Spring Creek Canyon - track notes

Spring Creek Canyon has unfortunately been closed since around 1998, due to a rockfall while a group were in the canyon. Track notes are provided in the hope that NPWS may at some point in the future open the canyon again.

The risk of rockfall is present in all canyons. The Bungonia canyons are similar in many ways to the Kanangra canyons. The canyons cut through the brittle quartzite and siltstone basement rocks, and loose rock and steep scree slopes are part and parcel of walking and canyoning in this terrain. The risk of rockfall at Spring Creek does not appear to be significantly different to the other Bungonia or Kanangra canyons. That said, NPWS carried out a geotechnical assessment in June 2022, and have advised that the canyon will remain closed.

From Bungonia, head out of town on the Lookdown Road for 6.2km, and turn right on to a fire trail which leaves the road between two sections of private property. After 400m you reach a small national park sign and a parking area. From here the road gets rougher and 2wd cars may have some difficulty. You could park here and walk the 2km in. Otherwise, continue through an open gate, along and up a steep and sometimes rough and eroded section of fire trail, and through another gate into the national park at MGA263410. It is another 1km of easier going to the parking area at the junction of the Stan Jones Fire Trail and the Trestle Track, at MGA271414.

From the car park, walk east along the Stan Jones Fire Trail, crossing over Long Gully after about 15 minutes. Head along the ridge above the creek to the sharp right hand bend in the trail at MGA271395, and navigate carefully on to the ridge between Dog Den Creek and Long Gully. Follow this ridge around the left of the first hill, over Mt Fordham (MGA282395), and over the next knoll to the east. Below this, follow the ridge to the south, and scramble into the creek around MGA288393.

The canyon starts with some wading. Then there are a pair of 2m slides into successive pools. After a short walk, the first set of falls is reached. There are three main sets of falls, separated by short walks (less than 100m).

The first drop involves a slippery chute leading to a 3m drop into a usually deep pool. Alternatively, abseil (10m) from a bolts on the right at the top of the chute. The next drop is 9m from bolts on the right (the old piton on the left can still be seen). After a short swim, the next abseil is about 7m into a deepish pool, again from bolts on the right. This could also be jumped - check depth. From a ledge on the right scramble down a metre or so (optional safety bolt) to a double bolt anchor and abseil 26m into another pool, with a swim at the bottom.

From there it is a short walk to the next set of falls. There is a 7m abseil from oddly placed bolts on the left to a slippery ledge. Traverse carefully along the ledge to the left to a double bolt anchor. Abseil 15m to where you can scramble down easy ledges, or the full 23m will get you to the next anchor. From this large ledge, there are two sets of bolts. Either left or right it is about 47m from bolts and slings to a pool, which can be walked around.

Another short walk down the creek brings you to the final set of falls. Abseil 43m from double bolts on the right, near the (slippery) edge, down a sloping waterfall into a pool, and swim across. A belay bolt about 5m may be used to get to the anchor. Longer ropes will make for an easier pulldown. Finally, abseil 41m from bolts on a ledge on the right to the final pool, again involving a swim.

From there it is a short walk and scramble to the Shoalhaven River.

The easiest exit is to walk downstream to Long Gully. Continue along the river past two other gullies (a further 500m) to a steep ridge at MGA291407 that leads up to the Trestle Track. Turn left once you reach the Trestle Track and it is about 2km back to the cars. Alternatively walk along the river for another 1.3km downstream and walk up the Trestle Track, marked with blue markers.

Spring Creek is an excellent summer trip, with potential options for jumps and slides. Helmets are recommended as there is a lot of loose rock on the tops, and goats and other animals regularly dislodge rocks.