Rocky Creek Canyon

Rocky Creek Canyon

One of the easiest and most popular Blue Mountains canyons is now even easier to access.

Steam rises from canyoners in Rocky Creek Canyon

There are plenty of absolutely stunning canyons in the Blue Mountains of NSW – places where millions of years have carved deep, polished slots in the sandstone, where ferns dapple the available light, and water is so untarnished you can drink it from the pools beneath your feet. Often using ropes, canyoners descend into these gorgeous spaces, squeezing, swimming and squelching through the terrain, following creeks wherever they lead – through underground caves, chambers and steep-sided valleys.
A few canyons are relatively easy, such as the classic one down the Wollangambe River via Mt Wilson, which is really just a fun day out on a lilo. Others require a lot of experience and rope skills to even attempt.
Rocky Creek Canyon fits into the first category. There are no abseils, navigation is pretty easy, and the canyon is one of the few that you can do in reverse (if water levels are not too high), making navigation even easier.

Like all canyoning, it is worth remembering the risks. If in any doubt about incoming rain or storms, do not enter the canyon. Be prepared to be very cold, even if you have wetsuits, and always carry warm and dry clothing and emergency gear (preferably in a dry bag).

Getting to Rocky Creek

The Zig Zag Railway carpark is near the western end of Bells Line of Road, about 10km from Lithgow. It's a good enough place to meet, with the last toilet available.
Follow the dirt road out to the Newnes Plateau, turning right at the first intersection onto Galah Mountain Road. You will basically follow that road all the way out to the end. It veers right a couple of times, and wanders through pine forest, native forest and over a couple of graded ditches and humps.
However, perhaps because of road grading during the recent fires, the road is in really, really good condition at the moment, and you should have no problem getting any sedan in there (my low-slung Camry made it with just one clunk on the undercarriage).

Walk in

Towering coachwood

The last section of road goes steeply downhill to a small carpark. On weekends it may be crowded in the carpark. There is an information sign, and an obvious track heads downhill. Follow this almost to the bottom, and then take a major fork that goes off to the right. This track will wind sharply down to a gorgeous patch of rainforest at the base of the cliff, with towering coachwood trees and tree ferns. The little footpad then continues on the other side of the creek, winding up slightly and along the creek. Keep following it, until you reach a rock platform with a 3m waterfall off to the left, and another creek coming in from the right. This is the start of the canyon proper and the best place to don wetsuits.

Walk in through rainforest

Canyon

The start of the canyon, with climb-down through a hole on the left of frame

The brave or foolhardy can jump the waterfall, but there are hidden rock ledges, so it is NOT advised. Instead, there is a fun clamber down a hole to the right, and a rope is currently in place to help. From there the canyon involves some short swims, walks and wades, with a gorgeous narrow ampitheatre of rock above. There are yabbies and ferns, and moments when single shafts of light shine on individual rocks way below. There are also a couple of longer swims, particularly towards the end, and a lovely little jump in of a couple of metres. Unlike many canyons, the walking is relatively easy, with a minimum of really slippery odd-shaped rocks.

Finish

Be prepared, if anyone is really cold, or if rain is looking likely, to take the exit about a kilometre downstream from the canyon, when the creek does a hairpin bend to the right. It involves a mildly scary rock scramble up a 30m cliff, then a wander up the ridge and along back to the car park. You should have the topo map, compass and the ability to find this route. However, most people warm up for a little while in any sunny spot they can find outside the canyon (good place for lunch) then return back through the canyon, and it's even more fun going against the current.

Extras
Some people do a higher canyon called Sheep dip, and then go into Rocky Creek from there.

Note

I shot all my images on this trip on iPhone for the first time, discovering that they are pretty useless in low light - all the exposures were too long to handhold clearly. Apologies for the photos on this blog. However, Ian Brown was with us shooting for our feature on Wollemi National Park to appear in Australian Geographic, and his photos are stunning. Keep an eye out for the feature.

www.kensbigbackyard.com.au