Grand Canyon - track notes

05/12/2009 - photos

29/02/2008 - photos

22/12/2007 - report - photos

13/01/2006 - report - photos

27/12/2004 - report - photos

01/03/2002 -

Grand Canyon Track at Blackheath, Blue Mountains National Park

National Parks and Wildlife Service advise canyon closures at Grand Canyon, Blackheath, Blue Mountains National Park

Due to track restoration works NPWS is operating construction sites on several sections of the Grand Canyon Track. To enable these works to proceed safely and efficiently the following canyons are currently CLOSED, from January 11th 2010 until further notice:

CLOSED CANYONS:

• Grand Canyon
• Jugglers Canyon
• All side tributaries of Greaves Creek leading into Grand Canyon

Current works on the Grand Canyon Track will be completed by end of June 2010

See Blue Mountains National Park - Fires, floods and park closures on the NPWS site for up to date information.

The Grand Canyon is a beautiful canyon, with a long, sustained constriction. It is very popular because of its easy access. It was one of the first canyons to be visited by Europeans. The track along the rim was built in 1906 and opened in 1907.

It is a good day when combined with Jugglers Canyon. You can aim to stay relatively dry (one compulsory 30m swim) or otherwise take wetsuits.

Turn on to Evans Lookout Road and park at the car park for Neates Glen, after about 3km. Follow the track down the hill and into the creek. After about 1.5km the track goes through a tunnel. A few hundred metres further on the canyon starts.

If you are coming from Jugglers Canyon, avoid the Pilcher Track and continue up the main Grand Canyon track for about 15 minutes. It is fairly obvious when you are coming from this direction where the canyon starts.

About 50m downstream from the first main falls into the canyon the NPWS has installed a bombproof anchor with three bolts and two rings. The abseil is about 17m and somewhat overhung at the edge. Once in the canyon, good route finding and a bit of scrambling can help you avoid all but the last 30m swim. The scrambling can be quite tricky, and some people will probably get wet. The rest of the canyon is no more than waist deep. The 30m swim is just after a sharp right hand bend, near the end of the canyon.

The exit is relatively obvious. You reach a pair of signs just before a side creek comes in from the right, one to Neates Glen and one to Evans Lookout. Either follow the main track back to Neates Glen and the car, or if you have come from Jugglers Canyon, immediately after you cross the side creek, the Pilcher Track (very faint) heads up to the right.

The tree mentioned as the abseil anchor in Jamieson's guide fell down a number of years ago. The abseil is now 17m.