• Walk
  • Map
Time:8 hrs
Distance:16 km
Fitness:MH
Skill:M
Ascent:1080 m
Maps: LPI Jenolan 8930-3N 1:25000
Notes:Print-friendly notes (opens in new window)
Please note that while the maps on this web site are useful and generally contain more, and more accurate, information on trails, the relevant topographic maps should be carried on most walks. These are available from the Lands Information Centre, map shops, and most outdoor stores.

Introduction

Climbing up the open but untracked Cattle Dog Ridge

Knights Deck is a spectacular lookout in the Wild Dog Mountains, with views up and down the Breakfast Creek and Coxs River valleys. There are a variety of routes that will take you there. This one goes via Cattle Dog Ridge, which is another excellent lookout. This walk features two fairly long, steep ascents and descents. There is some easy off track walking up Cattle Dog Ridge.

The walk can be done at any time of year, but is better in the cooler months due to the challenging climbs.

Access

The walk starts and finishes at Carlons Farm (Green Gully). To get there, drive to Blackheath, and take the left turn (coming from Katoomba) across the railway line at the traffic lights in town. Turn left again immediately, and then take the first right. After about 700m take a left turn, following the sign to Megalong Valley. The road is windy for the next few kilometres. About 13km after the turnoff you cross Megalong Creek at the Old Ford Reserve bridge. Continue along the (now unsealed) road for about 7km, through a couple of gates to reach the old farmhouse of Green Gully. Cross the bridge and head up the hill on the other side. At the T-junction at the top, turn left, and the parking area is at the top of the next hill.

Track notes

From 13 Jun 2009, last checked 10 Sep 2017

To start, walk back down the hill you just drove up, and turn left over the stile at the top of Carlon Creek. Follow a fire trail down the hill, looking for a fainter fire trail off to the right after about 400m. This heads down into Carlon Creek itself. Follow the track down the creek, which crosses back and forth. Carlon Creek is usually dry, although being south facing, the vegetation is usually fairly wet. Carlon Creek is famed for its profusion of nettles, and you would be well advised to wear long pants in this section of the walk, unless you are particularly bloody-minded or masochistic. Gaiters will give you some protection.

Conglomerate cliffs at the top of Cattle Dog Ridge

After about 45 minutes (3km) you reach Breakfast Creek, which is usually flowing but can occasionally dry up. Head right (downstream) on a track, which crosses the creek a number of times on rocks.

Just after passing through an old gate, the track down Breakfast Creek climbs up a hill over a ridge. At the high point, leave the track and head up on to Cattle Dog Ridge. Typical of the north-facing ridges in the area, the forest on Cattle Dog Ridge is open with little undergrowth. There is little or no track. The climb is steep but fairly straightforward, the 430m ascent being covered in just over a kilometre of horizontal.

At the top of the ridge a large conglomerate cliffline awaits. This can be passed on either side, though the left side is quicker and easier. Follow the base of the cliff until an obvious ramp allows you to easily get up on top. Head out to the end of the cliffs to the north, where there is an excellent lookout, usually at a convenient time for morning tea.

After a break, follow the ridge south and south-east through the scrub for 1km until you reach Blue Dog Ridge. A cairn, anthill and reflector mark the junction of Cattle Dog and Blue Dog Ridges. Turn right and follow a faint track along Blue Dog Ridge. The track climbs over three knolls before coming to a large cairn on a fourth knoll at the junction with the Knights Deck Lookout track. Head right, out to Knights Deck, another great lookout atop a conglomerate cliff. Lunch can be enjoyed here, though it may be better to press on to the Coxs River.

View from the top of Cattle Dog Ridge

From Knights Deck, return to the main track and continue along the ridge, which begins to descend first moderately, then more steeply towards the river. The lower half of Blue Dog Ridge is particularly steep, and the track tends to switchback. After a knee-jarring descent you reach the junction of Breakfast Creek and the Coxs River.

There are some grassy camping areas on both the north (small) and south side (larger) of Breakfast Creek, as well as a larger site just upstream on the Coxs River, if you were doing this as an overnight walk.

Locate the start of the track up Ironmonger Hill, which begins at the small camping area on the north side of Breakfast Creek. It is steep and consistent, and you gain height very quickly. There are only a couple of really steep bits - one right at the start to climb out of Breakfast Creek, and the second just before the top of the hill. Once on Ironmonger Hill, the going is much easier, and the track heads north past some large conglomerate boulders to a T-intersection with another track. Turn right (unless you have plenty of time and want to head down to Goolara Peak).

The top of Ironpot Mountain has some sections with excellent views to the north. Keep an eye out for the aboriginal sharpening grooves and the "pots" on top of the mountain. As the conglomerate ends, look for a ramp on the left that takes you down. At the end of the mountain the track drops off to the left and there is a very short scramble down a cleft, where a short steep track leads down to the fire trail. Turn right on the fire trail and follow it over a couple of stiles back to the main trail, which leads back to the car park.

Spectacular scenery from Knights Deck

Related walks

Breakfast Creek and Ironmonger Hill

Time: 5 hrs Distance: 13 km Fitness: M Skill: M Ascent: 600 m

A good introduction to the Wild Dog Mountains. Some creek hopping and ridge walking add variety to some spectacular scenery.

Splendour Rock

Time: 2 days Distance: 24 km Fitness: EM Skill: M Ascent: 640 m

A walk with lots of variety, visiting a famous lookout and home of the Bushwalkers War Memorial

Kanangra to Carlon's Farm (Green Gully)

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

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: 45 km Fitness: MH Skill: M Ascent: 1350 m

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

Tarros Ladder and Carlon Head

Time: 5 hrs Distance: 16 km Fitness: M Skill: H Ascent: 500 m

A challenging walk visiting two of the climbing passes of Narrow Neck

Lower Jenolan River

Time: 2 days Distance: 23 km Fitness: EM Skill: EM Ascent: 430 m

A good overnight walk exploring some of the ridges and valleys of the Wild Dogs

Personal reports

31/10-01/11/2020 - Wild Dogs: Galong Farm - Ironpot Mountain - Ironmonger Spur - Coxs River - Merrigal Creek - Blue Dog Buttress (C) - Knights Deck - Cattle Dog Ridge - Breakfast Creek - Hobbles Spur - Galong Farm [SBW][L] (report)

10/09/2017 - Knights Deck: Galong Farm - Ironpot Mountain - Ironmonger Hill - Ironmonger Spur - Coxs River - Blue Dog Spur - Knights Deck - Blue Dog Ridge - Cattle Dog Ridge - Breakfast Creek - Hobbles Spur - Galong Farm (photos)

16-17/07/2016 - Lower Jenolan River: Dunphys Camping Area - Ironpot Mountain - Tinpot Mountain - Quartpot Ridge - Coxs River - Jenolan River (C) - Coxs River - Breakfast Creek - Blue Dog Ridge - Knights Deck - Cattle Dog Ridge - Breakfast Creek - Carlon Creek - Dunphys Camping Area (photos)

13/06/2009 - Cattle Dog Ridge and Knights Deck: Green Gully - Carlon Creek - Breakfast Creek - Cattle Dog Ridge - Blue Dog Ridge - Knights Deck - Blue Dog Spur - Coxs River - Ironmonger Hill - Ironpot Mountain - Green Gully [Bush Club] (photos)