| Time: | 4 hrs |
| Distance: | 6km |
| Fitness: | EM |
| Skill: | EM |
| Ascent: | 400m |
| Maps: | LPI Colo Heights 9031-3N 1:25000 |
| Bob Buck Colo River Sketch Map 1:50000 | |
Introduction
Canoe Creek is a challenging day walk or easy overnight walk to where it joins the Colo River. As with almost all Colo River walks there is a steep climb in and out. However, the climb is well worthwhile, as the Colo Wilderness is a fantastic place, and this walk takes you to its edge. It would be good in summer as the canopy gives you some protection from the sun on the climbs, and the river offers a place to cool off in between.
Access
Canoe Creek is accessed from the Grassy Hill Fire Trail. Drive north on the Putty Rd for 16km past the Caltex service station at Colo Heights. The fire trail is on your left, although it can be very hard to spot, particularly at speed. It is usually signposted, but the signs are not necessarily visible from the road.
Turn on to the fire trail and follow it until you reach a gate after 8.5km. The quality of the fire trail depends on how recently it has been graded. In general, 2WD vehicles will be able to negotiate the trail, but low clearance vehicles may have difficulty.
Park your car in the clearing just before the gate at the wilderness boundary.
Track notes
From 26 May 2001, last checked 07 May 2016
The walk can be done as a day walk, or as an easy overnight walk. However, the 400m descent to the Colo puts a bit more strain on the knees with a full pack.
Note that the maps for this walk are often wrong or unhelpful. The car park is in fact in the saddle at GDA752158 (Colo Heights map), whereas on a number of printed guides it is marked closer to the Putty Rd. On the old edition (1st edition) topographic map, the fire trail beyond the barrier is marked completely incorrectly, as the actual trail is much lower down, to the east of the ridge. On the 2nd edition topographic map the fire trail is not marked at all beyond the barrier, although the barrier is at least marked correctly. On more recent topographic maps the fire trail is marked correctly. As a result, regardless of the map you are using, it is strongly recommended that you carry a copy of the sketch map on this site as well.
From the car park, follow the fire trail down the hill, contouring in and out of the gullies. After about 1.5km, the trail takes a right hand bend, heads up a longish hill and opens out into a clearing at a second right hand bend (GDA743145). Look for a small foot track off to the left.
The track is vague in places, and care must be taken not to stray too far from it. It general follows the ridge into Canoe Creek, heading for the junction with the first side creek. The track heads south, swinging around to the south east. The track winds downwards, getting progressively steeper until you reach Canoe Creek. Towards the bottom, it follows a small gully down to Canoe Creek, either in the gully or on the left side.
The track then continues along the right hand bank of Canoe Creek to a lookout over the Colo. There are a number of small scrambles along the way, including one tricky one just after you reach Canoe Creek. As you near the Colo, stay high to reach a good lookout with views across to the magnificent Savage Ridge, and upstream on the Colo River. About 5m back from the lookout, a steep track descends to the junction of Canoe Creek with the Colo.
To return you can simply retrace your route, although there are a number of other passes and routes out of Canoe Creek. Experienced walkers should consult Bob Buck's Colo River Sketch Map. Be aware that many of the routes are not straightforward and require some effort and possibly exposed rock scrambling to find.