Bell Creek Canyon - track notes

13/12/2008 - report - photos

08/01/2005 - report - photos

Bell Creek Canyon is a beautiful canyon, with a long dark lower constriction. Most parties enter via a hand-over-hand into a side canyon known as Belfry Canyon, which is a good canyon in its own right.

From the Fire Station at Mt Wilson, head west along the fire trail towards Du Faurs Lookout, and turn left after about 300m through a gate to the left. Follow this fire trail until it heads downhill and veers left. Take the foot track that continues straight ahead. When you reach the saddle at MGA537885 (Mount Wilson), turn right and follow the track down into a creek. Towards the end, climb to the right out of the creek and do a short hand-over-hand (10m rope may be needed) down a slab to get down to Du Faur Creek.

Cross the creek, climb up on to a ledge and traverse to the right along the ledge until you can climb up. Head up the ridge to the top of the big hill (more scrambling may be required).

Head W or NW into a creek - the NW one has a couple of very short canyon sections and needs a 10m handline. Both of these lead into a larger creek, which also has a canyon in it. This starts with a log slide which again needs a 10m handline. It is quite spectacular in its own right. Finally you reach Bell Creek proper.

There are a number of canyon sections, the first being the longest and most spectacular. It has quite a number of chilly swims, including one of about 200m. There are some more canyon sections interspersed with creek walking.

About 300m after the Du Faur Creek junction, the creek starts to drop through boulders, and then flattens out. This last section is the trickiest, as there is a fair bit of scrub, and the creek bed is covered with large slippery rocks. Bell Creek then flows into the Wollangambe River, which is much the same, although you can walk along the left hand bank quite easily. About 200m after the junction, the river turns a sharp left hand bend. There is a large sandy beach on the left, and the exit track starts directly across the river.

The track heads up to the top of the saddle, and turns right. It contours round the gully and then heads steadily up, reaching the main ridge, and the entry track to the Tourist Section of the Wollangambe, between two pagodas. Turn right and follow the track up, crossing a fire trail, and joining another fire trail. When you reach the road, turn right back to the Fire Station where you left your car.

A very good canyon. Navigation is reasonably straightforward, although there is an exposed scramble to get out of Du Faur Creek. The canyon is very cold, and wet suits are recommended, and a thermal top underneath is probably not a bad idea. Some people use lilos to keep a little warmer. These are best inflated after the boulder scrambling in the main canyon. Otherwise there would be a lot of lilo hauling involved. There are some tricky down climbs in the canyon, and some drops in the entry canyons may need a handline. You shouldn't need abseiling gear.