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Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Fortress Ridge Trail hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Fortress Ridge Trail E-mail
 

Time
    Distance
Climb
Style

  3 Hrs
  7.4 km
  244 m
  Return

   7.1 km NNE of Leura 
  Blue Mountains National Park  car  
  Track: Moderate 
     

This track leads along the Fortress Ridge out to the cliffs above the Grose Valley. The track is popular with canyoners who use it as access to Fortress Canyon. However, the views from the lookout and along the trail are superb with the sheer cliffs and deep valley put in perspective. A fantastic return walk with stunning views.

Bushwalking can be fun and interesting when you are well prepared. Please ensure you and your group are well prepared and equipped for all possible dangers. The authors, staff and owners of wildwalks take care in preparing these notes but do not accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained when using these notes. Please take care and feel free to provide feedback through our website.
Please note that side trips and alternate routes mentioned in these notes are not included in the tracks overall rating, distance or time estimate. The notes also only describe the side trip and alternate routes in one direction.


Topographical Map of walk

Location                                                                                                                                                                Tracknotes Sponsor

Sponsor of Fortress Ridge Trail bushwalking tracknotes
Map of Fortress Ridge Trail hiking track
PDF has larger maps for easy printing
Map Controls - Contours | Hide Path | Hide Distances | Hide Names
Map Scale 1 km
Fortress Ridge car park
Int. Fortress Ridge Service Trail and Spur Trail
End of service trail
Eastern Trail Split
Western Trail Split
Fortress Canyon Entry Trk
Fortress Canyon Exit Trk
Starting point for this hiking track: Fortress Ridge car park

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 knotes here
 Katoomba 1:25 000 Map Series NSW-89301S 
 Katoomba 1:100 000 Map Series 8930 

Photo Gallery

 
Fortress Ridge car park
 
Fortress Ridge car park
 
Fortress Ridge service trail
 
Fortress Ridge service trail
 
View from Fortress Ridge service trail
 
View from Fortress Ridge service trail

 
Split in track around rock feature
 
Split in track around rock feature
 
Track down to Fortress Canyon start
 
Track down to Fortress Canyon start
 
Fortress Ridge track
 
Fortress Ridge track

 
Lockley's Pylon from Fortress Ridge Track
 
Lockley's Pylon from Fortress Ridge Track
 
View into the Grose Valley from Fortress Ridge lookout
 
View into the Grose Valley from Fortress Ridge lookout
 
View from Fortress Ridge lookout
 
View from Fortress Ridge lookout

Terrain profile


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 Fortress Ridge Trail bushwalking track

Cross Section of the Fortress Ridge Trail bushwalking track



Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Fortress Ridge Trail bushwalking track

Summary of the gradients over the the lenght of the Fortress Ridge Trail 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.
Wildwalks Visit www.wildwalks.com/sponsor.html for more information on our sponsorship program Sponsor
You can promote your organisation on the web and in the bush by sponsoring a set of Wildwalks tracknotes.
Sponsorship starts from $10 per/month. This program is unique and will offer a great return on your investment.

Drive to Fortress Ridge car park
You can drive (or ride your bike) to this bushwalk 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 the walk.
Plan a trip from --> Castle Hill | Central | Chatswood | Dural | Epping | Gosford | Hornsby | Katoomba | Manly | Parramatta | Penrith | Strathfield | Sutherland

(0 km) Fortress Ridge car park to End of service trail
Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 1.5 km Time = 25 mins
Climb = 48 m Descent = -36 m
From the car park (Signposted "Fortress Ridge") the track heads around the gate and up the hill. The track swings right for approximately 50m to turn left. The track continues for approximately 50m to a large mud puddle which the track continues past. The track leads to an area of low heath and then tends right down the hill for approximately 100m to a intersection.
From the intersection the track heads down the hill tending right for approximately 50m before climbing left up the hill. While rising up the hill the track passes a low heath on the left before continuing up the hill. The track then flattens out for approximately 200m to slowly rise up another hill for approximately 100m to an intersection with a bushtrack.

(1.47 km) End of service trail to Western Trail Split
Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.2 km Time = 5 mins
Climb = 11 m Descent = -1 m
From the intersection the track heads west approximately 50m up a hill to below a knoll with a rock feature at its head. The intersection is below this knoll.
From the intersection the track heads north west around the right hand side of the knoll headed with the rock feature. The track leads up the hill for approximately 40m to continue down the other side to an intersection.

(1.69 km) Western Trail Split to Fortress Canyon Entry Trk
Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.3 km Time = 5 mins
Climb = 15 m Descent = -5 m
From the intersection the track heads down the hill north west. The track traverses a slight saddle to rise up approximately 200m to a rock marked by an arrow pointing to the right.

(1.96 km) Fortress Canyon Entry Trk to Fortress Canyon Exit Trk
Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 1.6 km Time = 30 mins
Climb = 56 m Descent = -61 m
From the intersection the track heads across the ridgeline undulating over four knolls. The track passes through areas of trees and open heath to turn north, off the last knoll. From the last knoll the track heads down the spur line approaching the cliffs on the left. The track comes to an intersection on the spur line with a track off to the right.

(3.55 km) Fortress Canyon Exit Trk to Fortress Ridge Lookout
Track: Moderate - Bush Track
Distance = 0.1 km Time = 3 mins
Climb = 3 m Descent = -8 m
From the intersection the track folows the spurline up the hill for approximately 150m to the lookout near a few bushes on the edge of the cliff.

Fortress Ridge
Alt = 924
Fortress Ridge lookout has stunning views over the Grose Valley to Govetts Leap, Horseshoe Falls and Blackheath. From the lookout views out to the west see the impressive Lockley's Pylon with Mt Hay in the background.

Drive from Fortress Ridge car park
You can drive (or ride your bike) to this bushwalk There is free parking available.
You can drive or ride from the end of this walk
Use these links to plan your your trip home from the end of the walk.
Plan a trip to --> Castle Hill | Central | Chatswood | Dural | Epping | Gosford | Hornsby | Katoomba | Manly | Parramatta | Penrith | Strathfield | Sutherland


Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk
Store Address Phone Distance (straight line)
Summit Gear 80- Bathurst Rd , Katoomba (02) 4782 3018 7.8 km
Paddy Pallin 166 Katoomba St , Katoomba (02) 4782 4466 8.1 km
Summit Gear 11 Ross St , Glenbrook (02) 4739 4373 26.7 km
Simdra Pet & Hobby Mart 45 Main St , Lithgow (02) 6352 4422 27.4 km
Lithgow 4WD Centre 281 Main St , Lithgow (02) 6353 1899 28 km

Weather and Park info

Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here
Chance shower/thunderstorm.
Chance shower/thunderstorm.
11.2°C (feels like 9.8°)
4 km/h from the NNW
76% humidity     (as at 14/09:00am)
Wed      14°Chance shower/thunderstorm.
Thu|15°Mostly fine.
Fri|14°Mostly fine.
Sat|13°Mostly fine.
A graph displaying the average daily temperature range for the year

Blue Mountains National Park Check for park closures and fire bans

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 famou

Cost to drive a car into the park (if you do not have a valid pass)

$7

Camping is available in the park

$0 to $5

Public toilets are available in the park

Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees
Camping
Facilities


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
Euoka Campground - Darug
Euoka Campground - Red Gum
Euoka Campground - Nioka
Euoka Campground - Bennetts Ridge

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Fortress Ridge Trail.
Channel Call sign
(more info)
Site Distance and dir from Fortress Ridge Trail
Click to re-center search
4 RIV04 Fire Service Rusden Road MT RIVERVIEW 26 km (to the ESE)
2 KUR02 Miles Comms Site 1 1 246 Burralow Road KURRAJONG HEIGHTS 26 km (to the ENE)
6 LGW06 Lithgow Council Site HASSANS WALLS 27 km (to the NW)
5 BIN05 Fire Tower MT BINDO
Emergancy use only
33 km (to the W)
7 VMC7 Fire Tower MT BINDO 33 km (to the W)

Walker Feedback

Comments
Add NewSearch
Rebecca - Park in the right space! IP:124.184.77.xxx | 2008-03-31 15:50:02
The track was fantastic and as stated not too hard. BUT don't park in any of the car parks along the way unless you see the sign "Fortress Ridge". We did and ended up walking an extra 8 kns. (And then back again which was mostly uphill!!). So yes, we added 16 kms onto our nice trail walk. Just keep driving until you see the sign.
admin - re: Park in the right space! Super Administrator | 2008-04-02 10:06:22
Thanks Rebecca - I update the track notes to mention the signpost for the carpark. Hopefully save someone else the extra walk. Glad you enjoyed the walk, it is a magic area.

Rebecca wrote:
The track was fantastic and as stated not too hard. BUT don't park in any of the car parks along the way unless you see the sign "Fortress Ridge". We did and ended up walking an extra 8 kns. (And then back again which was mostly uphill!!). So yes, we added 16 kms onto our nice trail walk. Just keep driving until you see the sign.
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