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

• Honeymoon Bridge is closed due to rockfall risk.
• Honeymoon Point lookout is closed due to upgrade works.
• Lila Falls track, between Fern Bower/Amphitheatre junction and Lindeman Pass junction is closed from Wednesday 15 March 2023 until further notice, due to track maintenance.
• Lone Lyrebird track is closed between Gordon Road and the War Memorial, due to subsidence. Detour is in place.
• Lyrebird Dell walking track is closed due to track maintenance. 
• Prince Henry Cliff walk is closed between Gordon Falls lookout and Olympian lookout, due to landslides. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• Lady Darley track is closed due to track maintenance.
• 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.
• Mount Solitary Route and Ruined Castle campground are closed due to subsidence.
• Tallawalla lookout is closed for upgrade works.
• Part of Lindeman Pass is closed due to a major landslide below Gladstone lookout. 

Wentworth Falls

• Conservation Hut is closed for renovations due to open late 2023. 
• 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.
• Queen Victoria and Empress lookouts are closed from Monday 30 January 2023 until further notice, for upgrade works.
• Charles Darwin walk is closed where it traverses council-managed land due to upgrades. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• National Pass is closed due to 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.
• The track connecting Rocket Point loop to Chester and Little Switzerland trails will be closed intermittently until Friday 24 March 2023 due to track works.  
• The trail connecting Jamison Creek to Chester Road will be closed intermittently until Friday 24 March 2023 due to track works.
• Kedumba Valley Road will be closed to all vehicles and pedestrians from Monday 27 March until Tuesday 4th April 2023 to allow for rock and tree removal.  Pedestrian access to Kedumba Valley is available via the lower end of Federal Pass walking track.

Blackheath, Mount Victoria and Bells Line of Road

• Govetts Leap lookout and picnic area are closed for major upgrade work (opening April 2023).
• Govetts Creek access routes including Horse track, Govetts Leap Descent and Rodriguez Pass (Bridal Veil Falls) are closed due to landslides.
• Pulpit walking track is closed from Cripps lookout to Pulpit Rock lookout. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for further information.
• Perrys Lookdown campground is closed.
• Horse track and Rodriguez Pass are closed due to rock falls 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.
• The Mount Banks area including the picnic area and Summit walking track will be closed to all vehicles and pedestrians from Monday 20th  March 2023 until Friday 28th April 2023 to allow for road repairs.

Woodford, Lawson, Springwood
Empire Pass is closed for track maintenance.  
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.

Closed areas: Mt Banks Summit Walk
Mt Banks Summit Walk within Blue Mountains National Pass will be closed until April 28th to allow for road and track repairs.  For further information please contact Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 47878877.  

Closed areas: Kedumba Valley Road closed
Kedumba Valley Road within Blue Mountains National Park will be closed to all vehicles and pedestrians from Monday 27 March until Friday 31 March 2023 to allow for rock and tree removal. 
Alternate pedestrian access to Kedumba Valley is available through Lower Federal Pass walking track.  For further information please contact the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.

Other planned events: Shaws Ridge fire trail hosting school carnival event on Wednesday 5 April 2023
Please note that Shaws Ridge fire trail will be hosting a school cross country event on Wednesday 5 April 2023. Approximately 400 students will participate in the event from 9am to 2:30pm. For more information contact the local NPWS area office on 4720-6200.

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, who 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: Upper Werong hazard reduction burn
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service along with NSW Forestry Corporation are planning a hazard reduction burn in Blue Mountains National Park from March to April 2023, subject to appropriate weather conditions. 
Upper Werong fire trail will be closed during this time.
This burn is called Upper Werong Hazard Reduction.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the NPWS Kanangra area office on 02 6336 6200 or visit the Rural Fire Service website.

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.

Closed areas: Govetts Leap lookout
The visitor precinct at Govetts Leap lookout in Blue Mountains National Park, Blackheath is closed for upgrades until April 2023. 
The carpark and lookout will be closed during construction.
Blue Mountains Heritage Centre and the toilets at Govetts Leap lookout will remain open.
Access to walking tracks will be provided to tracks that are open. Track closures are updated regularly. Check this alerts page for updates.
The upgrades are part of the NSW government infrastructure investment, and include improvements to the lookout and carpark, and construction of new accessible pathways in the area.
For more information, visit the DPE Blue Mountains Community Engagement webpage or call Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.

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 appropriate level of experience, navigation skills and equipment.
Mobile reception is limited so alternative communication methods are strongly recommended.
For more information, please contact the NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.

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.

Other planned events: Notice of 1080 ongoing program
From Thursday 3 November 2022 to Monday 1 May 2023 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting ongoing ground baiting program in the following areas: 

• Abercrombie River National Park
• Kanangra-Boyd National Park
• Blue Mountains National Park (southern sector)
• Wollemi National Park (Wolgan Valley area) 
• 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.
Please contact the local Kanangra NPWS area office at Oberon on 02 6336 6200 for more information.

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.