This walk, from Epping to Pennant Hills Station, is a great way to see the upper Lane Cove River Valley. The walk does pass near major roads, but there are times along the track, near Browns Water Hole and along the Lane Cove River, where you forget how close you are to the city. Allow time to enjoy some of the lovely spots along the way.
(open in app)
There are Closed areas in Lane Cove National Park Today's Fire rating LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)
Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for Epping to Pennant Hills Station (via Lane Cove River)
Cross sectional view of the Epping to Pennant Hills Station (via Lane Cove River) bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Epping to Pennant Hills Station (via Lane Cove River) 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 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
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
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
4.6km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 2.5km is flat with no steps. The remaining (1.3km) is very steep.
Quality of track
3.2km of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 3.2km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (2km) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 4.7km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 3.7km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 8km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 770m requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 8km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 90m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 6km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 2.8km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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(0 km)
Epping Station
to
End of Pembroke street Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - road
Length = 1.02 km
Time = 18 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -46 m
From the eastern side of Epping Station the walk crosses over the street at the pedestrian crossing and heads up Pembroke St. The walk heads up the slight hill passing a Dentist's and church on the left. The walk continues to follow the road passing through a round-a-bout with Essex St and then comes down to Epping Rd. Epping Rd is crossed using the pedestrian crossings. A sign to Macquarie Park and Marsfield is followed up Epping Rd and then right onto Pembroke St again. The walk heads up Pembroke St following the white signs and white bicycles painted on the ground. The walk continues down Pembroke St passing some side roads to come to an intersection with the bike bath (on your left) just before the end of the road.
(1.02 km)
End of Pembroke St
to
Int on Epping Rd east of Terrys Creek Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 113 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -2 m
Turn left: From near the end of Pembroke Street[1], this walk follows the 'Marsfield' sign[2] along the concrete cycle path. The path soon leads across a small bridge[3] then bends right to cross a much bigger bridge[4] (over Terrys Creek[5]) beside Epping Road. Once off the bridge this walk continues along the path for about 20m to the end of the green fence[6]. Here the walk comes to an intersection with a bush track (on the right[7])
(1.14 km)
Int on Epping Rd east of Terrys Creek
to
Int of Eastwood Station and Rest area tracks Walk: Easy - bushtrack
Length = 37 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track gently downhill, directly away from Epping Road, initially keeping the green fence to your right[8]. The track winds down through a re-vegetating clearing for about 30m to come to an intersection marked with a no.13 post[9] and a 'Floodway' danger sign[10]
(1.17 km)
Int of Eastwood Station and Rest area tracks
to
Int of Terry's Creek Walking Track and Brown's Waterhole Servicetrail Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.97 km
Time = 36 mins
Climb = 37 m
Descent = -46 m
Turn right: From the intersection the track heads down the steps to the intersection of the Pembroke Street path at the bottom. Veer right: From the intersection the track heads under the Epping road bridge on the right side of the creek and onto the bushtrack which winds up the gentle hill to the intersection of the Epping Road bushtrack. Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the Browns Waterhole arrow down the short hill passing a sewage access point and signpost 15, continuing along side the creek to the intersection of the Browns Waterhole bushtrack. Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the bush track north east along the bushtrack winding along the creek and down across a wooden bridge continuing up and along through the bush to the intersection of the Browns Waterhole bushtrack. Veer right: From the intersection the track heads north down the short hill and past a sewage access point, winding along the creek to the intersection of the Browns Waterhole bushtrack. Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the bushtrack north passing a sewage access point and continuing through the bush as the track winds along the right hand side of the creek, passing 2 more sewage access points along the track before coming to the signposted intersection of the Browns Waterhole track. Turn right: From the intersection the track heads east down the gentle hill and around a sewage access point, continuing up the other side for a short while to the signposted intersection of the Browns Waterhole track. Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the Browns Waterhole arrow through the bush, winding all the way through the bush as it winds around to a rock platform with views of the M2 motorway bridge and continues through the bush for a short while to the signposted intersection of the Browns Waterhole track. Turn left: From the intersection the track follows the bushtrack heading down and across the creek and up the other side coming to the signposted intersection of the Crimea road and Browns Waterhole tracks Turn left: From the intersection the track follows the Browns Waterhole arrow north along the bushtrack crossing underneath the M2 moter way and continuing along, down some steps and through to the intersection of a bushtrack winding down across the creek. Continue straight: From the intersection the track heads north east away from the M2 overpass, following the bushtrack through the valley as it winds down some wooden steps and joins onto a metal walkway which continues through dense bushland until joining back onto a dirt track and continues all the way along to the intersection of the Browns Waterhole track.
(3.14 km)
Int of Terry's Creek Walking Track and Brown's Waterhole Servicetrail
to
Browns Waterhole Path: Easy - Wheelchair accessible - footpath
Length = 40 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -3 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the concrete management trail down the gentle hill to the picnic tables and clearing signposted as 'Browns Waterhole'.
Browns Waterhole
Alt = 31 m
Browns Waterhole is a wide, shallow section of the Lane Cove River, downstream of a concrete weir[11]. There is a concrete shared cycle/footpath crossing over the top of the weir, linking Kissing Point Road, South Turramurra to Vimiera Rd, Macquarie Park. On the western side of the waterhole, there is a picnic table[12] and small clearing with a view over this section of the river.
(3.18 km)
Browns Waterhole
to
Browns Waterhole int Track: Moderate - footpath
Length = 90 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -5 m
Continue straight: From Browns Waterhole picnic area, this walk follows the management trail down to the causeway and across Browns Waterhole (caution is needed during and after rain, may become impassable). Immediately after the river, the walk comes to an intersection with the Great North Walk trail.
(3.27 km)
Browns Waterhole int
to
Int of Pennant Hills park road Track: Hard - servicetrail
Length = 3.15 km
Time = 1 hr 5 mins
Climb = 147 m
Descent = -53 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'The Great North Walk' sign[13] along the dirt management trail, keeping the Lane Cove River to your left. After about 80m, the trail leads under some high tension power lines[14], where there is a mostly clear view over the river[15] (to your left). The trail then gently leads down through the valley[16] for about 400m to come to an intersection with Cove St trail, marked with a GNW arrow post[17]. Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[18] downhill along the management trail for about 30m to cross a small culverted creek[19]. The walk then follows the trail up the short hill to come to an intersection with the signposted 'STEP track'[20][21] (on your right). Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the GNW arrow post[22] and STEP Track markers[23] along the management trail, whilst keeping the river to your left. The trail undulates through the valley (weedy in places[24]) and tall forest[25] for just shy of 600m, to come to a clear intersection at the bottom of a sealed management trail[26] (on your right). This intersection is marked with another 'STEP Track' map/sign[27] and a 'The Great North Walk' sign[28]. Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'The Great North Walk' sign gently downhill along the management trail, directly away from the face of the 'STEP Track' map/sign[29]. Keeping the river to your left, the trail leads downhill for about 80m to come to a Y-intersection[30], where there is a 'Lane Cove Valley' map/sign[31] and a 'Lane Cove River Park' sign[32] pointing back along the trail. Veer left: From the Intersection the track follows the lower branching serverice trail accross the river before climbing a small but steep bank. Immediately upon reaching the top of this small climb the track comes to an intersection of the Pennant Hills Park service trail. Turn right: From the intersection the track follows the Pennant Hills ovals sign up the steep rocky service trail winding all the way up the side of the valley, flattening out to a gentle climb as it approaches the top and passing the intersection of a powerline service trail, continuing along the top of the ridge all the way to the intersection of the second second powerline service trail. From here the track continues along the ridge, following the service trail through the thick bushland all the way to the intersection of the third powerline service trail. Continue straight: From the intersection the track follows the service trail winding up the gentle hill and turning right at the archery warning sign, continuing through the bush to the intersection of the airfield service trail. Turn left: From the intersection the track follows the service trail west through the bush up a long gentle hill and through a metal gate to the intersection of the Pennant Hills park road.
Pennant Hills Park
Alt = 124 m
Pennant Hills Park is a large sporting complex located in the back of Pennant Hills and on the border of the Land Cove National Park. This large venue consists of four large ovals (3 with cricket pitches), 16 tennis courts, a hockey court and an archery range. If you would like to book a tennis court then contact David Cochrane (02) 9481 0970. There are also BBQ and picnic facilities provided at the park.
(6.43 km)
End of Pennant Hills Park
to
Pennant Hills station Walk: Easy - road,footpath
Length = 1.98 km
Time = 34 mins
Climb = 62 m
Descent = -16 m
Veer right: From the intersection at the National Park gate the track follows the road up the gentle hill as it passes several tennis courts, football and hockey fields as it winds all the way up to the intersection of the bushtrack behind the "Pennant Hills Park walking track system" sign on the left side of the road. Continue straight: From the intersection the track heads up the road keeping the sports oval on the right of the road as it comes to the round about. Turn right: From the roundabout the track follows Britannia street up past the two large ovals and continuing all the way along, winding around the left and right hand bends in the road which becomes the Cresant, and heads up the hill to the intersection of Pennant Hills road. From the intersection the track turns left at the main road and follows it along the footpath for a short distance to the bottom of the overpass, turning left up the ramp that winds all the way up and over the road coming back down to the intersection of Railway street. From the intersection the track follows Railway street down the hill and past the bus stops to the entrance to the train station.
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.
Lane Cove National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page This small but picturesque city park is a haven of peaceful bushland along the winding Lane Cove River. Home to the Kukundi Wildlife Shelter and 27 km of the Great North Walk, you can also hire a boat, take a stroll or enjoy a picnic by the weir. Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities Current Park Closure information for Lane Cove National Park Closure information last downloaded Sunday 27th of September 2015 07:00 AM Closed areas: Terrys Creek walking track maintenance Some areas of this park will experience temporary disruptions and delays due to walking track maintenance, unless the closure is otherwise extended or removed. Closed areas are:
Bradley Reserve Bradley Reserve is a large natural bushland area owned and managed by Ku-ring-gai council. The reserve extends from Lane Cove River to the end of Kissing Point Road north to George Christie playing fields. The reserve is home to the locally well know STEP track, and is cared for by the STEP inc, the "South Turramurra Environment Protection". The Great north walk also heads through this reserve, and is also home to Browns water hole. Region: I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.
First of all, thank you very much for providing so much details on different walks. We always plan weekend work outs based on your walks.
As someone who reads diagrams and bullet points better than words, we kept on getting lost, trying to follow the instructions. Will you be able to provide a more detailed map?
E.g. For this particular map, Epping to pennant hills, the instructions mentioned
along the creek and down across a wooden bridge and then up through the bushes etc...
We were confused by the instructions. We actually back tracked a few times then decided to veer left after crossing the bridge. And there, we found it...
A suggestion...Google has this mytrack app works fantastic. You can track and share the walk.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Hard
1 km
Check out the facilities at 
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times.
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)