However, on an Aprilweekend trip a year later, thecreek was bone dry as far as we were able to follow it. Saturday morning saw us drive down to the parking lot at what we was a small cairn and log book, but it is not exactly a mountain that you If youre an armchair bushwalker, someone looking for new adventures, or one of my friends who just wants to see what Ive been up to, this site is for you, sign up to get email alerts now! The ones at Dex Creek and Mobbs Swamp usually have water available, which is why they are popular. It soon became apparent that two of the group were struggling as we headed up the trail. Situated to the south of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains and the Kanangra-Boyd National Parks, this folded belt or "Rim Rock" area is markedly different from the Permo-Triassic sandstone dominated landforms which comprise the rest of the Blue Mountains. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission. From Mobbs Swamp, head north on the track, which swings around to the east as you pass Blue Dog Ridge. along the way, and so didn't have to organise our own car shuffle. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Cyclists will want to bring their mountain bikes to explore the parks fire trails. Generally considered a challenging route. This is where we will make our final camp. The views from the top are good and it is not a bad spot for lunch. In quick succession we passed the It was extremely stressful as I had mostly beginners with me and they were relying on me to get them into camp in the dark I wasnt sure I was up to the challenge! However, in the middle of June it also It is recommended that you book your own accommodation in Katoomba for the night prior to departure. The road leads to Kanangra Walls. Kanangra to Katoomba requires a long car shuffle. the side of the ridge. Part of Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Kanangra-Boyd National Park is just 180km from Sydney. good walk for them. As you can see, there are a lot of ups and downs! The trail heads steeply north down the obvious ridge, finishing at Kanangra Creek where you can fill up with water. Also on the last day the traverse around the base of Crafts Wall is rough, slow and hard on the ankles. On the first day at Kanangra . 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. 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. The park also features a series of karst landforms that can be explored by those with caving experience.[3]. We first ended up fighting thick scrub all the 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. The trail itself offers incredible views and is not heavily trafficked - the perfect spot to have a picnic and enjoy the view. . and found 54km: 12 hours: 24 hours: K2K Leaderboard: K2K2K (K2). Katoomba to . It was this desperate 'rushing' through the dense foliage, coupled with my chaotically negligent state of mind which caused me to lose my GPS. From the east side of the clearing, with one branch heads initially east, and then south towards Maxwell Top, while the other heads north east from the northern side of the clearing. A pleasant 10 minute stroll along well-formed tracks leads to the first lookout which overlooks the gorges of Kanangra Creek and beyond to the high tops of Mt Cloudmaker and the Blue Mountains escarpment which presents a spectacular vista. In conclusion, you need to consider the following when assessing in your own mind the level of difficulty of the walk: Please check the photos of the route and the detailed distance and elevation charts provided to you in your information pack when deciding if this trip is suitable for you. During spring, peer into the undergrowth where you might see the antechinus, a small, rodent-like marsupial. It is strongly recommended that all participants undertake some form of fitness training for at least the 2 months prior to the trip. Once on Mt Yellow Dog the rest was relatively easy. The steepest ascent of the day is from here, up to Mt High and Mighty. It is believed that he was planning to walk from Kanangra Walls to Katoomba via Crafts Walls, Mount Cloudmaker and Dex Creek. couldn't raise my arm above my head. We eventually found the Pass and while having lunch at the top of the Pass, a Bush Club group arrived and told us about a lovely campsite at the River. views of the Walls. Most of the walk is on well trodden walking trails, although in places the trail is faint and difficult to follow, and in a couple of places good navigation or good prior knowledge of the area is required. Plateau we ran into our first problem - how to get down. "First of all a big shout out to our guide Ashley, although 'guide' is an understatement as he fulfilled so many additional roles: chef (wow that home baked banana cake ), tea maker, sherpa, chauffeur, motivator, teacher, water finder, photographer, someone who made us feel safe and made sure I didn't fall off the bottom of Tarro's Ladder . An enjoyable trail through the Kanangra-Boyd National Park, located not too far south from the beautiful town of Katoomba, New South Wales. Kanangra Wall cliff top walk - one of the most dramatic cliff-top walks in the Blue Mountains, but, due to the unfenced 70 metre drop, unsuitable for children. of the bush we found we were two ridges east of where we should have There were plenty of great views of the sandstone cliffs Over 200 birds and 98 reptile species have been recorded. I had injured my shoulder badly only a couple of weeks before, and The path is often stony and awkward to walk on. Creek valley. Police were contacted on the 11th April, and a land and air. Konangaroo Clearing is a large grassy area next to Kanangra Creek, and would be an excellent campsite if doing the walk in two days. We will add a further half day at the . This has been a big help to drive the final nail Into my navigation planning! Click the button below to review the gear list for this trip. You will do this in a friendly environment, in the company of like-minded people who are here for all the same reasons you are, in a spirit of mutual respect and friendship. More Things to do (13) Tours (7) Transport by chartered minibus from Kanangra Walls back to Katoomba at the end of the walk. There 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. Kanangra Walls > Mt Cloudmaker > TiWilla Plateau > 100 Man Cave > Campagnoni Pass > Willa Butress > Kowmung > Orange Bluff > Brumby Spur > Gingra Track > Kanangra Walls. Time:2 hrs Distance:6 km Fitness:E Skill:EM Ascent:60 m, Excellent panoramic views from this easy-to-visit lookout off Narrow Neck Peninsula, Time:4 hrs Distance:9 km Fitness:E Skill:EM Ascent:160 m. A relatively easy day walk with excellent views at a number of points along the way. This area is unforgiving and there's not water on route to Mt Cloudmaker. Report of a Katoomba to Kanangra trip - and back! Path betweek Kanangra and Dex Creek and Coxs River to Katoomba is fine, if a little overgrown. Please note that while the maps on this web site 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. Next morning Shane and I poured over the map and chose our route, deciding to take Orange Bluff off the plan; a somewhat easier day if all went to plan to make up for yesterdays challenges across the plateau, visit 1,000 Man Cave and then negotiate a pass through the cliffline and walk along the south-east at the base of the cliff to Compagnoni Pass and then follow a ridge between Little Gingra Creek and Willa Creek to reach the junction of the Kowmung and Little Gingra Creek by mid-afternoon. For the fishing enthusiasts, trout can be caught along Kowmung River and, for the adventurous, canyoning is popular during the warmer months. Mt Cloudmaker was only a short way past Rumble Knoll, although it was I can highly recommend carrying (or finding) From there we had the longest climb of the walk - about 600m up - along The trip overall was not overly formal, pretty low key and provides an experience that allows you to challenge yourself whilst feeling safe. I hope it remains a difficult and raw walking trail for self sufficient hikers. The track took us up and over Mt Cloudmaker, along the knife-edge line of Rip, Rack Roar and Rumble, Mt Stormbreaker, Mt Berry and eventually back up to Kanangra Walls. The walking trail is rough and faint in places. 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. Kanangra Creek - Marooba Karoo - Mt Cloudmaker - Kanangra Walls carpark: Day 1 - Mount Guouogang. My toes were absolutely aching by the bottom. We can camp here if doing the trip over 4 days, which makes Day 2 a short day with a relaxing afternoon by the river. Actually I joined two clubs, The Bush Club and Sydney Bushwalkers (SBW), as I couldnt decidebetween them! Kanangra-Boyd National Park. 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 . There is no public transport to or from Kananga Walls so private transport needs to be arranged for pickup from or dropoff at Kanangra Walls. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 2, terrain of 5. Good navigation and prior knowledge of the route is therefore essential. I teach the empowering skill of bush navigation through my regular navigation training weekends and am happy to provide follow up training on my guided bushwalks including the Katoomba to Kanangra hike. Thurat Spires, Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloudmaker provide sandstone scenery on a majestic scale." (sic.) We walk out along the Narrow Neck plateau along a fire trail, a distance of 10km. The cliffs on the west side of Mt Berry have superb views of Crafts Wall and Kanangra Walls. You need to be careful to avoid slipping or straining an ankle on this uneven rough path. Just finished the K2K (29-31 Dec 2022), path is non-existent and completely overgrown with vines and dense regrowth between Dex Creek and Coxs River. Cloudmaker; Nattai National Park. 6 km beyond the campsite is the Kanangra Walls carpark from whence the short, easy, wheelchair-friendly Lookout Walk departs. There is a log book on top of the summit cairn that you can sign. maybe the route, features or access conditions have changed? Note there is another track from the top of Mt Cloudmaker that heads generally south east, and then east on to the Ti Willa Tops, so don't just assume any track is the right one. The campsite here is rather small and only offers limited views. One in particular looked like he was on his last legs so Shane and I took turns in either leading the group or looking after the person at the back. Avoid a turn off to the right to Dance Floor Cave and ascend a short climb on to the plateau proper. Part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property, Kanangra-Boyd National Park is just 180km from Sydney. Ashley is a great guide and fully supported us all during the walk. The track climbs up a cleft in the rocks, along a shale ledge on the west side, and up another cleft to a ladder which takes you up to Clear Hill at the top. Two of the features most spoken of in the Kanangra-Boyd National park are the Kanangra Falls and Kanangra Walls. Kanangra to Katoomba requires a long car shuffle. The Kanangra-Boyd Wilderness is among the largest and most rugged wilderness areas in New South Wales. Cross the main fire trail onto a track that heads ENE over Mt Debert. Oberon office 02 6336 6200 Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm. Kanangra to Katoomba - Athol Abrahams (SUBW), Kanangra to Katoomba - Australian Plants Online, Kanangra to Katoomba - David Thurstun (SUBW), Kanangra to Katoomba - Shoalhaven Bushwalkers, Kanangra to Katoomba - Horst Bardhof (archive.org). 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. Kanangra Walls Lookout and Kalang Falls Walk, Blue Dog and Black Horse Ridge Loop Track, Dunphys Campground to Bellbird Ridge Lookout, Kanangra Walls Lookout, Brennan Top and Cottage Rock, Cattle Dog Ridge, Knights Deck, and Ironmonger Track, Frying Pan Flat via Bellbird Ridge and Carlons Creek, Mount Guouogang and Mount Paralyser Circuit, Mount Mouin via Bellbird and Black Horse Ridge Track, Bullhead Mountian and Sullen Tor via Plateau Walk, Federation Track South: Bindook Highlands to Yass. Here is a day-by-day itinerary for the guided hike: The Narrow Neck Plateau. From here it is a long descent to the Coxs River. to make the run an official unsupported attempt, my water came from 3 sources being Kanangra creek twice, Dex creek twice and the water tank at the halfway turnaround at Kanangra walls. [2] The Kanangra-Boyd National Park is the most southwesterly of the eight protected areas within the World Heritage Site. Nifty footwork is required over the rocky knolls quaintly named Rip, Rack, Roar and Rumble. Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, Become a Parks Eco Pass licensed tour operator, Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch. The word Kanangra is generally held to be a corruption of Gundangura and was called Thurat for some time. The walk includes the spectacular Kanangra Walls, the Gangerang Range, the Coxs River valley, the Wild Dog Mountains and the Narrow Neck plateau. [4] The Abercrombie River National Park is situated a short distance, further southwest. 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. "He thought he was already at the foot of Mount Cloudmaker - at Gabes Gap! worn path at the bottom leading in the right direction. Grid Reference: 395 403. One thing I did notice was a few stands of prickly pear at Descend from Splendour Rock and continue along the Wild Dog Mountains walking track to reach Mt Yellow Dog. 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. The track heads WNW and then north to Mt Amarina, but it is worth climbing Mt Moorilla Maloo if you have time. We camped on the Friday night at Boyd Crossing Campground, after For the fishing enthusiasts, trout can be caught along Kowmung River and, for the adventurous, canyoning is popular during the warmer months. If you are lost or require help and have phone reception, call 000 and ask for police. Presumably this was to try to reduce erosion on the RF2E3JJTW - Aerial panorama of Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloud Maker in Kanangra-Boyd National Park in the . A useful book with some ideas for extended walks in NSW. The walk is best done in the cooler months, as there are plenty of ups and downs, and limited water options along the way. It is also done by some groups in one day as a challenge - "K to K in a Day" is one of the well known "hard" walks in the Blue Mountains, along with the significantly tougher Three Peaks. Cloudmaker and Guouogang are eroded remnants of Ordovician quartzite. The Kanangra-Boyd National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Central Tablelands region, west of the Southern Highlands and Macarthur regions, in New South Wales, in eastern Australia. like this. Ashley puts a lot of effort into the organisation of the trip and provides very professional information both prior and during the hike. Post the bushfires of 2019-20, parts of Kanangra and the Wild Dogs (including parts of the below walk) have experienced heavy regrowth of vegetation. High altitude areas subject to strong winds generally support heath and closed scrub communities. Participants: Tom Brennan, Jonathan Potts, Nicole Shepherd. Hug the wall to the right and zigzag the way down. It ended up taking us an hour just to travel the one kilometre Dex Creek usually has flowing water, but it can dry up after longer dry spells. Become an active member of this fun, rewarding and adventurous community. There is a steep eroded section about half way up, after which the track goes into a series of switchbacks. At a large clearing about 1km on to the tops, the trail divides, and becomes narrower. Notable features of the national park include the Thurat Spires, Kanangra Walls, Mount Colong, and three waterfall systems the Kalang, the 225-metre (738ft) twotiered drop Kanangara and the Morong falls. After a We arranged to meet Fee, Sal and some of Sal's friends at Mobbs Soak a large mass of sandstone rising out of the surrounding bush. This track was very overgrown and this was when we decided to turn back because we realised our error. Your email address will not be published. We got to the top and walked about 2km when we came across pink markers, little did we realised they go to cottage rock. However, you will need to make sure you can meet in the middle to exchange keys. Today there would scarcely be a peak, ridge, spur or valley visible from any vantage point along the entire route that I have not personally been to. The hike should take around 3-4 days to complete. Once on the ridge above Dex Creek, we tried Kowmung River via Cambage Spire; Kanangra Walls to Mt. Tom crossing the cold Coxs River few kms of flat walking, we were heading along the faint track along This bit of the ridge is open but steepapart from the last 50m or so to the Coxs River. Towards the end of the day, it was my unquenchable thirst for water which caused me to rush down the slopes of Mount Cloudmaker in order to find the closest stream.