Overview

The cliffs of Kanangra Walls tower above Kanangra Creek

The cliffs of Kanangra Walls tower above Kanangra Creek

The Kanangra Walls area is the main focus of activity in Kanangra-Boyd National Park. The car park at the end of the unsealed road provides the starting point for many walks into the wilderness, as well as the finishing point for many tourists who come to visit the lookouts. The Walls themselves are spectacular, orange and grey sandstone cliffs towering above the Kanangra Creek gorge that lies mostly in shadow below. Waterfalls cascade off the plateau behind into the vast depths. It is very much "the edge of wilderness".

Access

Kanangra Walls is a hard 220km drive from Sydney, particularly on a Friday night, as many parties do. Without stops, expect to take 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

Take the Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains and take the Jenolan Caves Road turnoff to the left at Hartley, which is signposted not far past the big downhill at Mt Victoria. Past Hampton, the road via Jenolan Caves is steep and windy, and not pleasant at all. At the T-intersection on the far side of the caves, take the left turn to Kanangra Walls. The last 30km or so to Kanangra Walls themselves are on dirt road, which varies in quality, but is mostly reasonably good.

An alternative route that avoids Jenolan Caves is to take a right turn towards Oberon at Hampton. Turn left about 5km short of Oberon (signposted) and then follow the signs to Kanangra Walls. This route adds about 12km, but takes a similar time and avoids the narrow winding section through the Jenolan Caves.

Activities

Bushwalking

The majority of the walks on track in the park begin at the Kanangra Walls car park. Short walks include the Lookout Walk and Waterfall Walk, both with spectacular views. Slightly longer is the Plateau Walk, with superb views of Kanangra Creek and Falls and the surrounding cliffs.

Further afield, routes lead out along the Gangerang Range to Mt Cloudmaker and beyond, perhaps as far as Katoomba. Other tracks lead to the Gingra Range, further south, and many of the ridges that run off the Gingra Range have tracks to the Kowmung River.

Camping

There is no camping at Kanangra Walls itself. The designated car camping area is 6km back up the road at Boyd River, which has plenty of facilities and space.

Canyoning

Two of the most popular canyons in the park, Kalang Falls and Kanangra Falls, are only a short distance from Kanangra Walls. Both are visible with short walks. Other canyons like Danae Brook generally finish with a steep climb up to the Walls.

Walks

Bulga Denis Canyon

Time: 3 days Distance: 27km Fitness: M Skill: MH Ascent: 870m

An excellent walk showing off the great variety of scenery in Kanangra-Boyd NP.

Kanangra to Carlon's Farm (Green Gully)

Time: 3 days Distance: 36km Fitness: M Skill: M Ascent: 1380m

A variant on one of the classic Blue Mountains walks - finishing at Carlon's Farm below Blackheath, rather than at Katoomba

Kanangra to Katoomba

Time: 3 days Distance: 45km Fitness: MH Skill: M Ascent: 1350m

An excellent crossing of the southern Blue Mountains with a variety of scenery

Cottage Rock

Time: 4 hrs Distance: 9km Fitness: E Skill: EM Ascent: 160m

A relatively easy day walk with excellent views at a number of points along the way.

Gingra Range

Time: 2 days Distance: 36km Fitness: MH Skill: EM Ascent: 890m

A long but fairly straightforward walk out to the junction of the wild Kowmung River with Gingra Creek

Hatchers Hollow

Time: 2 days Distance: 24km Fitness: MH Skill: MH Ascent: 840m

A challenging walk to this excellent campsite on the picturesque Kowmung River

Orange Bluff

Time: 2 days Distance: 22km Fitness: EM Skill: EM Ascent: 850m

The shortest walk from Kanangra Walls to the scenic Kowmung River, with an excellent campsite below the towering Orange Bluff

Brumby and Hughes Ridges

Time: 2 days Distance: 30km Fitness: MH Skill: M Ascent: 850m

A harder walk in the upper reaches of the beautiful lower Kowmung River.