Kanangra Walls to Mt Cloudmaker.jpg 4,032 3,024; 3.34 MB Kanangra Walls-1.jpg 8,256 5,141; 4.05 MB Kanangra Walls-2.jpg 8,234 5,141; 2.69 MB Kanangra Walls.jpg 7,639 5,003; 8.58 MB Kanangra winter wonderland.jpg 3,888 2,592; 4.73 MB Kanangra-Boyd lookout, Kanangra-Boyd National Park 01.jpg 6,480 4,320; 8.16 MB Directly across from our campsite is the base of the long spur up Mt Strongleg. The scrub that used to be a fight to get through has been somewhat tamed by the sheer number of walkers. We love outdoor adventures! Nifty footwork is required over the rocky knolls quaintly named Rip, Rack, Roar and Rumble. We reached Roots Ridge just after lunch and we knew that the end was in sight, only another couple of hours to go. Looking forward to more! My services as your experienced guide for the entire length of the 4 day trek. Mount Solitary; Grand Canyon, Bluegum Forest & Perrys Lookdown; The Six Foot Track; Kanangra Boyd National Park. Gabes Gap is the low point on the walk, the path through the gap is steep in both directions. 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. Cloudmaker and Guouogang are eroded remnants of Ordovician quartzite. My first venture along parts of the Katoomba to Kanangra walk was a day hike from Kanangra Walls to Mt Cloudmaker in 1982. Take the north east branch, which keeps close to the northern edge of the tops. Carpark by Kanangra Walls. Kanangra to Katoomba - K2K is a 47km, grade 5 hike located in the Kanangra-Boyd National Park, New South Wales. Took us an hour per 750m between those two locations, so definitely make sure to add time at the moment! Nicole at a lookout on the climb up to Cloudmaker. . Tom Brennan : website@ozultimate.com : updated 1999-06-14, OZultimate.com - Canyoning Near Sydney - Bushwalking NSW - Tom Brennan. views of the Walls. Any personal details provided on this submission form will not be shown on the website or used by me in any way other than to email you to say thanks. weather following. Of course, that might have just been our excuse for Kanangra-Boyd is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger. 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. Kanangra Walls to Carlons Farm Hike 2009 | Flickr The group was a bit larger thanwhat Id recommend for walking in Kanangra, but Len was sure everything would be fine. Once on the trail the route was easy all the way to the Mount The 2019-2020 bushfires significantly affected the area and since the fires much of the track has become overgrown, and the path is indistinct and difficult to follow. Good navigation and prior knowledge of the route is therefore essential. If you dont have some of the items on this list, I have a limited supply of gear that I can lend you, or alternatively some items such as tents and cooking equipment can be shared. The unfenced lookout is a 10 minute walk down a wheelchair-accessible track from the Kanangra Walls carpark. if not for another party of walkers going the same way we might have It was this desperate 'rushing' through the dense foliage, coupled with my chaotically negligent state of mind which caused me to lose my GPS. Many ups and downs and some slow and tiring sections of trail, particularly on the last day. Expect long knee crushing descents and seemingly endless quad screaming climbs, especially on Day 3! Kanangra Tops at the south-eastern end of the Plateau is one of the Permian outliers. The other car you will need to get to Kanangra Walls. The 68,660-hectare (169,700-acre) national park is situated approximately 180 kilometres (110mi) south-west of Sydney and is contiguous with the Blue Mountains National Park and the Nattai National Park. The Boyd Plateau is slowly recovering from logging, and is the highest land in the World Heritage Area. Started at kanangra walls but unable to get through terrain after Dexs creek. It is exposed and some people may feel insecure on a vertical rockface with no more than metal spikes to hold onto with hands and feet. after dinner If its offered as 3 days next year, I hope I can do it again. Kanangra-Boyd National Park. In a few places the path is very faint and you need to push your way through dense and stiff vegetation to finally reach our second night's campsite at Dex Creek. The plateau trail is very wet and muddy but generally easy to follow despite the lack of any markers. Ideal fitness preparation would be similar activities to what we'll actually be doing on this walk, namely bushwalking with a backpack and climbing up and down long hills. 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. We were obviously not the first to use it as there was a well Alex is pointing to Mount Cloudmaker, which at 1164m is the highest point visible. However, they can be crowded at times. The unfenced lookout is a 10 minute walk down a wheelchair-accessible track from the Kanangra Walls carpark. The total distance of the walk is 52km, with 3044m of ascent and 2991m of descent over the course of the 3-4 days. 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. One of the most popular leads out onto the tops and provides magnificent views of Kanangra Falls and the head of the gorge. ", "The K2K guided walk was fantastic! 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. Guide to Overnight Walks near Sydney | Hiking the World The reward for all this effort is to transect a vast swathe of the southern Blue Mountains wilderness, taking in majestic mountain scenery in the process. 1000m altitude difference between highest and lowest point. All content copyright Ashley Burke 2018. A short steep scramble is needed down the gully, and follow the track around and up on to Kilpatrick Causeway. At the end of the plateau you descend Tarros Ladders, a series of metal spikes down the cliff face! The scramble down Gordon Smith Pass is slippery and exposed but not technically difficult. 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 road leads to Kanangra Walls. 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. The cliffs on the west side of Mt Berry have superb views of Crafts Wall and Kanangra Walls. Head left on the fire trail for 700m and cross a locked gate to reach Medlow Gap. The best place to soak in this splendour is the Kanangra-Boyd Lookout; a viewpoint that is easy to access. Here are a few photos of sections of the route. skies darkened and a small storm headed towards us up the Breakfast along the way, and so didn't have to organise our own car shuffle. 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. Kanagra Walls to Dex's Creek - BushcraftOz Please adjust your search criteria and try again. Sign up to a newsletter filled with hiking hacks, ideas and inspiration. Read more about Your email address will not be published. points along the way, for the most part it followed the ridge line, The second lookout overlooks rugged ravines at the head of the gorges and Kanangra Falls. On the first day at Kanangra . Victoria to less than 200m (656 ft) around Glenbrook. This karst topography, created by the Jenolan and its tributaries, is one of the least understood in Australia. 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. Click on thumbnails for large images - Fullscreen ( Fullscreen Requires JavaScript) It ended up taking us an hour just to travel the one kilometre Mt Cloudmaker - Dingo Gap 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. Total distance of 52km with single day distances of up to 20km. Most saddles between Mt Berry and Mt Strongleg offer a flat grassy area. There were plenty of great views of the sandstone cliffs crack. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission. It is up there with the Overland Track in Tasmania and the Milford Track in New Zealand for beauty but more isolated and much harder. A chartered minibus will be waiting for us at Kanangra and will take us back to Katoomba. Kanangra Walls - Mt Cloudmaker Hike 31/5/03 - 1/6/03 From Mobbs Swamp, head north on the track, which swings around to the east as you pass Blue Dog Ridge. 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. Plan your water supply very carefully! This descent is what earns the trail a Hard grading. Copyright 2022 | Darren Edwards | All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Donation Policy | Disclaimer, Trail Hiking Australia is a not-for-profit community service initiative, Golden Staircase to Mt Solitary via Ruined Castle (11.7km), Katoomba to Wentworth Falls via the Jamison Valley (29.2km), Scenic Railway Ruined Castle Mt Solitary Kedumba River Wentworth Falls (29.3km). 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. It contours for a further 2.5km until you hit a fire trail, at White Dog Ridge. shelter only for the storm to blow itself out before it reached us. Part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property, Kanangra-Boyd National Park is just 180km from Sydney. both north and south and endless photo opportunities. are useful and generally contain more, and more accurate, information on Jonathan and Nicole on Kilpatrick Causeway looking up at Kanangra Walls. A high traverse via Mt Merrimerrigal, Mt Warrigal and Mt Mouin is an alternative route to Medlow Gap, but requires that you have sufficient water. 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. maybe the route, features or access conditions have changed? 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. Kanangra-Boyd National Park | NoBMoB 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. 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. up, and the sun disappeared behind the clouds. 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. Or alternatively, push on to Dex Creek, combining Days 2 and 3 into one. It soon became apparent that two of the group were struggling as we headed up the trail. Well, plans should always be fluid and ours didnt quite go as expected. You may also be walking through regrowth that is dense and head high in places. On Day 2 we will do a relaxed day walk over Ti Willa Plateau to 1000 Man Cave. We were forced to place billies under drips from the cave roof to collect water. 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. The walk from Kanangra to Katoomba is one of the classic longer walks of the Southern Blue Mountains, along with the Six Foot Track and Mittagong to Katoomba. Keep an eye out for soaring wedge-tail eagles! Kanangra-Boyd lookout | NSW National Parks "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 . Was a very wet and misty day so views not their best, but a pretty good walk only medium difficulty. Saturday morning saw us drive down to the parking lot at what we With such a big group sharing the Cave, positions around the one and only campfire were at a premium. Don't walk it in summer! The park was established in 1969. small minaret for a spectacular shot across the Kanangra Creek gorge. Kanangra 2 Katoomba (NSW, Australia) - 2021-01-15 - Fastest Known Time 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. to fall. Mobbs Swamp is on the south side of Warrigal Gully, at the head of the creek, and is reached after a steady downhill on the track. 54km: 12 hours: 24 hours: K2K Leaderboard: K2K2K (K2). Katoomba to . Two of the features most spoken of in the Kanangra-Boyd National park are the Kanangra Falls and Kanangra Walls. Well-worn tracks were present for the entirety of the third day, making navigation simple. "He thought he was already at the foot of Mount Cloudmaker - at Gabes Gap! way to the top of the ridge. Play. Kanangra Walls Craft's Wall Mt Berry Mt High and Mighty Mt Storm Breaker Rip Rack Roar and Rumble Mt Cloudmaker Dex Creek Morilla Marloo Mt Strongleg Cox's River . in things like that. It is believed that he was planning to walk from Kanangra Walls to Katoomba via Crafts Walls, Mount Cloudmaker and Dex Creek. The walking trail is rough and faint in places. Jonathan The next 4km was one long climb, punctuated by the occasional 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. Kanangra Walls & Spire Head - Cloudmaker Photography The river should only be about knee deep at this point. The metamorphic and igneous rocks, steep . Part of Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Kanangra-Boyd National Park is just 180km from Sydney. Back to home page. This walk is excellent for bird watching and wildlife spotting. A small knoll not too far ahead was a great vantage point for some Suggest an edit here. a large mass of sandstone rising out of the surrounding bush. arriving in the wee hours of the morning. Easy track for people of moderate fitness levels. Avoid a turn off to the right to Dance Floor Cave and ascend a short climb on to the plateau proper. all the way to Mobbs Soak with only small amounts of height variation. Gabes Gap is the low point on the walk, the path through the gap is steep in both directions. From the superb sandstone cliff faces at the Kanangra Walls to the Mount Cloudmaker, there is no shortage of sights to enjoy. This page was last edited on 27 October 2022, at 06:56. Avoid a turn off to the right to Dance Floor Cave and ascend a short climb on to the plateau proper. Leave one car in Katoomba, either on Narrow Neck at the Golden Stairs car park or the locked gate, or in Katoomba itself. There are plenty of good campsites along the way. Stay safe by planning your trip for all conditions and telling someone about it. If you don't have some camping equipment like pack, tent, cooking equipment and stove, then limited supplies of these are available for you to borrow at no extra charge. 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. Usually referred to "Kanangra to Katoomba" or K2K, this is a classic walk in the southern Blue Mountains. Sydney's Great Outdoors: Kanangra-Boyd National Park - Broadsheet Yellow Dog Ridge. The Best Walks in the Blue Mountains - Sydney There is a logbook on Mt Cloudmaker, dedicated to the memory of Kathleen Jones. There are several well known landmarks in the park, such as Mount Cloudmaker, Kanangra Walls and the Thurat Spires. thought was an early hour, only to find it full already. We follow the fire trail along the top of this plateau on Day 1. Keep your eyes peeled for echidnas and lyrebirds, particularly during summer. From the car park at Kanangra Walls, follow signs to the Plateau Track. The Kanangra-Boyd Wilderness - the second largest wilderness in NSW, next to Wollemi - was finally declared in 1997, and covers 111,000 hectares of Kanangra-Boyd and Blue Mountains national parks.