This walk, mostly in Popran National Park, passes through a great variety of scenery and beautiful views. The early part of the walk, along a ridgetop, is through relatively dry forest with some great views, while the steep but beautiful descent to Glenworth Valley is through moist, fern filled forest. The cafe at Glenworth Valley is open on weekends. There is also an optional sidetrip for some nice views from Mt Olive.
(open in app)
There are Closed areas in Popran National Park Today's Fire rating LOW MODERATE (No fire ban)
Bushwalking track notes photographs, maps and camping spots for Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley
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 Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley 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
10km
Time
4 hrs 15 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track
Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Signs
Minimal directional signs (4/6)
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
2.9km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.2km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (25m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
2.9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (120m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
2.8km of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 2km is clearly signposted. The remaining (300m) has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 2.9km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.2km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 2.8km of this walk is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety, whilst the remaining 2.3km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 2.9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 2.2km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Drive to Int of Ironbark Rd and Popran Pipeline Trail
(0 km)
Int of Ironbark Rd and Popran Pipeline Trail
to
Ironbark Rd picnic area Walk: Easy - road
Length = 1.7 km
Time = 35 mins
Climb = 88 m
Descent = -19 m
Starting from the car park at the end of the 'Pipeline Trail', the walk follows the gravel Ironbark Rd south, initially keeping the 'Pipeline Trail' gate to your left (not following the 'Pipeline Trail'). The gravel road passes between some houses with prominent 'private property' signs so stick to the road along here. The walk eventually comes to the car park and picnic area at the end of the road. Vehicles with reasonable ground clearance could be driven along this section, to the car park at the end of the road.
Ironbark Rd Picnic area
Alt = 280 m
This picnic area is located at the end of Ironbark Rd, on the edge of Popran National Park. While this is not a special spot for a picnic, there are good facilities if you are doing a walk in the area. There is a picnic table, pit toilet (with a small rainwater tank for handwashing), information signs and track arrows at this point. Some of the tracks starting from this point are also horse trails. A section of Ironbark Rd may not be suitable for 2WD vehicles so you may have to walk the last section of road.
(1.7 km)
Ironbark Rd picnic area
to
Int of Mt Olive trail and Mt Olive bush track Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 335 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 10 m
Descent = -11 m
Continue straight: From the car park, the walk passes around a gate and follows the management trail down the hill and soon arrives at the intersection marked with 'Mt Olive' and the '248 Trail'. Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Mt Olive' arrow along the management trail for a very short distance before reaching an intersection with a bush track signposted for 'Mt Olive'.
(2.03 km)
Int of Mt Olive trail and Mt Olive bush track
to
Int of Mt Olive bush track and Glenworth Valley track Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 123 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 11 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Mt Olive' signpost along the bush track. The walk meanders for a while before reaching an intersection with another bush track.
(2.15 km)
Int of Mt Olive bush track and Glenworth Valley track
to
Top of Mt Olive Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 62 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 11 m
Descent = -1 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track steeply up the hill and soon arrives at the top of Mt Olive. (Retrace your steps back to the main track, then veer left to continue along this walk.)
Mt Olive
Alt = 300 m
Mt Olive is a low rising hill in Popran National Park. The views from the top, across the surrounding national park, in all directions, are very nice. The nice cliffs around the base of Mt Olive also add to the scenery. There are the remnants of a couple of old trig points at the top.
(2.15 km)
Int of Mt Olive bush track and Glenworth Valley track
to
Glenworth Valley Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 2.9 km
Time = 1 hr 3 mins
Climb = 40 m
Descent = -313 m
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track steeply down the hill, directly away from the top of Mt Olive. The walk follows the bush track for a long distance, through a beautiful variety of terrain and vegetation. The first section of the walk is along, or close to, the ridge line with some great views. The later section of the walk drops, steeply at times, into Glenworth Valley and is through more moist, fern covered forest. Take the sharp right fork beside a rock with a large 'capstone' to avoid a steeper section of the track. The scenery is beautiful on the descent. Ignore the bush track to the right when the walk passes through a gap in a fence, and follow the bush track straight ahead. The walk then comes to an intersection with the 'Wilderness Trail' horse riding trail on the edge of a large grassy clearing at the Glenworth Valley horse riding centre. Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the horse riding trail down the hill and immediately bends to the right, toward the clearly visible main buildings of the Glenworth Valley horse riding centre. The walk soon arrives at Popran Rd beside the buildings.
Glenworth Valley Horse Riding and Outdoor Adventures
Alt = 17 m
The Glenworth Valley Horse Riding and Outdoor Adventure Centre is located at 69 Cooks Rd, Peats Ridge, NSW. Activities include Horse riding, Kayaking, Quad biking, Abseiling and camping. The Café is open on weekends and vending machines for drinks and snacks are available every day. There are toilets at the cafe. If you are walking to or from Glenworth Valley, keep in mind that it is private property and take care around the horses. Phone on (02) 4375 1222. More info
Drive from Int of Ironbark Rd and Popran Pipeline Trail
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.
Popran National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page Popran National Park is divided into 5 main section and sits north of the Hawkesbury River between Dharug NP and the Sydney-Newcastle freeway. The park protects many creeks, Aboriginal sites, some shore line of the Hawkesbury, interesting rock formationtions and a diverse range of flora and fauna. One of the five section is closed to the public and walking is more popular in the larger of the five. Walking during spring will reward you with many wildflowers, warmer days are great for enjoying the refreshing water holes. Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities Current Park Closure information for Popran National Park Closure information last downloaded Sunday 27th of September 2015 07:00 AM Closed areas: Hominy Creek walking track temporary closure Hominy Creek walking track is temporarily closed to visitors due to erosion and poor condition following extreme weather. The walking track will remain closed until maintenance work can be completed. For more information, please contact the NPWS Hawkesbury North area office on (02) 4320 4200 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
Lovely area, but the "gap in the fence" now has criss-crossed tape over it, presumably to discourage entry into Glenworth Valley (is it private property?)
Frederick Botha - Mr
IP:139.218.228.xxx | 2014-09-13 11:17:58
Just did a camping expedition with a boys high school and had to walk groups of +-40 year 8 boys in and out of Glenworth Valley. The walk is truely beautiful, some challenging sections but most of it is fairly easy. We (myself, another instructor, 2 teachers, and 40 boys) managed to complete this thoroughly enjoyable walk in 2 - 2.5 hours with a 20 min morning/afternoon tea included. Some parts of the walk are slightly overgrown with prickly and rather itchy bush. I suggest wearing long pants to protect your legs. We didn't encounter any criss-cross tape.
Jason Garrett
IP:58.179.6.xxx | 2014-12-31 06:17:39
Careful not to go pipeline trail which in on ironbark road. That walk is brutal 500m 60° hills. Next time we will keep driving down iron bark road and get as close as possible to big rocky road.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Hard
1 km
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)