Bushwalking on the Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder

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Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder

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Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder are found in each of the tabs below

Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder

Time:	7 hrs Walking time Includes the time for the return leg Please allow extra time to rest and to explore	4.9 km SSW of Katoomba
Length:	20 km Walk Length As this is a return style walk, the 20 km includes the return leg of this walk (ie back to the start)	Blue Mountains National Park
Climb:	671 m
Style:	Return

This walk follows the Glenraphael Drive management trail along Narrow Neck, enjoying plenty of great views of the Jamison Valley and across to Mount Solitary. The climb down Taro's ladder requires skill, and much care and caution should be used. There are plenty of pleasant spots to rest along the way. As this walk follows the management trail, there are likely to be people on mountain bikes sharing the area.

Please note: There are closed areas in Blue Mountains National Park

Map of Walk

Location

Map of Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder
PDF has larger maps for easy printing
Map Controls - Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale

1 km

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

Jamison

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-89302N

Katoomba

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-89301S

Katoomba

1:100 000 Map Series

8930

Photo Gallery




	Emergency access gate




	Glenraphael Drive south of the locked gate




	Rock shelf overhanging Glenraphael Drive




	Sunset from Narrow Neck




	Approaching Fire Tower




	Bushwalkers Hill Fire Tower




	View from the near the end of Narrow Neck




	panorama of narrow neck looking at warragamba




	Track to Taro's Ladder and Duncans Pass

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 Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder bushwalking track

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.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
NPWS is a proud sponsor of Wildwalks. For more information on the spectacular parks and reserves of NSW Visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Drive to Locked gate
Drive to Locked gate
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\|

(0 km) Locked gate to Int of southern Castle Head track and Glenraphael Drive Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 1.16 km	Time = 22 mins
	Climb = 30 m	Descent = -39 m
From the emergency access gate, this walk heads south along the management trail. After a while, it comes to the northern Castle Head track (on the left side of the trail), marked with two treated pine posts either side of the bush track. (For emergency access, keys to the National Park gate are available from the local council, police and National Parks services.) From the intersection, this walk heads south along the management trail and down a steep hill, until it reaches the intersection of Glenraphael Drive and the southern Castle Head track.

(1.16 km) Int of southern Castle Head track and Glenraphael Drive to Lookout Optional sidetrip: Route: Hard - bushtrack	Length = 215 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 20 m	Descent = -15 m
From the start of the bush track on Glenraphael Dr (marked with treated pine posts and railway tracks sticking out of the ground), the walk heads south-east up a steep hill until it flattens out and comes to the intersection with the lookout track a short distance later. From the intersection, this walk heads south-west over a small hill and steeply down the other side to a clearing at the cliffs, where there is a viewing point.

(1.16 km) Int of southern Castle Head track and Glenraphael Drive to Fire Tower Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 5.72 km	Time = 1 hr 55 mins
	Climb = 216 m	Descent = -144 m
From the intersection, this walk heads south-west, climbing a long and steep hill. The trail zigzags to the top and continues along the dirt road in a southerly direction. The walk passes through the thick scrub to the thick gum forest, and up to the Narrow Neck Fire Tower at the top of Bushwalkers Hill.

(6.88 km) Fire Tower to End of Glenraphael Drive Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 3.14 km	Time = 1 hr 2 mins
	Climb = 65 m	Descent = -177 m
From the Fire Tower at Bushwalkers Hill, this walk heads south, winding along the management trail through Glenraphael Swamp, then to the end of the ridge where the road stops.

(10.02 km) End of Glenraphael Drive to Top of Taro's Ladder Optional sidetrip: Track: Hard - bushtrack	Length = 245 m	Time = 9 mins
	Climb = 10 m	Descent = -95 m
From the end of Glenraphael Drive south of Clear Hill, this walk heads west down past the special area signpost and down a metal ladder-like staircase to the lower section of the ridge. From there, the track continues south as it zigzags steeply, sometimes climbing down towards the tip of Narrow Neck, passing a Taro memorial plaque, dropping steeply down again and continuing along until it reaches the top of Taro's Ladder.

Drive from Locked gate
Drive from Locked gate
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

Driving Directions

	To the start of the walk Drive from:		From the end of the walk Drive to:

Near by

A list of 3 walks that share part of their track with this one

Walk Name	Park	Style	Length (km)	Time	Grade	km from the start of this walk
Narrow Neck to Castle Head	Blue Mountains National Park	Return	4.2 km	1 hr 45 mins	4 / 6	0.0 km
Cox's River return via Narrowneck	Six Foot Track Heritage Reserve	One way	47.4 km	2 Days	6 / 6	4.2 km
Cox's River return via Dunphy's campsite	Six Foot Track Heritage Reserve	One way	47.4 km	3 Days	6 / 6	4.2 km

The next 10 closest walks

Walk Name	Park	Style	Length (km)	Time	Grade	km from the start of this walk
Golden Staircase to Mt Solitary via Ruined Castle	Blue Mountains National Park	Return	12.0 km	8 hrs 45 mins	5 / 6	0.8 km
Ruined Castle walk	Blue Mountains National Park	Return	8.4 km	5 hrs	4 / 6	0.8 km
Furber Steps-Scenic Railway	Blue Mountains National Park	Circuit	0.9 km	1 hr 15 mins	4 / 6	2.4 km
Katoomba Falls Circuit	Blue Mountains National Park	Circuit	1.6 km	1 hr 45 mins	4 / 6	2.4 km
Scenic World down Furber Steps to Narrow Neck loop	Blue Mountains National Park	Circuit	6.6 km	5 hrs	4 / 6	2.4 km
Scenic World to base of Katoomba Falls (Via Furber Steps)	Blue Mountains National Park	Return	1.8 km	3 hrs 45 mins	4 / 6	2.4 km
Scenic World to Echo Point	Blue Mountains National Park	One way	2.1 km	1 hr 15 mins	3 / 6	2.4 km
Scenic World to Katoomba Falls Lookout	Blue Mountains National Park	Return	1.2 km	2 hrs	4 / 6	2.4 km
Scenic world to Three Sisters Loop via Furber Steps	Blue Mountains National Park	Circuit	5.8 km	5 hrs 30 mins	4 / 6	2.4 km
The Prince Henry Cliff Walk	Blue Mountains National Park	One way	6.8 km	3 hrs 30 mins	3 / 6	2.4 km

Campsites in the park
Acacia Flat
Burralow Creek camping ground
Coxs River Camping Area
Euroka campground - Appletree Flat campervan and camper trailer area
Euroka campground
Ingar campground
Mount Werong campground
Murphys Glen campground
Perrys Lookdown campground
Euroka Campground - Darug
Euroka Campground - Red Gum
Euroka Campground - Nioka
Euroka Campground - Bennetts Ridge

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	4 km
Summit Gear	80- Bathurst Rd , Katoomba	(02) 4782 3018	4.3 km
Summit Gear	11 Ross St , Glenbrook	(02) 4739 4373	31.7 km
Simdra Pet & Hobby Mart	45 Main St , Lithgow	(02) 6352 4422	31 km
Lithgow 4WD Centre	281 Main St , Lithgow	(02) 6353 1899	31.2 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Along Narrow Neck to Taro's Ladder Click to re-center search
5	BIN05	Fire Tower MT BINDO Emergency use only	26 km (to the WNW)
7	VMC7	Fire Tower MT BINDO	26 km (to the WNW)
6	LGW06	Lithgow Council Site HASSANS WALLS	29 km (to the NNW)
4	RIV04	Fire Service Rusden Road MT RIVERVIEW	32 km (to the E)
2	KUR02	Miles Comms Site 1 1 246 Burralow Road KURRAJONG HEIGHTS	38 km (to the NE)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW-MODERATE rating and No Ban in place. (Checked 43 minutes ago)
Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM.

Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here

Fine, cloudy at times.

11.4°C (feels like 10.6°)

6 km/h from the W

97% humidity (as at 15/06:00am)

Mon	11°\|20°	Fine, cloudy at times.
Tue	9°\|21°	Fine, mostly sunny.
Wed	9°\|22°	Fine.
Thu	10°\|23°	Fine.

A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Blue Mountains National Park Link 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.
$7
$0 to $5

Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park fees Camping Facilities

Current Park Closure information for Blue Mountains National Park
Closure information last checked Monday 15th of March 2010 08:00 AM

Closed areas

Breakfast Point Lookout

Breakfast Point Lookout at Wentworth Falls is CLOSED until further notice.

Grand Canyon Track

Due to track restoration works the Grand Canyon track is completely CLOSED whilst major resoration works take place.

From January 11th until further notice:

There is no access for canyoners (7 days)
There is no access for walkers (7 days) from either end of the track.
There is no access to the Grose Valley from Evans Lookout via Grand Canyon

Current works will be completed by end of June 2010.

Other closure information

Burralow Picnic and Camping Area has RE-OPENED. Access is 4WD only, please take care using this trail.

The Giant Stairway and Dardanelles Pass (between Leura Forest and Federal Pass/Dardanelles Junction) will be CLOSED for trackwork for approximately two hours on Monday 15 March 2010. An exact time for the closure cannot be given at this stage, but please expect the delay from approximately 9am.

The Braeside Fire Trail at Blackheath, is CLOSED for a pest management program, until approximately Friday 19 March. There is no access for vehicles, walkers or bike riders.When the pest management program has been completed the fire trail access will be restricted to 4WD until we can upgrade the causeway, due to flood damage.

The Braeside walking track is OPEN - access is from the Cliff Top Track only – return by same route.

Due to storm damage and flooding areas of the park are CLOSED. Visitors are advised not to enter canyons or attempt to cross flooded creeks and rivers. The following areas are CLOSED until further notice:

Mt Hay Road
Undercliff track from Den Fenella to Princes Rock
Darwins Walk

For updates and further information please contact the NPWS Heritage Centre at Blackheath, ph:4787 8877, open 7 days 9:00am to 4:30pm

Walker Feedback

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not too much longer now :)

Closed areas

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