The Oaks Picnic Area is the starting point for this long walk across the ridge line linking to Woodford. The Oaks Fire Trail winds its way over the hills, with many views into the surrounding valleys and bush land. This is a great walk to start extending your walking distance and stamina, while enjoying a scenic track. It does follow a management trail and is popular with mountain bike riders.
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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 The Oaks Picnic area to Woodford Station
Cross sectional view of the The Oaks Picnic area to Woodford Station bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the The Oaks Picnic area to Woodford Station 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
18km
Time
7 hrs
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Very steep (4/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs
Minimal directional signs (4/6)
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
11km of this walk has short steep hills and another 4km is very steep. Whilst another 3.1km has gentle hills with occasional steps and the remaining 270m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
12km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 6km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (730m) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
13km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 4km has minimal directional signs. The remaining (930m) is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 18km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 18km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 17km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 730m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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The Oaks Picnic Area, is an established picnic area with shelter, bench seats and a pit toilet. The picnic area also boasts a water tank and adequate parking. It is a quiet area, just off the road, making it a fantastic spot for a rendezvous with family and friends after a long walk or ride.
(0 km)
The Oaks Picnic Area
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Int. Wheel Gully Trail and Oaks Firetrail Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 6.03 km
Time = 1 hr 59 mins
Climb = 270 m
Descent = -26 m
From the car park, the walk heads along the management trail, with the picnic area on the right and car park to the left. The walk heads down the road for a very short time to the signposted intersection. Veer left: From the intersection, the walk heads past the Red Hand Cave intersection and west along the management trail, with the picnic area on the right and car park to the left. The walk heads down the road for a very short time, to the signposted intersection. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk does not head in the direction of 'Nepean lookout' but leads to the gate and fence up the other trail. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads up the slight hill, passing the gate. The trail winds slowly as it climbs the gentle slope for quite some time. The trail then flattens out and leads to a steeper gradient, and at the top, comes to a '15km to Woodford' sign. Continue straight: From the sign, the walk continues upwards along the trail, winding slowly for some kilometres. The vegetation either side of the trail stays relatively the same, passing some clearings with demolished trees in them. As the trail begins to head north, it continues to wind uphill, passing a large clearing on the left. Soon after the large clearing, the walk comes to an intersection on the right, before the track turns left sharply.
(6.03 km)
Int. Wheel Gully Trail and Oaks Firetrail
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Int. in Wheel Gully loop Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail
Length = 220 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -21 m
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads down the hill, almost immediately coming to a split in the track, with both tracks heading down the hill. Continue straight: From the intersection the track heads down the left or right track to wind around and down to a dam. From the dam the track winds back up either track to the intersection. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn right to continue along this walk.)
Wheel Gully
Alt = 506 m
Wheel Gully has a management trail which loops down to a large dam. It is a nice shady place to stop for a bite to eat along the Oaks Fire Trail. This site is also used as an informal campsite with no facilities. The water in the dam is not suitable for drinking, nor is it reliable. Carry enough water.
(6.03 km)
Int. Wheel Gully Trail and Oaks Firetrail
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Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk Track: Hard - servicetrail
Length = 7.88 km
Time = 2 hrs 45 mins
Climb = 316 m
Descent = -318 m
Continue straight: From the intersection the track heads around the corner turning left. The track then winds, while unudlating onto a plateau that has low vegetation. On this plateau the track is bordered by rocky surfaces on either side for a short time as it winds for a short time before heading down hill. The track heads down hill to continue into a saddle where a gate marks the intersection to the right. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill to the north, winding steeply up past a rock shelf with a view (on the left). The track continues steeply uphill, then winds across a plateau with rocky surfaces to both sides of the track. The vegetation here is also lower and sparser, giving views of the surrounding valleys. The track winds across this plateau and hillsides for some time before descending steeply, passing a blue marker sign on the right before coming to the intersection with St Helena Ridge Trail. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads down across the saddle and tends right below the cliff (above on the left). The trail winds up and onto a plateau lined with rocks, which look as though they could have been placed there. The vegetation along this higher area is lower and clearer, which gives views across the distant ridge lines. The walk continues to head in a northerly direction and descends right, off the plateau, to head up another hill to a stepped intersection on the left.
(13.91 km)
Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk
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Cliff lookout Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 97 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = -18 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads away from the management trail, with the small depression (or waterhole) on the left, surrounded by reeds. The track winds up the hill, following the gap in the vegetation, leading to a rock shelf with a view. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn left to continue along this walk.)
Cliff Lookout
Alt = 507 m
Cliff lookout, an unofficially-named, informal view point, is a dramatic cliff edge perched just above the trees. The cliff is unfenced. The view across the valley provides a pleasant panorama.
(13.91 km)
Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk
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Int. Oaks Firetrail and Old Bathurst Rd Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 3.48 km
Time = 1 hr 10 mins
Climb = 175 m
Descent = -87 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads in a northerly direction down the hill, turning steeply up and to the left a few times. The trail passes a small dam (just to the right) and continues to wind and undulate for some time to a mound of dirt in the middle of a junction. The trail passes this mound of dirt and continues north, winding and undulating slightly for some time before passing an interpretative board (on the right). Soon after this, the trail comes up to a gate (with a tap for drinking water, on the right). The track crosses over this gate to the intersection with the road.
(17.38 km)
Int. Oaks Firetrail and Old Bathurst Rd
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Woodford Station Walk: Easy - road
Length = 729 m
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 39 m
Descent = -22 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads uphill along Taylor Rd, and soon turns right onto Parker St. The walk follows Parker St, tending right, then turns onto The Appian Way. The walk turns left at Railway Pde, just before a bridge. Continuing down Railway Pde, keeping the railway line on the right, the walk comes to a shelter on the left and railway sign on the right. The walk follows the footpath under the Woodford Station sign, leading under the tracks and up stairs onto the platform.
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 8 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.
Blue Mountains National ParkLink 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 feesCampingFacilities 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
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Hard
5 km
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.
Check out the facilities at 
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times.
not too much longer now :)