McKeowns Valley Walk walking track

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McKeowns Valley Walk

Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for McKeowns Valley Walk are found in each of the tabs below

McKeowns Valley Walk

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Time:	1 hr 30 mins Walking time Includes the time for the return leg Please allow extra time to rest and to explore	18.4 km SE of Oberon
Length:	3.1 km Walk Length As this is a return style walk, the 3.1 km includes the return leg of this walk (ie back to the start)	Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve
Climb:	224 m Total Climbing This walk has a total cumulative climb of 224 m, this is the total of the elevation gains made in each of the walks uphill sections
Style:	Return

Exploring the Jenolan River, this track makes for one of the more beautiful walks in the Jenolan area as it winds its way along the creek bed. High cliffs on either side form an amazing valley, and there are views of the caves as well as a great spot to break at the campsite. (open in app)

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

Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for McKeowns Valley Walk

Map of Walk

Location

Sponsor of McKeowns Valley Walk bushwalking tracknotes

Map of McKeowns Valley Walk
Problem loading PDF Try here
Map Controls - Show Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale

500 meters

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

Jenolan

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-89303N

Katoomba

1:100 000 Map Series

8930

Photo Gallery




	Cave's House +




	The track between Carlotta's Arch and the Carpark Intersection +




	Going down to the Jenolan River +




	Crossing the Jenolan River +




	Part of the cliffs surrounding the Jenolan River +




	The footpath going into the campsite +




	The grasslands surrounding the campsite +




	The dry river bed of the Jenolan River +




	McKeown's Valley Campsite +

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 McKeowns Valley Walk bushwalking track

Cross Section of the McKeowns Valley Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the McKeowns Valley Walk bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the McKeowns Valley 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	3.1km
		Time	1 hr 30 mins
		.
Grade 4/6 Track: Hard	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
		Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
		Signs	Clearly signposted (1/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)

*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
920m of this walk is flat with no steps and another 410m has short steep hills. The remaining (190m) is very steep.

Quality of track
Around 840m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 680m follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs
This whole walk, 1.5km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required
Around 1.3km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 190m requires some bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 1.5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.5km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

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 Caves House
Drive to Caves House
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\|

Jenolan Caves House	Alt = 790 m
Jenolan Caves House
Jenolan Caves House, built in 1898, is a heritage-listed building which houses dining, a variety of accommodation options^[1], and other services for visitors to the caves. Jenolan has two licensed restaurants: Trails Bistro is open from breakfast onwards and closes early evening. Trails serves a range of light meals including sandwiches, salads and hot food. Chisholm's Restaurant is open each morning for breakfast and each evening for dinner from 6.00pm. Essential items and beautiful souvenirs may be purchased from Things Jenolan, located on the ground floor of Caves House. Don't forget to explore one of the many caves to explore in the area. For more information, call Jenolan Caves on 1300 76 33 11.

(0 km) Caves House to Carlotta Arch Lookout Track: Moderate - footpath	Length = 414 m	Time = 12 mins
	Climb = 74 m	Descent = -21 m
From the opposite side of the Jenolan Caves Road from Caves House^[2], this walk follows the 'Six Foot Track' sign up the concrete steps^[3]. The walk then follows the stone footpath up the side of the valley for about 80m to pass the 'Southside Show Caves' information sign^[4] then just over 30m later to the 'Grand Arch' information sign (and view of the Arch)^[5]. The walk continues fairly gently up the path for 100m (as it bends right) to find 'Caves House' information sign^[6]. The path soon starts leading much more steeply up as it begins to Zig Zag up past a seat^[7] and more views down to caves house^[8] for 150m beside the limestone cliffs^[9]. At the top of this climb the path leads over a small small rise then gently down to a fenced lookout beside 'Carlotta Arch'^[10]^[11].

(0.41 km) Top of Carlotta Arch Steps to Bottom of Carlotta Arch Steps Optional sidetrip: Track: Moderate - footpath	Length = 31 m	Time = 1 mins
	Climb = 1 m	Descent = 0 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk goes down the stairs until coming to the entrance of the cave. On the way, this walk goes under the towering Carlotta's Arch. The lookout has great views of the valley and Blue Lake. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then turn right to continue along this walk.)

Carlotta Arch	Alt = 843 m
Carlotta Arch
Carlotta Arch is a large and spectacular cave remnant overlooking Blue Lake. It is believed that the arch was named in honour of a daughter of a surveyor - General P.F. Adams. Adams is credited with having taken some of the earliest photos at Jenolan.

(0.41 km) Carlotta Arch Lookout to Int of Carlotta and Mckeown's Valley Tracks Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath	Length = 75 m	Time = 1 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -8 m
Continue straight: From the 'Carlotta Arch'^[12]^[13] lookout, this walk follows the gravel path^[14] (past the top of the steps) gently uphill (initially keeping the arch to your right) a short distance to an intersection with the sign posted 'Six Foot Track' (on your right), where another sign points back to 'Caves House'^[15]. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the gravel footpath until coming to an intersection with a track signposted as the way to the 'Devil's Coachhouse'.

(0.49 km) Int of Carlotta and Mckeowns Valley Tracks to Int of Mckeowns Valley Bushtrack and Devils Coachhouse Trail Track: Hard - bushtrack	Length = 194 m	Time = 7 mins
	Climb = 8 m	Descent = -37 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads off the gravel footpath and goes down the stairs, zigzagging down the hill. The walk then crosses a bridge over the Jenolan River and comes to intersection with a bush track, marked by a 'Devil's Coachhouse' sign.

(0.68 km) Int of Mckeowns Valley Bushtrack and Devils Coachhouse Trail to McKeowns Valley Campsite Walk: Easy - bushtrack	Length = 844 m	Time = 19 mins
	Climb = 35 m	Descent = -41 m
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk heads alongside the Jenolan River (left of the track). The track crosses the river at several points using metal bridges. (Watch out for stinging nettles along this part of the track.) Continuing north along the gravel footpath, the walk slowly winds to reach an electric fence, then heads through the grass clearings signposted as the 'Old Playing Field'. The walk comes to a group of buildings and an intersection with a management trail (which crosses the Jenolan River).

Drive from Caves House
Drive from Caves House
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

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	29.2 km
Summit Gear	80- Bathurst Rd , Katoomba	(02) 4782 3018	29.4 km
Lithgow 4WD Centre	281 Main St , Lithgow	(02) 6353 1899	39.2 km
Simdra Pet & Hobby Mart	45 Main St , Lithgow	(02) 6352 4422	39.9 km
Summit Gear	11 Ross St , Glenbrook	(02) 4739 4373	55.8 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to McKeowns Valley Walk.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from McKeowns Valley Walk Click to re-center search
5	BIN05	Fire Tower MT BINDO Emergency use only	16 km (to the N)
7	VMC7	Fire Tower MT BINDO	16 km (to the N)
6	LGW06	Lithgow Council Site HASSANS WALLS	37 km (to the NNE)
3	GAR03	Wide Area Comms Site (off) Portland - Sunny Corner Road GARLANDS HILL	46 km (to the N)
2	RYN02	Evans Shire Council Hut Mt Ryan Triangle Flat via ABERCROMBIE	53 km (to the W)

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

Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve Link to official closures and fire bans page
This Reserve is home to the world famous Jenolan Caves. The are a number of guided tours avaible paying visitors to explore the underground on well maintianed tracks through the caves. There are also a number of self guided caves that you can walk through at your own leisure, including the masive Grand Arch which you can drive through. There is accomodation and food avaialble in the area and a number of nice walks.
Region:
Park fees I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.

Walker Feedback

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not too much longer now :)