Blackwall Glen Walk – 23 March 2018

I was heading up the mountains with Bob and Doug. we had originally planned to do a canyon – and the boot was full or ropes and harnesses. However the weather was not really good for canyoning so we considered a few other options and eventually decided on a walk to Blackwall Glen at Blackheath.

Hilary Falls

So we started from Evans Lookout and descended along Rodriguez Pass to Beauchamp Falls and then to Campbells Falls where the track crosses Greaves Creek. 

Below are some unnamed waterfalls. It is interesting that the pool between two of these waterfalls featured recently as a “Blue Mountains Secret Waterhole” on social media. Readers could find out its location by paying a nominal fee and then route notes would be posted out. However when we walked past that pool, we could not help noticing that a large tree had fallen over and branches were completely filling the pool. I wonder if anyone was after a refund?

We descended to Syncarpia, and wondered where the best place was to leave the track and head up to Blackwall Glen. A duck marking a turnoff to a rough track looked like a good place to start. The track seemed to be heading in the right direction and soon crossed Greaves Creek and then seemed to head to Blackwall Glen. It was marked by the occasional duck and some bits of tape.

Sure enough, we soon could see the black wall or Blackwall Glen. Govetts Creek and a good flow to it, so the waterfalls above should be good. They were. We soon arrived at Edenberry Falls.

There was a powerful flow going over this waterfall into the large pool below. Quite impressive.

We continued upstream to Hilary Falls. I thought these were even more spectacular.

There are many more waterfalls further up Govetts Creek – Lilians Falls, The Silver Cascades and St Andrews Falls and then much further up – Medusa Falls and Arethusa Falls at the end of the canyon. We reached a small waterfall – of about 2 m high. I am not sure which one it was. The marked track at this point seemed to leave the creek and climbed up to the cliffs. We only followed it a short way – and issued it had been marked by canyoners descending Arethusa Canyon.

We then back tracked a bit and found a nice dry place for lunch. I then took a few more photos of Govetts Creek and Blackwall Glen.

Rather than return the way we had gone, we left the valley via the Horse Track. This was the first time any of us had been up it. It is perhaps the most gentle route out – but it no where as interesting or as pretty as going via the waterfalls up to Beauchamp Falls.

This was an excellent day in the bush. More photos are online here on my website.

This entry was posted in Blue Mountains, Bushwalking, Grose Wilderness and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to Blackwall Glen Walk – 23 March 2018

  1. Bushwalker says:

    May I ask if you know when the Grand Canyon, Rodriguez Pass, Junction Rock to Govetts Leap track would be reopened?? Or where I could find a timeline/update on how repairs are going???

    Also, I understand there was a landslide near Beauchamp Falls … Would you be able to direct me to somewhere that has the details/history and well as as specific info on Rodriguez Pass?

    Thank you.

    • Dave Noble says:

      You need to check on the Blue Mountains National Park alerts page to see current track closures. I think the track down to the bottom of Govetts Leap is still closed. There was a landslide at Beauchamp Falls a few years ago and the track was later fixed up.

  2. Bushwalker says:

    Yeah I’ve already kept an eye on it for quite a number of months and have been checking it regularly. Looking from Barrow Lookout, The track to Govetts Leap base currently has the white bags on it so signs of starting repairs…. I’m wondering with all the rain if it may have caused further mini landslides based on a photo I saw not long ago.

    Thanks anyhow.

  3. David Naylor says:

    wonderful pictures.. 🙂
    in the past i have visited Black wall glen and Edenberry Falls and when next in that area I hope to visit Hilary Falls…
    last time i was there i did the reverse of your trip and went down the horse track..
    the horse track is a much easier route to access the area i think and will use that for future walks in that area..
    and alas all to often i again came across people starting out late with unrealistic expectations of time/distance/effort… 🙁

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *