Erskine Creek

Erskine Creek lies in the Blue Labyrinth, the area west of the Kings Tableland and south of the Great Western Highway. This was a popular bushwalking area before the flooding of the Burragorang Valley with the Warragamba Catchment, as it was easily accessible by rail from Sydney. It lost favour as bushwalkers moved further afield to the Wild Dogs, Kanangra and the northern Blue Mountains, but has experienced a bit of a revival in recent times.

Erskine Creek has some excellent swimming holes, and is a great spot for an easy overnight walk. It is best in summer to allow plenty of opportunities for swimming.

Drive to the Glenbrook entrance to Blue Mountains National Park, and follow the main road for about 9km to the Oaks Picnic Area. Just past the Oaks turn left into Nepean Lookout fire trail and follow it for about 2km to the start of the Pisgah Lookout track. Park your car here.

Walking from Glenbrook station would be fairly impractical due to the distance, however, mountains bikes could be used if you were doing it as a day walk. Overnight packs might cause some trouble.

Continue along the fire trail further to the start of the Jack Evans Track, on your right. Follow it to the bottom at Erskine Ck. Turn right (upstream). You should be able to get about 400m on the eastern side of the creek before it is worth crossing over. A rough track on the other side should take you as far as the junction with Lincoln Ck.

There are good campsites at the Lincoln Creek junction, both near the river, and slightly further up the ridge between the two creeks.

Alternatively head further up Erskine Ck. A rough track starts on the west side, but crosses after about 200m to the rock shelf on the east side. From here, it is a bit over 1km to Dadder Cave, on the same side, which is a large overhang. There is a visitor's book under a rock shelf. There are a couple of other overhangs before Dadder Cave that could be used if desperate. Continuing about 1km on the same side along a rough track you reach Blands Pool.

Returning to the junction, the track to Pisgah Rock starts directly across from the lowest crossing point on Lincoln Creek. It climbs steeply at first, and then flattens a bit well above Monkey Ropes Ck. To get on top of the cliff line there are about five short scrambling sections - you need to watch for these as the route is not obvious. They are easy climbs without a pack, but you may wish to take a small rope if you are carrying a full pack. At the top you come directly out on Pisgah Rock, from where it is a 10 minute walk back to the car.

From Pisgah Rock, a short bush bash of about 300m to the north brings you to Attic Cave, a useful camp cave.

13/03/2009 - Erskine Creek: Jack Evans Track - Erskine Creek - Dadder Cave - Pisgah Rock - Attic Cave [Bush Club][L] (photos)

17/03/2007 - Little Crater Ridge: Pisgah Rock - Lincoln Creek - Erskine Creek - Dadder Cave - Little Crater Ridge - Erskine Creek - Jack Evans Track (report | photos)

07-08/10/2000 - Erskine Creek: Jack Evans Track - Lincoln Ck - (C) Dadder Cave - Blands Pool - Pisgah Rock (report | photos)