The Bare Creek Track walking track

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Garigal NP

The Bare Creek Track

Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for The Bare Creek Track are found in each of the tabs below

The Bare Creek Track

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Time:	3 hrs 15 mins Walking time Includes the time for the return leg Please allow extra time to rest and to explore	1.2 km WNW of Belrose
Length:	8.2 km Walk Length As this is a return style walk, the 8.2 km includes the return leg of this walk (ie back to the start)	Garigal National Park
Climb:	265 m Total Climbing This walk has a total cumulative climb of 265 m, this is the total of the elevation gains made in each of the walks uphill sections
Style:	Return

This pleasant return walk starts from the outskirts of Belrose and follows the management trails through Garigal National Park to the bottom of the valley and along Bare Creek to the cascades. The cascades are a good place for a break before returning along the same route. (open in app)

Today's Fire rating
LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)

Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for The Bare Creek Track

Map of Walk

Location

Sponsor of The Bare Creek Track bushwalking tracknotes

Map of The Bare Creek Track
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

Hornsby

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-91304S

Sydney

1:100 000 Map Series

9130

Photo Gallery




	The Bare Creek service trail +




	Passing a communications Tower +




	The Heath Trail +




	Heading through a National Park gate +




	Entering Garigal National Park +




	Passing some large powerline towers +




	Heading through the bush +




	The Bare Creek Track +




	Crossing the Bare Creek +




	Heading through the bush +




	Following the Cascades Track +




	Crossing east of the Cascades +




	Continuing through the bush +




	The Cascades +




	Waterhole at the Cascades +

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 The Bare Creek Track bushwalking track

Cross Section of the The Bare Creek Track bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the The Bare Creek Track bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the The Bare Creek Track 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	8km
		Time	3 hrs 15 mins
		.
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	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
2.2km of this walk has short steep hills and another 1.4km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (470m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track
This whole walk, 4.1km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs
Around 3.7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 390m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required
Around 2.2km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.9km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 4.1km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
Around 2.4km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.7km 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.

Wildwalks
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Catch the bus to Ralston Ave
Catch the bus to Ralston Ave
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip to the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill\|Chatswood\|Dural\|Epping\|Gosford\|Hornsby\|Katoomba\|Manly\|Parramatta\|Penrith\|Strathfield\|Sutherland\|Sydney\|

Drive to Ralston Ave
Drive to Ralston Ave
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) Ralston Ave to Int of the Heath and Ralston Ave service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 192 m	Time = 3 mins
	Climb = 4 m	Descent = -1 m
From the intersection (on Ralston Ave, approximately 260 metres west of the intersection with Elm Ave), this walk follows the management trail past the large repeater tower(right) and house (left). The trail then bends to the left and continues through the bush to the signposted intersection with the 'Heath Trail'^[1] (to the right).

(0.19 km) Int of the Heath and Ralston Ave service trails to Int of Quarry Road and Bare Creek Tracks Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 2.21 km	Time = 48 mins
	Climb = 18 m	Descent = -135 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Heath Trail' sign^[2]. The walk heads down the hill along the management trail, passing a metal gate and 'Garigal National Park' sign^[3]. The walk continues along the trail for quite some time, passing a number of short power line maintenance trails as it winds through the bush. At the bottom of the valley, the trail runs parallel to a creek for a short while before coming to an intersection with a trail (which heads down across the creek, on the right).

(2.4 km) Int of Quarry Road and Bare Creek Tracks to Int of Bare Creek and Lower Cambourne service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 243 m	Time = 4 mins
	Climb = 6 m	Descent = -5 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail, keeping Bare Creek on the right and the ground sloping up to the left. Soon, the walk comes to an intersection with a bush track. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill, to the intersection with another management trail on the right.

(2.64 km) Int of Bare Creek and Lower Cambourne service trails to Int of Bare Creek and Cascades service trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 1.15 km	Time = 24 mins
	Climb = 33 m	Descent = -48 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail over the crest of the hill and down the other side, with the ground sloping up to the left. The track continues through the bush for a long while, descending a little every now and then, until it turns down to the right and crosses the creek, continuing up the other side to the intersection with the link track (which climbs up the rocky hill). Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail away from the creek, with the ground sloping up to the right. It soon comes to the intersection with the Cascades management trail (where there is a 'Bare Creek Track' sign).

(3.79 km) Int of Bare Creek and Cascades service trails to The Cascades Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 300 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = -14 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Cascades Track' arrow along the service trail, heading down the hill and across a creek, continuing up the other side as the track winds through the bush for a short while before crossing a creek and coming to the cascades.

The Cascades	Alt = 27 m
The Cascades
The Cascades are a series of small cascades (little waterfalls) in Garigal National Park. The cascades centre around a large rock platform on Middle Harbour Creek and are found in the northern section of the park, at the intersection of the Middle Harbour and Cascade Tracks. The cascades make a great spot to sit and rest when exploring the area.

Drive from Ralston Ave
Drive from Ralston Ave
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\|

Catch the bus from Ralston Ave
Catch the bus from Ralston Ave
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times. Use these links to plan your Bus (and train) trip from the end of this walk. (Links currently not working sorry) 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

Public Transport Timetables

	To the start of the walk From Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney	From the end of the walk To Castle Hill Chatswood Dural Epping Gosford Hornsby Katoomba Manly Parramatta Penrith Strathfield Sutherland Sydney
Driving Directions

	To the start of the walk Drive from:	From the end of the walk Drive to:

Near by

Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
Kangaroo Tent City & BBQs	165-167 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood	(02) 9884 9199	7.3 km
Larry Adler Ski & Outdoor	77 Archer St , Chatswood	(02) 9412 4777	7.9 km
Mountain Equipment	72 Archer St , Chatswood	(02) 9419 6955	7.9 km
Mountain Designs	Shop 16/ 9 Spring St , Chatswood	(02) 9415 4566	8 km
Outdoor Shack	1131 Pittwater Rd , Collaroy	(02) 9981 6933	8.8 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to The Bare Creek Track.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from The Bare Creek Track Click to re-center search
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	10 km (to the W)
6	VMB7	CB Repeater Site 16 Alan Rd BEROWRA HEIGHTS	14 km (to the NNW)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	28 km (to the WSW)
1	SYD01	12/14 Ormonde Parade HURSTVILLE	29 km (to the SSW)
8	MDC08	Gencom Site Lot 6 Wakefield Close KARIONG	33 km (to the NNE)

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	29°	Showers. Likely storm developing.
Thu	19°\|25°	Possible shower.
Fri	18°\|30°	Partly cloudy.
Sat	16°\|24°	Possible late shower.

A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Garigal National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page
Largely following Middle Harbour Creek and stretching from Seaforth in the south to St Ives in the north Garigal National Park is hidden through Sydney's Northern suburbs. Despite how close it is to large urban centres Garigal is quite beautiful with lots of different walking and cycling tracks. For those just wishing to picnic Davidson Reserve is a great spot just next to Middle Harbour Creek, under the Roseville Bridge.
Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping Facilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.

Walker Feedback

Comments

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Alan Donovan

IP:124.171.21.xxx | 2015-07-28 04:58:49

I attempted to access Bare Creek track from Mona Vale Road cnr Narabang Road, Belrose as shown in street directory, but the track petered out after passing power pylons, and attempts to rejoin the track in the creek valley were unsuccessful.

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not too much longer now :)