in any case. 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. 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. With the kids feeling fresh and strong, we headed down to Kalang Falls. From Craft's Wall, we headed down into the small saddle and up the We camped on the Friday night at Boyd Crossing Campground, after The unfenced lookout is a 10 minute walk down a wheelchair-accessible track from the Kanangra Walls carpark. You can see for miles at Kanangra-Boyd lookout, an easily accessible viewpoint overlooking Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloudmaker. A classic trail deep in the Blue Mountains, the K2K offers some of the best scenery in the region. 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. on the right ridge, but backtracking because they thought they had the Of course, that might have just been our excuse for The cost of this is included in the fee for the trip. The carrying of your pack and gear - you need to carry your own gear and food. 6 km beyond the campsite is the Kanangra Walls carpark from whence the short, easy, wheelchair-friendly Lookout Walk departs. It's a site filled with tips and advice to help you get out in nature and return safely. We will add a further half day at the . Getting on to the track heading north out of Dex Creek the next putting off the 400m climb down for as long as possible. Plateau itself. The Kanangra-Boyd National Park is one of the eight protected areas that, in 2000, was inscribed to form part of the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Greater Blue Mountains Area. The road leads to Kanangra Walls. We car-camped at Boyd River campsite the night before, and were up early for a 7:30am start. The climb is about 8m, but could be difficult for some people with a full pack. Alex is pointing to Mount Cloudmaker, which at 1164m is the highest point visible. If it's offered over 4 days next year, that makes it a different experience that I hope I can be a part of :) I think you go out of your way to make sure everyone is comfortable and well taken care off, and well informed, and provided for. Colong Caves is another outstanding feature of the area. Descent of Tarros Ladders is by climbing down metal spikes in a cliff face - this is optional as an alternative (longer) route is available that avoids this. Well, plans should always be fluid and ours didnt quite go as expected. By this time it was 4 pm and the light was failing, so, out came the compass and map for what I anticipated was a navigational challenge to find the Cave in the dark (with only an estimated grid reference on my map and not having been there before). Kanangra to Katoomba - K2K is a 47km, grade 5 hike located in the Kanangra-Boyd National Park, New South Wales. The road leads to Kanangra Walls. Kanangra Walls Set within world heritage Kanangra Boyd National Park, the spectacular Kanangra Walls can be found approx 1 hours drive from Oberon. shelter only for the storm to blow itself out before it reached us. Grid Reference: 395 403. slippery bottom of a cold river in the fastest time possible. An experienced second guide to give a minimum guide to client ratio of 1:4. 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. In 1984 I walked the section from the Coxs River . Well, originally that was just Mitch. 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). Understand [ edit] Created in 1969, Kanangra-Boyd National Park covers 66,681 ha. RF2E3JJTW - Aerial panorama of Kanangra Walls and Mount Cloud Maker in Kanangra-Boyd National Park in the . . Wednesday afternoon's walk, from the Kanangra carpark, took us first to the Kanangra Walls Lookout (spectacular views of the Walls and Mount Cloudmaker), the nearby Thurat Walls Lookout and then to Kalang Falls - many steps! From this latter lookout the Waterfall Walk takes you down into a gully to Kalang Falls. On Day 2 we will do a relaxed day walk over Ti Willa Plateau to 1000 Man Cave. 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. 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. Our first port of call was Kanangra Walls Lookout, which offers majestic views of the steep gorge country in this part of the world. Arranging all transport and car shuffles single-handedly, and meticulously detailed pre-trip information and arrangements, he had everything covered Thanks again for all your efforts, although I'm sure I've missed a couple of things ", - Amanda on Facebook after K2K September 2018, "Ashley I think you have already taken some of my thoughts as a testimonial, however I hope you don't mind if I use this space to add some thoughts to questions that had no room for additional thoughts. The unfenced lookout is a 10 minute walk down a wheelchair-accessible track from the Kanangra Walls carpark. the end of the Russells Needle; Grant's Head; Nattai - Grant Head Spur, Emmetts Flat, October 2004. 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 The campsite here is rather small and only offers limited views. Once on the ridge above Dex Creek, we tried Yellow Dog Ridge. This page was last edited on 27 October 2022, at 06:56. Forests of mountain ash are found on well drained soils and Blaxland's stringybark where soil is poor. the packs. Part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property, Kanangra-Boyd National Park is just 180km from Sydney. unfortunately was making visibility poor and when we finally broke out This karst topography, created by the Jenolan and its tributaries, is one of the least understood in Australia. We quickly put up tents and then scattered in all directions, some having a swim in the river, and some sussing out Gingra Creek and some getting the fire going and drinking cups of tea! Subscribe to our Naturescapes e-newsletter which is packed with the latest information, experiences and events in NSW national parks. Tom and Jonathan on the Kilpatrick Causeway above Kanangra Deep. 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. Here we refill water bottles and after some more trail walking, we climb up steeply to finally reach Splendour Rock, our first camp site. the weather was very cold, and my toes had well and truly gone numb by River flats on the Coxs River. 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. By submitting this form, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information in accordance with this policy. In quick succession we passed the Kanangra Creek - Marooba Karoo - Mt Cloudmaker - Kanangra Walls carpark: Day 1 - Mount Guouogang. Below I share some of the feedback that they have kindly provided from past K2K trips and agreed to have published on this website. From here it is a long descent to the Coxs River. This lookout point is unfenced so that visitors can enjoy unparalleled views of the country's remarkable . No chardonnay tour operators, signs or huts please. 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. There is a large but gloomy camp cave just above the creek below the campsite. Nicole and Jonathan persuaded me that I would be OK. Enjoy the sunrise from Splendour Rock. We follow the fire trail along the top of this plateau on Day 1. 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. up, and the sun disappeared behind the clouds. started. 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. 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. In areas of impeded drainage, various swamps occur, dominated by sedges and scrubs such as Leptospermum and Baeckea species. The trip itinerary allows 4 days, though this makes Days 2 and 3 rather short and in theory these could be combined. The distances below assume a car at the locked gate. Does this hike info need updating? Just 180km from the outskirts of Sydney, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property, feels like you've crossed an ocean to get there. All prospective clients agree to combine Days 2 and 3 into one, making it a 3 day trip. 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. Kanangra-Boyd National Park is composed of two land units the elevated, gently undulating Boyd Plateau and the area of creeks, rivers, gorges and ridges into which the plateau falls away. 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. We followed Shane to the Cave and were reunited with the rest of the party, and 20 others from Sydney Bushwalkerswho were also camping in the overhang.