mt piddington – horne pt – witches glen loop

Blue Mountains National Park

Closed areas: Parts of Blue Mountains National Park closed
Many walking tracks, roads and fire trails within Blue Mountains National Park remain closed following sustained wet weather causing subsidence hazards, major landslides or infrastructure upgrades. 
The following areas are closed:
Katoomba and Leura

• Underfalls track and Vera's Grotto (sidetracks off Furber Steps) closed for maintenance.
• Honeymoon Bridge is closed due to rockfall risk.
• Honeymoon Point lookout is closed due to upgrade works.
• Lone Lyrebird track is closed between Gordon Road and the War Memorial, due to subsidence. Detour is in place.
• Leura Cascades/Fern Bower circuit has a minor detour due to a landslide on Prince Henry Cliff walk. You must return via Leura Cascades track.  
• Prince Henry Cliff walk is closed between Gordon Falls picnic area and Elysian Rock lookout, due to a landslide. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• Prince Henry Cliff walk is closed between Olympian Rock lookout and Tarpeian Rock track, due to a landslide. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• Leura Cascades picnic area is closed to vehicles. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• Glenraphael Drive is closed due to major subsidence. Narrow Neck, Ruined Castle and Golden Stairs are accessible to pedestrians and cyclists from Narrow Neck lookout on Cliff Drive.
• Part of Lindeman Pass is closed due to a major landslide below Gladstone lookout. Roberts Pass is closed due to rockfall and landslide hazards.  
• From Monday 4 September until Friday 22 September Mount Hay Road will be closed to allow for roadworks. There will be no access to Fortress Canyon, Fortress Ridge, Butterbox Canyon, Lockleys Pylon and Mount Hay walking tracks (including access into the Grose Valley/Acacia Flat). All areas will be re-opened on weekends.  

Wentworth Falls and Woodford 

• Wentworth Falls picnic area carpark is closed for upgrade works until the end of November 2023 (weather-permitting).
• Valley of the Waters track is closed below Sylvia Falls. There is no access to Roberts Pass, Vera Falls, Hippocrene Falls or Wentworth Falls from Valley of the Waters.
• Charles Darwin walk is temporarily closed due to flood damage. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• National Pass and the Grand Stairway are closed at the top crossing from Monday 18 to Friday 22 September, from Monday 9 October to Friday 13 October and from Monday 16 October to Friday 20 October 2023 due to track repairs. There will be no access to the middle crossing. Please note that part of National Pass (west of Wentworth Falls) was closed in 2017 due to major landslide.
• Wentworth Pass is closed due to landslide.
• Ingar Road is closed where it traverses private property at the western end. You can walk in to Ingar campground via Andersons or Bedford Roads.

Blackheath, Mount Victoria and Bells Line of Road

• Clifftop walk between Govetts Leap and Evans Lookout as well as the Braeside walking track are closed on Friday 22nd September to allow for a police operation.  
• Govetts Creek access routes including Horse track and Rodriguez Pass (Bridal Veil Falls) are closed due to rockfalls and landslides. Entry is not permitted due to serious risk of injury or death. Entry is not permitted into the Grose Valley from Govetts Leap, Evans lookout, Grand Canyon track, or south of Acacia Flat.
• Perrys Lookdown campground is closed.
• Perrys Lookdown access road and picnic area will be closed for upgrades from Monday 9 October to Wednesday 20 December 2023, and from Monday 5 February to Friday 23 February 2024. 
• Anvil Rock access road and day use area will be closed for upgrades from Tuesday 3 October to Wednesday 20 December 2023 and from Monday 5 February to Friday 23 February 2024.
• Pulpit Rock Reserve, lookouts and walking track are closed. There is no walking track access past Cripps lookout. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for further information.

Canyons and rock climbing
Climbing and canyoning areas in the Blue Mountains are open unless the access road is closed, or the site is listed in this alert.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the local office.

Safety alerts: 4WD Oberon Colong historic stock route - 4WD only access
The 4WD Oberon Colong historic stock route to Yerranderie is only accessible via 4WD vehicles. Some creek crossings may be inaccessible for vehicles with low clearance.
Please drive carefully and be aware of road conditions. For more information, call the Wollondilly Shire Council on 02 4677 1100.

Closed areas: Campfire Creek (Red Hands Cave) walking track closed
Campfire Creek walking track (also known as Red Hands Cave walking track) and the adjoining Link track will be closed from Friday 1 September to Thursday 30 November 2023, for extensive flood damage repairs.
The closures will be managed in 2 stages:

• Stage 1 - The section of Campfire Creek track from Glenbrook causeway to the intersection with Link track will be closed. During this period, Link track loop will remain open (start/finish at Red Hands Cave carpark). 
• Stage 2 - Link track loop will be closed. During this period the section of walking track from Glenbrook causeway to the Link intersection will be open.

Please note that Red Hands Cave will remain open to the public during this time, with access available via the road and Red Hands Cave carpark.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.

Closed areas: Wentworth Falls picnic area carpark closed
Wentworth Falls picnic area carpark is closed to vehicles from Tuesday 22 August 2023 to mid-December 2023 for a carpark upgrade.
Access to tracks, toilets and lookouts will remain open to walkers. More information can be found at NSW Department of Planning and Environment website or by calling the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.

Hazard reduction burns: Ironbarks Cultural demonstration Burn
There is a fire in this park called Ironbarks Cultural demonstration Burn. Refer to the Rural Fire Service for latest information. Do not enter any closed area or area with fire. If you see an unattended fire call Triple Zero (000). Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire safety in parks and reserves, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page for park safety guidelines.

Other planned events: Notice of ongoing 1080 program
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting ongoing ground baiting program from Tuesday 2 May 2023 to Thursday 2 November 2023 in the following areas:

• Abercrombie River National Park
• Abercrombie River State Conservation Area
• Kanangra-Boyd National Park
• Blue Mountains National Park (southern section)
• Wollemi National Park (Wolgan Valley area)
• Gardens of Stone National Park
• Jenolan Karst Conservation Area
• Turon National Park
• Marrangaroo National Park

The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes.
The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
For more information, contact the NPWS Kanangra area office at Oberon on 02 6336 6200.

Closed areas: Ingar Road partial closure
There is no vehicle or pedestrian access to the section of Ingar Road past the end of Queen Elizabeth Drive. Please do not enter private property.
This means there is no vehicle access to Ingar campground. You can access Ingar campground by hiking in via Andersons fire trail or Bedford Road.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the local office.

Safety alerts: New safety barricade installed on Woodford Oaks trail
A new safety barricade has been installed at the road crossing to Red Hands Cave on Woodford Oaks trail. It's designed to slow bikes and have them ride parallel to the road before crossing so vehicles can see them.
For further information, contact the NPWS Glenbrook area office on 02 4720 6200.

Safety alerts: Remote walking track conditions
Remote routes within the Kanangra Wilderness Area including Kanangra to Katoomba (K2K) trail have been impacted by heavy fire regrowth and flood damage.
If you plan to walk in the area, please ensure you have an appropriate level of experience, navigation skills and equipment.
Mobile reception is limited so alternative communication methods are strongly recommended.
For more information, contact the NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.

Closed areas: Six Foot track - Bowtells Bridge closure
Bowtells swing bridge on Six Foot track is closed to protect public safety. An upgrade is being planned, and the bridge is expected to reopen at the end of 2023. Signs and barriers are in place to prevent access onto the bridge.
Crown Lands, which manages the bridge, is advising track users not to attempt to cross Coxs River. Any attempts to cross the river are at your own risk and are discouraged due to the potential for slips or falls, rainfall and risk of flash flooding.
For further information visit the Six Foot track website.

Closed areas: Waratah Native Gardens picnic area closed
Waratah Native Gardens picnic area is closed until further notice. This includes Gorge walking track. No access to the area is permitted. 
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Hawkesbury-Nattai area office on 02 4588 2400.