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Home arrow Hiking near Sydney arrow Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder     

Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder are found in each of the tabs below
Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder
Time: 7 hrs Walking time
Includes the time for the return leg
Please allow extra time to rest and to explore
4.9 km SSW of Katoomba
Length: 20 km Walk Length
As this is a return style walk, the 20 km includes the return leg of this walk (ie back to the start)
Blue Mountains National Park
Climb: 671 m Total Climbing
This walk has a total cumulative climb of 671 m, this is the total of the elevation gains made in each of the walks uphill sections
There is car access and parking near the start and end of this walk
Style: Return
Track: Moderate

This walk follows the Glenraphael Drive management trail along Narrow Neck, enjoying plenty of great views of the Jamison Valley and across to Mount Solitary. The climb down Taro's ladder requires skill, and much care and caution should be used. There are plenty of pleasant spots to rest along the way. As this walk follows the management trail, there are likely to be people on mountain bikes sharing the area. (open in app)


There are Closed areas in Blue Mountains National Park
Today's Fire rating
LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)
  Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder

Map of Walk

Location

                Sponsor of Along Narrow Neck to Taro
Map of Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder
Problem loading PDF Try here
Map Controls - Show Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale 1 km
Locked gate
Int of Glenraphael Drive and northern Castle Head track
Int of southern Castle Head track and Glenraphael Drive
Int of southern Castle Head and Lookout tracks
Int of southern Castle Head track and Glenraphael Drive
Fire Tower
End of Glenraphael Drive
Starting point for this hiking track: Locked gate

Base maps are used under licence and is © Department of lands   Panorama Avenue Bathurst 2795   www.lands.nsw.gov.au

Maps that cover the walk area (please always carry maps of the area)

Print a map and track notes here
 Six Foot Track 1:50 000 Map Series NSW-six-foot-track 
 Jamison 1:25 000 Map Series NSW-89302N 
 Katoomba 1:25 000 Map Series NSW-89301S 
 Katoomba 1:100 000 Map Series 8930 

Photo Gallery

 
Emergency access gate
 
Emergency access gate +
 
Glenraphael Drive south of the locked gate
 
Glenraphael Drive south of the locked gate +
 
Rock shelf overhanging Glenraphael Drive
 
Rock shelf overhanging Glenraphael Drive +

 
Sunset from Narrow Neck
 
Sunset from Narrow Neck +
 
Approaching Fire Tower
 
Approaching Fire Tower +
 
Bushwalkers Hill Fire Tower
 
Bushwalkers Hill Fire Tower +

 
View from the near the end of Narrow Neck
 
View from the near the end of Narrow Neck +
 
panorama of narrow neck looking at warragamba
 
panorama of narrow neck looking at warragamba +
 
Track to Taro's Ladder and Duncans Pass
 
Track to Taro's Ladder and Duncans Pass +

Terrain


Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)

Cross sectional view of the Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder bushwalking track



Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder bushwalking track

Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length 20km
Time 7 hrs
.


Grade 3/6

Track: Moderate
AS 2156.1 Gradient Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Signs Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required No experience required (1/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing

Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk.
Gradient
Around 9km of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 850m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track
This whole walk, 10km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs
Around 6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 4km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required
This whole walk, 10km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 10km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
Around 7km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 3.1km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Track Notes


Since this is a 'return' style walk once you have had enough of the walk, turn around and retrace your steps back to the start.
Drive to Locked gate
You can drive or ride to this start of this Bushwalk There is free parking available.
You can drive or ride to the start of this walk
Use these links to plan your trip to the start of this walk.
Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

(0 km) Locked gate to Int of southern Castle Head track and Glenraphael Drive
Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 1.16 km Time = 22 mins
Climb = 30 m Descent = -39 m
From the emergency access gate, this walk heads south along the management trail. After a while, it comes to the northern Castle Head track (on the left side of the trail), marked with two treated pine posts either side of the bush track. (For emergency access, keys to the National Park gate are available from the local council, police and National Parks services.)
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads south along the management trail and down a steep hill, until it reaches the intersection of Glenraphael Drive and the southern Castle Head track.

(1.16 km) Int of southern Castle Head track and Glenraphael Drive to Lookout
Optional sidetrip: Route: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 215 m Time = 5 mins
Climb = 20 m Descent = -15 m
Turn left : From the start of the bush track on Glenraphael Dr (marked with treated pine posts and railway tracks sticking out of the ground), the walk heads south-east up a steep hill until it flattens out and comes to the intersection with the lookout track a short distance later.
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads south-west over a small hill and steeply down the other side to a clearing at the cliffs, where there is a viewing point.
(Retrace your steps back to the main track, then veer left to continue along this walk.)

(1.16 km) Int of southern Castle Head track and Glenraphael Drive to Fire Tower
Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 5.72 km Time = 1 hr 55 mins
Climb = 216 m Descent = -144 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads south-west, climbing a long and steep hill. The trail zigzags to the top and continues along the dirt road in a southerly direction. The walk passes through the thick scrub to the thick gum forest, and up to the Narrow Neck Fire Tower at the top of Bushwalkers Hill.

(6.88 km) Fire Tower to End of Glenraphael Drive
Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 3.14 km Time = 1 hr 2 mins
Climb = 65 m Descent = -177 m
Continue straight: From the Fire Tower at Bushwalkers Hill, this walk heads south, winding along the management trail through Glenraphael Swamp, then to the end of the ridge where the road stops.

(10.02 km) End of Glenraphael Drive to Top of Taro's Ladder
Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 246 m Time = 10 mins
Climb = 11 m Descent = -97 m
Turn right: From the end of Glenraphael Drive south of Clear Hill, this walk heads west down past the special area signpost and down a metal ladder-like staircase to the lower section of the ridge. From there, the track continues south as it zigzags steeply, sometimes climbing down towards the tip of Narrow Neck, passing a Taro memorial plaque, dropping steeply down again and continuing along until it reaches the top of Taro's Ladder.

Drive from Locked gate
You can drive or ride from this end of this Bushwalk There is free parking available.
You can drive or ride from the end of this walk
Use these links to plan your trip from the end of this walk.
Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Getting there

Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk

Public Transport links currently not working, sorry

Driving Directions
To the start of the walk

Drive from:
From the end of the walk

Drive to:


Near by


Campsites in the park
Acacia Flat
Burralow Creek camping ground
Coxs River Camping Area
Euroka campground - Appletree Flat campervan and camper trailer area
Euroka campground
Ingar campground
Mount Werong campground
Murphys Glen campground
Perrys Lookdown campground
Euroka Campground - Darug
Euroka Campground - Red Gum
Euroka Campground - Nioka
Euroka Campground - Bennetts Ridge


Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk
Store Address Phone Distance (straight line)
Paddy Pallin 166 Katoomba St , Katoomba (02) 4782 4466 4 km
Summit Gear 80- Bathurst Rd , Katoomba (02) 4782 3018 4.3 km
Summit Gear 11 Ross St , Glenbrook (02) 4739 4373 31.7 km
Simdra Pet & Hobby Mart 45 Main St , Lithgow (02) 6352 4422 31 km
Lithgow 4WD Centre 281 Main St , Lithgow (02) 6353 1899 31.2 km


A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder.
Channel Call sign
(more info)
Site Distance and dir from Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder
Click to re-center search
5 BIN05 Fire Tower MT BINDO
Emergency use only
26 km (to the WNW)
7 VMC7 Fire Tower MT BINDO 26 km (to the WNW)
6 LGW06 Lithgow Council Site HASSANS WALLS 29 km (to the NNW)
4 RIV04 Fire Service Rusden Road MT RIVERVIEW 32 km (to the E)
2 KUR02 Miles Comms Site 1 1 246 Burralow Road KURRAJONG HEIGHTS 38 km (to the NE)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place.
(Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 7 years ago)
Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here
°C (feels like °)
km/h from the
% humidity     (as at )
Wed      27°Showers. Likely storm developing.
Thu16°|26°Shower or two.
Fri15°|28°Mostly sunny.
Sat12°|22°Possible late shower.
A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Blue Mountains National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page
Attracting over 3 million visitors annually, Blue Mountains National Park holds some of Australia's most spectacular and diverse wilderness areas. Explore the Grose Valley, with its sheer sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and scenic walking, or enjoy the famous views of the Three Sisters. Easy access makes a day trips very worthwhile, but with such diversity it would be great to stay in one of the many B&B's and spend a few days soaking up the region.
Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping Facilities
Current Park Closure information for Blue Mountains National Park
Closure information last downloaded Sunday 27th of September 2015 07:00 AM
Closed areas: Grand Canyon walking track
The Grand Canyon walking track will be closed from Wednesday 14 October 2015 to mid-June 2016. The closure is necessary to allow work to continue on improving the walking track. Access for canyoners will be on weekends only. Access from Evans Lookout via Beauchamp Falls to the Grose Valley will remain open. Evans Lookout carpark, Loop carpark, and Neates Glen carpark will remain open. Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on (02) 47878877 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Closed areas: Waratah Native Gardens
Waratah Native Gardens picnic area is closed for maintenance. This includes the Gorge Walking track. No access to the area is permitted.Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact NPWS Hawkesbury area office on (02) 4588 2400 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Closed areas: Prince Henry cliff walk, Leura
Blue Mountains City Council wishes to advise that Prince Henry cliff walk between Majestic lookout and the junction with the Leura Cascades walk is currently closed due to a landslip. Detours will be in place and clearly signposted around the affected area. Access from the Leura picnic area to the cascades is unaffected. For more information, please contact Blue Mountains City Tourism on 1300 653 408 or Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on (02) 4787 8877, or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Closed areas: Butterbox Swamp track
The traditional access to Butterbox Canyon via the endangered swamp is now closed and rehabilitated. No access permitted. Canyoners should use the new track provided. Temporary signage is in place.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on (02) 4787 8877 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Closed areas: Claustral canyon access change
Access to Claustral canyon via the previous route across private land at Mount Tomah is no longer possible due to landholders denying access. Canyoners should respect the rights of Mount Tomah residents and avoid using private land. Alternative access from the west side of Mount Bell has been identified. For more information, please contact the Blue Moauntains Heritage Centre on (02) 4787 8877, open seven days 9am to 4.30pm, or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Closed areas: Cahills lookout - Katoomba
As a result of a recent bushfire, Cahills lookout remains closed until further notice. For more information, please contact Blue Mountains City Council on (02) 4780 5000.

Closed areas: Waratah Native Gardens
Waratah Native Gardens Some areas of this park are closed due to a major landslip event occurring across The Gorge Walking Track. Closed areas include The Gorge Walking Track in the Blue Mountains National Park. A full assessment is underway to determine the extent of damage and to ensure the area is made safe. The Gorge Walking Track is closed at the entry trackhead however the Waratah Native Gardens Day Use and Picnic Area located off Valley Ridges Road Berambing (west of Bilpin) has now been reopened. This closure may be extended and any extension will be posted as soon as possible. For more information, please contact NPWS Heritage Centre on (02) 4787 8877, open seven days 9am to 4.30pm, or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines


Walker Feedback

Comments
Add NewSearch
Bill - Camping Question IP:114.76.216.xxx | 2010-03-28 08:13:07
Could you camp at the end/return point of this walk?

Thanks
admin - re: Camping Question Super Administrator | 2010-03-28 22:09:01
Bill wrote:
Could you camp at the end/return point of this walk?

Good question, there is space for pitching tents. There is no water. There are no signs saying no camping. To be sure it would be worth calling the the NPWS at Blackheath. Hope that helps.
Matt :)
Steve Khouw - Vehicular Access to Narrow Nec IP:114.94.103.xxx | 2012-03-14 12:22:30
Is it possible to drive as far as possible along the Narrow Neck fire track even pass the "locked" gate? Can we get the key from NPW/Police so as to save having to walk along Narrow Neck? We have pre-teen kids who want to come along with our final destination being Medlow Gap and surrounding, just to make it easy on them. Am aware this is not an emergency reason, but sometime gates are just closed but not locked?
admin - re: Vehicular Access to Narrow Super Administrator | 2012-03-15 02:53:30
Steve Khouw wrote:
Can we get the key from NPW/Police so as to save having to walk along Narrow Neck?

Sorry Steve the gate is locked, and I very much doubt they would give you the key. You can ride a bike to the end of Naroow Neck, which may not help you on your planned walk. The climb off Narrow Neck is difficult and dangerous, not the sought of thing most pre-teen kids would be up for. (but I know some kids would be fine).
Happy walking
Matt :)
Ric - Vehicular Access to Narrow Nec IP:203.26.11.xxx | 2012-06-14 03:00:57
Steve, This might be well overdue but, you can access Medlow gap Via Carlons farm which is drivable. You then walk firetrails to Medlow gap. You can walk to Taros ladder from there, also surrounds. Might be easier for the pre teens.
R
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