Zig-Zag Railway Walk walking track

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Zig-Zag Railway Walk

Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Zig-Zag Railway Walk are found in each of the tabs below

Zig-Zag Railway Walk

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Time:	1 hr 45 mins Walking time Includes the time for the return leg Please allow extra time to rest and to explore	6.6 km E of Lithgow
Length:	4.6 km Walk Length As this is a return style walk, the 4.6 km includes the return leg of this walk (ie back to the start)	Lithgow(LGA)
Climb:	245 m Total Climbing This walk has a total cumulative climb of 245 m, this is the total of the elevation gains made in each of the walks uphill sections
Style:	Return

With a steam train ride from the end of the walk back to the start, the Zig-Zag Railway Walk is a very interesting one. Climbing to the ridges above the railway, this walk offers walkers the opportunity to watch the train as it puffs and hoots it's way from Clarence Station to Bottom Points Station. And that's even before you have a chance to get on the train and rest all the way back to the start, or alternatively retrace your steps back. (open in app)

There are Closed areas in Wollemi National Park
Today's Fire rating
LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)

Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for Zig-Zag Railway Walk

Map of Walk

Location

Sponsor of Zig-Zag Railway Walk bushwalking tracknotes

Map of Zig-Zag Railway Walk
Problem loading PDF Try here
Map Controls - Show Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale

1 km

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

Lithgow

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-89313S

Wallerawang

1:100 000 Map Series

8931

Photo Gallery




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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 Zig-Zag Railway Walk bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Zig-Zag Railway Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Zig-Zag Railway Walk bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Zig-Zag Railway Walk 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	4.6km
		Time	1 hr 45 mins
		.
Grade 3/6 Track: Moderate	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Clearly signposted (1/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		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
860m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 730m has short steep hills. The remaining (690m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track
Around 1.6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 690m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs
This whole walk, 2.3km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required
Around 1.6km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 690m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 2.3km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
This whole walk, 2.3km 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.

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Drive to Clarence Station
Drive to Clarence Station
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) Clarence Station to Int of Leap Junction and Railway Tracks Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 689 m	Time = 13 mins
	Climb = 27 m	Descent = -4 m
From the station car park, this walk heads across the railway tracks to the picnic tables and information signs saying 'Zig-Zag Railway', next to the railway station. From here, the walk turns and heads behind the buildings and parallel to the old railway tracks. After a short while, the track comes to an intersection with a management trail on the right, that heads away from the railway tracks.

(0.69 km) Int of Leap Junction and Railway Tracks to Leap Junction Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 861 m	Time = 19 mins
	Climb = 23 m	Descent = -68 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads away from the railway track and follows the small markers along the wide trail. Continuing past the fence (off to the right), the trail soon changes to a bush track, and then winds slightly down the hill. Heading up the other side, the track follows the markers along the ridge until reaching a lookout, signposted 'Leap Junction'. Once on the ridge, the surrounding environment is extremely barren and this provides some good views over the area, including the railway to the north-west.

(1.55 km) Leap Junction to Bottom Points Railway Station Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 725 m	Time = 17 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = -119 m
Turn right: From the lookout, this walk heads down the hill along a faint track, following the white markers. Gradually, this steepens until reaching a large rock platform, directly overlooking the railway station. From the rockshelf, the track steepens even further and metal railings, steps and bridges have been constructed to help with the descent. After a while, the walk crosses a small bridge and passes a signpost saying 'Zig Zag Walkway', entering into the railway station.

(2.28 km) Bottom Points Railway Station to Clarence Station Alternate Exit: Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - transport ( Show detail)	Length = 5.96 km	Time = 45 mins
	Climb = 383 m	Descent = -246 m
Continue straight: From Bottom Points Railway Station, this walk takes a steam train back to Clarence Station. Steam services operate on: Weekends and Public Holidays, Wednesdays and NSW School Holidays (except Christmas Day). The trip takes approximately 40 minutes and run at 9:50, 11:50, 1:50 and 3:50. Adult fares are $17 one way. (Please check Zigzag Railway website for changes in information). (End of the alternative exit track) More info

Drive from Clarence Station
Drive from Clarence Station
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
Colo Meroo camping ground
Dunns Swamp camping ground
Little Capertee Camping Ground
Newnes camping ground
Wheeny Creek camping ground

Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
Simdra Pet & Hobby Mart	45 Main St , Lithgow	(02) 6352 4422	5.7 km
Lithgow 4WD Centre	281 Main St , Lithgow	(02) 6353 1899	7 km
Summit Gear	80- Bathurst Rd , Katoomba	(02) 4782 3018	27.5 km
Paddy Pallin	166 Katoomba St , Katoomba	(02) 4782 4466	27.8 km
Richmond Camping Supplies	340 Windsor St , Richmond	(02) 4578 3004	50.6 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Zig-Zag Railway Walk.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Zig-Zag Railway Walk Click to re-center search
6	LGW06	Lithgow Council Site HASSANS WALLS	7 km (to the WSW)
3	GAR03	Wide Area Comms Site (off) Portland - Sunny Corner Road GARLANDS HILL	27 km (to the WNW)
5	BIN05	Fire Tower MT BINDO Emergency use only	30 km (to the SW)
7	VMC7	Fire Tower MT BINDO	30 km (to the SW)
2	KUR02	Miles Comms Site 1 1 246 Burralow Road KURRAJONG HEIGHTS	37 km (to the ESE)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Central Ranges 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 )

A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Walker Feedback

Comments

Add New

Molly - Train closed (?)

IP:129.78.32.xxx | 2012-09-04 08:27:51

I'm pretty sure this train service is closed due to safety issues. There's a plan to reopen, but it could take a while (this is what I've gleaned from local info anyway).

Kaz - Track update

IP:124.176.170.xxx | 2012-12-28 01:46:22

I walked this track a few days ago and as Molly said the train service is not running. I spoke with the local info centre and they said that the likelihood of it being opened again is unlikely in the near future, so I would suggest if you plan to walk this track make sure you know it is a return style trip.

I wouild also like to point out that the markers from Leap Junction are yellow painted markings on logs and rocks and they are fading badly so you will need to keep a close eye out for them.

michelle

IP:49.195.56.xxx | 2014-01-11 21:40:52

Sadly the zig zag railway succumbed to the recent bushfires. Perhaps it might be better to change the description and make this a return walk.

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not too much longer now :)