain. Develop new skills, learn how to prepare for your next hike and remain safe while navigating the trail. There was also time for a (slightly) longer walk to a point overlooking Kanangra Creek not far from Kanangra Falls. The climb is about 8m, but could be difficult for some people with a full pack. [5], There are several walking tracks and other sites in the park, these include the:[6], Camping is available on the banks of Morong Creek, at the Boyd River campground, located on Kanangra Road.[7]. They were waiting when we Learn how your comment data is processed. Tom and Nicole. On the first day at Kanangra . You can see for miles at Kanangra-Boyd lookout, an easily accessible viewpoint overlooking Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloudmaker. Mt Cloudmaker is the highest in the Gangerang Range. and everyone retired to their tents pretty early. Length: 47km Duration: 3-4 days Grade: 5 Style: One way Start: Locked gate Kanangra-Boyd National Park End: Katoomba Station Location: Kanangra-Boyd National Park Closest town: Katoomba Your next park adventure starts here. This bit of the ridge is open but steepapart from the last 50m or so to the Coxs River. From this latter lookout the Waterfall Walk takes you down into a gully to Kalang Falls. Take a welcome break here, it is the one and only river encountered on the route. The K2K, or the "Katoomba to Kanangra" walk is a ~ 60 km trail (from the Katoomba train station to the Kanangra Walls Car park), which takes the bushwalker on a scenic traverse through the Blue Mountains National Park and the Kanangra-Boyd National park via the Coxs River. Eventually we retrieved the other car and made it back to the Mt Next, you'll make your way to see the breathtaking Kanangra-Boyd lookout, which gives you sweeping views of the Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloudmaker. Thurat Spires, Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloudmaker provide sandstone scenery on a majestic scale." (sic.) A useful book with some ideas for extended walks in NSW. I did not realise how beautiful and rugged some parts of the Blue Mountains could be and we walked through the heart of it all. As we turned The ones at Dex Creek and Mobbs Swamp usually have water available, which is why they are popular. For the fishing enthusiasts, trout can be caught along Kowmung River and, for the adventurous, canyoning is popular during the warmer months. This lookout point is unfenced so that visitors can enjoy unparalleled views of the country's remarkable . I would highly recommend his walks and training to anyone and will be looking forward to the next adventure.". I wonder whether the NPWS takes an interest Rumble. Although we saw evidence that others had also taken our route, there wasnt a track and we were really just route-finding across the plateau trying to avoid burned out hakea. We camped on the Friday night at Boyd Crossing Campground, after Strongleg. You can find out more about how DPE handles the personal information it collects online by reading our privacy policy. Let's do it in a day. The first day is the longest in distance of the entire walk. This makes the last day a long and difficult day despite the distance being only 13.2km. By mid-afternoon after climbing Mt High & Mighty, Len decided that his proposed route had a few too many ups and downs for his legs and knees which were giving him considerable trouble and so he decided to spend the night on Mt Stormbreaker with Kathy and Peter and they would head back to Kanangra the following day. Here is a day-by-day itinerary for the guided hike: The Narrow Neck Plateau. a day walk, we set off to get the car shuffle out of the way. This descent is what earns the trail a Hard grading. Kanangra-Boyd National Park | Attraction Tour | Kanangra views of the Walls. The K2K is a "classic" Blue Mountains walk that goes from the spectacular sandstone walls of Kanangra to the Narrowneck peninsula of Katoomba. However, our nice track soon disappeared in a casuarina forest, under a layer of she-oak needles. . ridge straight up, and a newer one which zig-zagged back and forth along Rather, by offering trips like the Katoomba to Kanangra walk, I hope to provide you the security of knowing you are safely led by an experienced guide, whilst at the same time passing on to you the skills that will enable you to gain the confidence to become independent and self reliant in the future. We spent a restless night regularly decanting the billies into water bottles, and were relieved to have collect six litres over night which was just sufficient to get our party home. I have been leading bushwalks in the Blue Mountains for around 35 years, initially through a bushwalking club and later through my business MountainSphere Adventures. Cyclists will want to bring their mountain bikes to explore the parks fire trails. in any case. we'd already walked. Kanangra-Boyd National Park - Travel guide at Wikivoyage Despite possessing one of the most awesome views in the Blue Mountains, few make it out here on account of the long road trip, including 30km of unsealed road. Mt Cloudmaker - Dingo Gap The place is literally riddled with fire trails and a few walking tracks. Kanagra Walls to Dex's Creek - BushcraftOz While the hike is most commonly done over three days, it can be done in two days by fit parties overnighting somewhere in the vicinity of the Coxs River. This is a true wilderness experience that will take you into some of the most spectacular wilderness of NSW. If you are nervous about this, you may want to take 10m of thin cord to haul packs up. Information submitted on this form, including any personal details, will be a matter of public record and will be stored in the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) records system. Nearby Kanangra Gorge is cut 600-900 metres (2,000-3,000 ft) deep in rocks of the Lambie Group, and is one of Australia's deepest gorges. started. ", "The K2K guided walk was fantastic! The plateau slopes gently down from west to east from a height of around 1100m (3610 ft) near Mt. On Day 2 we will do a relaxed day walk over Ti Willa Plateau to 1000 Man Cave. 100 Man Cave to Kanangra Walls via Mt Cloudmaker Distance: 13km. We first ended up fighting thick scrub all the A classic 3-4 day hike through the heart of the southern Blue Mountains, View towards Katoomba from Kanangra Walls, showing the Gangerang Range along which the route travels, About the Kanangra to Katoomba (or Katoomba to Kanangra) Walk. This long climb brings you to Mt Strongleg, from where it is still quite a long walk on a stony path that is faint in places to reach the Gangerang Plateau and some beautiful views. have conquered. More Things to do (13) Tours (7) The Coxs River is fairly wide and shallow (usually) just across from If it is more than waist deep then it is dangerous to cross, and you may need to wait or return to Kanangra Walls. Looking back to Kanangra Walls High and Mighty Resting on Rack Knoll Bushwalking is a bloody business Ti Willa Top and Byrne's Gap Yerranderie Peak (left distance) and Mt Colong (right) On top of Cloudmaker (Brett took the photo and later edited himself into the picture using Photoshop) Jennifer leading group in Tai-Chi More Tai-Chi More Tai . The carrying of your pack and gear - you need to carry your own gear and food. If you have a large group you may be able to avoid the car shuffle by splitting in two, and doing the walk in opposite directions. But 'screw that' we thought. Kanangra Walls > Mt Cloudmaker > TiWilla Plateau > 100 Man Cave > Campagnoni Pass > Willa Butress > Kowmung > Orange Bluff > Brumby Spur > Gingra Track > Kanangra Walls. We will add a further half day at the . Tom crossing the cold Coxs River Topographic maps of the area to be shared 1 between 2. Gabes Gap is the low point on the walk, the path through the gap is steep in both directions. Oberon, New South Wales: Travel guide and things to do Another important point, follow the map. other side to Mt Berry. Kanangra Walls - Seymour Top - Maxwell Top - Brennan Top - Kilpatrick Causeway - Crafts Wall - Mount Berry - Gabes Gap - Mount High and Mighty - Mount Stormbreaker - Rip, Rack - Roar & Rumble Knolls - Mount Cloudmaker - Dex Creek - Mount Moorilla Maroo - Mount Amarina - Kullieatha Peak - Mount Strongleg - Strongleg Ridge - Kanangra Creek - Coxs the weather was very cold, and my toes had well and truly gone numb by from the camp site to the trail proper. The bush Jenolan Caves & Kanangra Walls Lookout 4WD | Backpacker Deals There are 3 alerts for Kanangra-Boyd National Park: Other planned events, Safety alerts, Closed areas, View full screen The hike itself is a three day circuit starting at Kanangra Walls, down the Gingra Ridge to the Kowmung River, up to 100 Man Cave via Compagnoni Pass and the Ti Willa Plateau before returning to Kanangra Walls via Mount Cloudmaker and Mount Stormmaker. The campsite here is rather small and only offers limited views. The plateau is traversed by the Kanangra Walls Road and can be accessed either from Oberon or Jenolan Caves. On the last day the knolls past Mt Cloudmaker (Rip, Rack, Roar and Rumble) are steep and stony and care must be taken on the trail there. Colong Caves is another outstanding feature of the area. Once on the ridge above Dex Creek, we tried was a small cairn and log book, but it is not exactly a mountain that you Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the landson which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations peopleof other communities who may be here today. As you can see, there are a lot of ups and downs! A species of velvet worm (Euperipatoides kanangrensis) has been found on the Boyd Plateau. Register your trip intentions here. crack. adding layer after layer of clothing as we cooled down, the wind picked It can also be hard to find water near 100 man cave so you might want to carry two days worth so you survive the return trip. bluemountains.heritagecentre@environment.nsw.gov.au, Blue Mountains Lithgow and Oberon Tourism website, Oberon Australia Visitor Information website, Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, Become a Parks Eco Pass licensed tour operator, Blue Mountains Heritage Centre and Blackheath office, 270 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath NSW 2785. Kanangra-Boyd National Park - Wikiwand We walk out along the Narrow Neck plateau along a fire trail, a distance of 10km. We regrouped up on the ridge. Im planning a trip to hundred man cave during the June long weekend with 5 friends. It would have been somewhat easier had my shoulder been functional. It is strongly recommended that all participants undertake some form of fitness training for at least the 2 months prior to the trip. Cloudmaker hiker 'looked lost' - smh.com.au The walk is best done in the cooler months, as there are plenty of ups and downs, and limited water options along the way. Tom and Jonathan on the Kilpatrick Causeway above Kanangra Deep. As a bushwalk, the Mount Manning (Bucketty) to . Enjoy superb scenery, abundant wildlife, cycling and walking. The national park forms part of the Great Dividing Range. While the walk is most commonly done over three days, it can be done in two days by fit parties overnighting somewhere in the vicinity of the Coxs River. However, you will need to make sure you can meet in the middle to exchange keys. It contours for a further 2.5km until you hit a fire trail, at White Dog Ridge. Gabes Gap is the low point on the walk, the path through the gap is steep in both directions. and found I think you are a great guide, and I think the effort you go to is over and above what most stand-alone guides would think of providing. ", "K2K is one of the best walks I have ever done. That is a 1000m range in elevation, and there are countless ups and downs during the course of the 3-4 days to add more to the amount of climbing and descending that you need to do! You now walk through sub-alpine scrub, heath and forest to finally reach Dex Creek, the high headwaters of a small creek fed by a pristine hanging swamp. PDF NEWSLETTER - sutherlandbushwalkers.org.au Day 1: Kanangra Walls to Mt Cloudmaker to Dex Creek (13km, 400m ascent), Day 2: Dex Creek to Mt Strongleg to Mobbs Swamp (16km, 650m ascent), Day 3: Mobbs Swamp to Medlow Gap to Katoomba (16km, 300m ascent), For detailed trip notes, visit Bushwalking NSW. There are isolated residual cappings of Permian sandstone in a few places but here the Palaeozoic basement rocks, which are elsewhere buried well below the Permo-Triassic Measures, are on the surface as high land. Subscribe to our Naturescapes e-newsletter which is packed with the latest information, experiences and events in NSW national parks. Early in the morning (around 6:30am) you will be picked up from your accommodation in Katoomba and driven to the start of the Narrow Neck plateau from where the walk will commence. Accommodation on the night before the trip start date or on the night that the trip ends. Day 1: Kanangra Walls to Mt Cloudmaker to Dex Creek Saturday morning saw us drive down to the parking lot at what we thought was an early hour, only to find it full already. Completely overgrown and path does not exist any more. Also was able to put 2 entries in the Bushwalker's book located on top of Mt Cloudmaker with the times of each pass and expected finish. There is a large but gloomy camp cave just above the creek below the campsite. I have to admit that I often discourage beginners to do the Kanangra walks as it tends to put some people off bushwalking (sometimes forever) and probably we should have discouraged our four beginners on this occasion; the walks are challenging (the hills seem to go on forever), but the scenery is stunning and it is relatively easy walking along lightly forested spurs and ridges. Required fields are marked *. From the unfenced lookout, an easy 10 minutes walk from the Kanangra Walls carpark, you can peer out over Kanangra Deep to Kanangra Walls and in the distance, Mount Cloudmaker, which is often circled by mist. [4] The Abercrombie River National Park is situated a short distance, further southwest. Cloudmaker; Nattai National Park. [5], The Blue Mountains National Park contains 46 species of mammals, including 27 marsupials and two monotremes. A chartered minibus will be waiting for us at Kanangra and will take us back to Katoomba. Melbourne to Sydney Drive - Over the Mountains - Wicked Walkabout Kanangra To Katoomba: Kanangra Walls - Gangerang Range - Mt Cloudmaker - Dex Creek - Mt Strongleg - Coxs River - Mt Yellow Dog - Medlow Gap - Narrow Neck - Katoomba Station: The barrier at Kanangra Walls car park. They breed from November to January. A unique form of tall open forest occurs in the Kedumba Valley, dominated by Camden white gum, an endangered species limited to these populations. The off to Mt Cloudmaker and down to set up camp on Mt Stormbreaker. Web page created 28 Apr 2018, last updated 21 Dec 2021. It is recommended that you book your own accommodation in Katoomba for the night prior to departure. This walk is excellent for bird watching and wildlife spotting. Stay safe by planning your trip for all conditions and telling someone about it. I answered that I would have preferred it to have been over 4 days instead of 3 - to be honest I was very happy with the hike as it was, and I certainly don't regret doing it over 3 days. There are several well known landmarks in the park, such as Mount Cloudmaker, Kanangra Walls and the Thurat Spires. Come walk with us. The top of Mt Cloudmaker is covered with trees and there are no views. Still it was nice to finally see the car park at after dinner Hug the wall to the right and zigzag the way down. So we modified our route and Shane led us down Ti Willa Ridge then Stockyard Spur and we eventually arrived at a beautiful grassy field, which had plenty of fire wood, was close to the river and much drier than on the river flats (the previously planned campsite for the night which already had a group camped there).