Jugglers Canyon - track notes |
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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:
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. Jugglers Canyon is a short but pleasant canyon near the Grand Canyon at Medlow Bath. The canyon itself is not of great quality, but it is not bad. Look back up after you finish the final abseil. The walls there are very high and spectacular. Luckily the walks in and out are pretty short too. There are no swims, so it can be done in winter. It is definitely worth doing the Grand Canyon as well, if you are up for the swim. Even doing both of them is a relatively short day. It was discovered in 1993 by a SUBW party consisting of Stephen Bray, Louise De Beuzeville (the juggler) and Justin Blows. EntryDriving along the Great Western Highway, turn right at the lights on the railway bridge at Medlow Bath. Turn left into Rutland Rd, about 1km further on. If you reset your trip meter here, then:
The Pilcher Track is the one that heads off to the right. Follow this for several hundred metres and it passes under power lines and becomes a single track. After about 200m further, you will see a large tree with a hole burnt by fire in the trunk. Turn right here onto a faint track, which leads you down to the creek. NotesA vague track follows one side or the other of the creek for most of the way to the main abseils. A 4m waterfall is reached early on, and can be scrambled or optionally hand-over-handed. More creek walking follows before the canyon section near the end. First is a 9m drop into a pool, from a sling around a high branch. Veer right (facing downstream) at the bottom onto narrow ledges if you want to avoid wading/swimming. Next is an 5m drop down a waterfall, or 8m from a tree on the left. Then there is a climb down under a big log wedged in the creek, or otherwsie extend the previous abseil. The final abseil is about 20m, from a small tree along ledges to the left. It has a very awkward start. Alternatively, do another climb down the main creek, and abseil 12m down the waterfall, again veering right at the bottom to stay dry. ExitWalk down the creek for about 100m to Greaves Creek. Cross Greaves Creek and scramble up the other side until you get on the tourist track. Turn left and follow the track upstream. Avoid a turnoff to Evans Lookout, and continue towards Neates Glen, criss-crossing the main creek several times. Immediately after crossing a small side creek you will find more signs to Neates Glen and Evans Lookout. This is the end of the main canyon section of the Grand Canyon. The Pilcher Track (fairly faint) starts immediately back across the side creek from the signposts, just under the power lines. If you are ascending a steep series of steps on the Grand Canyon track you've gone too far. The Pilcher Track climbs steeply up the cliffline, then heads up the side of the gully (Juggler) that you have just descended, and back to your car. Comments
Tom Brennan : website@ozultimate.com : updated 2009-12-05 |
The Pilcher Track is not correctly marked on the map. The fire trail marked on the map in fact forks about 200m down (this is where you park), and heads at about 45 degrees towards the power lines. Once under the power lines, it turns generally north, running closer to the creek than the one marked.