Devils Pinch Canyon - track notes

• 11/04/2004 - report - photos
• 31/03/2002 -

Devils Pinch Canyon is an excellent canyon on the north side of the Wolgan River downstream from Newnes. It has two constrictions, and the lower one is long and impressive. Its name comes from the proximity of the canyon to the Devils Pinch on the Wolgan.

See here for information on how to get to Newnes.

From the main (Little Capertee) campground at Newnes, follow the track along the left bank of the river for 2km to the bottom of the Pipeline Track to Glen Davis (signposted). There are some tracks leading to the left, away from the river, and these should be ignored. Crossing Petries Gully may involve wet feet. The bottom of the Pipeline Track is reached just after the Petries Gully crossing. Climb up to the top of the hill on the track. A sign points to a good lookout about 100m walk to the south. Continue along the main track to the watershed, where there is a National Parks sign about Starlight Canyon.

Follow the Starlight Canyon track off to the right, up and around the small hill to the east. The track then heads north-east, then swings back to the east. At this point continue south down a scrubby ridge into the saddle at AMG454274 (Mt Morgan). Drop east into the creek, ideally just to the right of the gully that joins around that point.

The first section of the canyon starts shortly after. We climbed along a ledge to the right and did a 26m abseil on 2 ropes into a shallow pool. A 60m rope reaches. This avoids a series of tricky shorter abseils. A 5m climb down a groove follows - it may be possible to abseil this on the same rope, but the pull down becomes difficult.

Soon after the canyon opens out for several hundred metres. Following this are a number of short climbs into pools. There are a couple of swims, but depending on water depth, you may be largely able to avoid them by judicious scrambling and bridging.

Shortly you reach a spectacular 15m overhanging abseil. The bottom section of the canyon is narrow, high and awesome. At the end of the canyon you can scramble down the left hand side of the gully to the Wolgan River, or do a 50m abseil in a couple of stages down the big waterfall first.

Cross the river and walk upstream for about 400m until you reach the track from Newnes, which you can follow back.

An outstanding canyon. The bottom section is both interesting and sustained.

You may be able to stay relatively dry if you are careful.

One 60m rope is sufficient for at least two abseils.