Bushwalking on the Fortress Ridge Trail hiking trail

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

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 service trail




	View from Fortress Ridge service trail




	Split in track around rock feature




	Track down to Fortress Canyon start




	Fortress Ridge track




	Lockley's Pylon from Fortress Ridge Track




	View into the Grose Valley 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

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

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.

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	6°\|15°	Mostly fine.
Fri	7°\|14°	Mostly fine.
Sat	7°\|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
$7
$0 to $5

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

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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.

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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: