Map of Walk

Location

               
Map of Fortress Ridge Trail
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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

Katoomba

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-89301S

Katoomba

1:100 000 Map Series

8930

Photo Gallery

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 Fortress Ridge Trail bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Fortress Ridge Trail 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	7km
		Time	3 hrs
		.
Grade 3/6 Track: Moderate	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
		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
This whole walk, 3.7km has short steep hills.

Quality of track
This whole walk, 3.7km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs
This whole walk, 3.7km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required
This whole walk, 3.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 3.7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
This whole walk, 3.7km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

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
The State Goverment is allowing Recreational Hunting in our National Parks This poses a serious threat to the environement and visitor safety Help stop the madness by writing a quick letter. Thanks for your help

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 this walk. Plan your trip from --> Sorry there are no driving directions, but you can see the start of this walk on this map

(0 km) Fortress Ridge car park to End of service trail Track: Moderate - servicetrail	Length = 1.47 km	Time = 29 mins
	Climb = 48 m	Descent = -36 m
From the car park (and 'Fortress Ridge' sign), this walk heads around the gate and up the hill. The management trail swings right for approximately 50m then turns left. The trail leads to an area of low heath, then tends right (down the hill) for approximately 100m before coming to an intersection. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill in a northerly direction. The trail soon rises up a slight hill, passing low heath on the left before continuing up the hill. The walk then flattens out for approximately 200m before slowly rising up another hill for approximately 100m more, coming to an intersection with a smaller track on the left.

(1.47 km) End of service trail to Western Trail Split Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 220 m	Time = 5 mins
	Climb = 11 m	Descent = -1 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads west up the hill, following the bush track. The track soon comes into view of a knoll, with a rock feature at its head. The track continues to the intersection below this feature. Veer right: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill of the knoll, keeping the rock feature to the left of the track. The track continues down the other side, soon coming to an intersection.

(1.69 km) Western Trail Split to Fortress Canyon Entry Trk Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 267 m	Time = 6 mins
	Climb = 15 m	Descent = -5 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, then over a small hill with denser bushland, before coming to a defined 'Y' intersection in the track.

(1.96 km) Fortress Canyon Entry Trk to Fortress Canyon Exit Trk Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 1.59 km	Time = 33 mins
	Climb = 56 m	Descent = -61 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk does not follow the track marked by the arrow on the rock, but instead heads over a large grey rock surface. The track heads across the ridgeline, undulating over four knolls. The track passes through areas of trees and open heath then turns north, off the last knoll. From this last knoll, the track heads down the spur line, nearing the cliffs on the left. On the spur line, the track comes to an intersection with another track on the right (which heads down into the valley).

(3.55 km) Fortress Canyon Exit Trk to Fortress Ridge Lookout Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 132 m	Time = 3 mins
	Climb = 2 m	Descent = -9 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the spurline towards the large valley and views of cliffs. The track continues down into a saddle and up to a lookout, near a few bushes on the edge of the cliff.

Fortress Ridge	Alt = 924 m
Fortress Ridge lookout has stunning views over the Grose Valley to Govetts Leap, Horseshoe Falls and Blackheath. From the lookout, the vista to the west includes the impressive Lockley's Pylon, with Mount 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 trip from the end of this walk. Plan your trip to --> Sorry there are no driving directions, but you can see the end of this walk on this map

Getting there

Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk

Public Transport links currently not working, sorry

Driving Directions
	To the start of the walk Since this walk starts on a low grade road Google can't give you a route plan to the start. View the location on a road map here --> See the start of the walk on a map		From the end of the walk Since this walk ends on a low grade road Google can't give you a route plan from the end. View the location on a road map here --> See the end of the walk on a map

Near by

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)
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

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 Emergency use only	33 km (to the W)
7	VMC7	Fire Tower MT BINDO	33 km (to the W)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Central Ranges fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 25 minutes ago)
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 25 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

Partly cloudy. 9.0°C (feels like 7.5°) 0 km/h from the CALM 65% humidity     (as at 19/03:00pm) Wed       ° Partly cloudy. Thu 2°|9° Partly cloudy. Fri 1°|9° Possible late shower. Sat 2°|8° Cloudy.

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.
Region: Sydney & Surrounds
Park fees Camping Facilities
Current Park Closure information for Blue Mountains National Park
Closure information last downloaded Wednesday 19th of June 2013 05:00 PM
CLOSED AREAS
ATTENTION Katoomba Walking Tracks
The following walking tracks in the Katoomba area will be closed on Thursday 20th June 2013 due to helicopter lifting in materials for the repair of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk between Cliff View Lookout and Lady Darley’s Lookout:

• Federal Pass (from Katoomba Falls [Cook’s Crossing] to intersection with Dardanelles Pass below the Three Sisters.
• Federal Pass from Golden Stairs intersection, below Narrow Neck, to the Scenic Railway bottom station.
• Prince Henry Cliff Walk between Cliff View Lookout and Lady Darley’s Lookout

Glenraphael Drive at Narrow Neck will also be closed at the national park boundary – 1.5km from Cliff Drive. There will be no access to Narrow Neck for vehicles or pedestrians. 
Access to and from Scenic World will be open via Furber Steps.
ATTENTION Wentworth Falls Tracks
The following tracks will be closed on Friday 21st June due to helicopter lifting materials to the Den Fenella Walking Track for track upgrade work.
National Pass
Wentworth Pass
Vera Falls
Undercliff track
Den Fenella track
Rocket Point
Wentworth Falls Picnic Area, lookouts and the following tracks will remain OPEN:
Valley of the Waters to National Pass junction
Nature Track
Short Cut Track
Princes Rock Lookout
Princes Rock track (Undercliff Track to Wentworth Falls).
Queens Cascade
Fletchers Lookout
Wentworth Falls to Rocket Point Junction
Claustral Canyon access change
Access to Claustral Canyon via the usual route across private land at Mount Tomah is no longer possible due to landholders denying access. NPWS has sought alternative access through private land without success.  Canyoners should respect the rights of Mount Tomah residents and avoid using private land.
Alternative access and parking from the west side of Mt Bell has been approved. For details please contact the NPWS Heritage Centre, phone 02 4787 8877; open seven days 9.00 am to 4.30 pm.
Ingar camping areas - Ingar campground
Vehicle access along Ingar Road may be closed at the end of Queen Elizabeth Drive while private property development works are underway. NPWS requests that visitors respect private property closures.
When the gate is closed Ingar Camping Area will remain open to walkers who access around the private property. Walking distance approximately 13kms.
Murphys Glen camping area closed - Murphys Glen campground
Murphys Glen is closed due to road damage and facilities maintenance.
Wentworth Falls walking tracks
The Undercliff and Overcliff tracks are closed between Princes Rock access and Lyrebird Lookout due to recent landslides. This means visitors doing the National or Wentworth Pass loops will need to return via the Shortcut Track.
The Den Fenella walking track will be closed 7 days per week during upgrade work which commenced 31 January 2013. The Den Fenella lookout remains closed due to structural damage on the bridge. 
All enquiries to the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.
Locations affected:Overcliff-Undercliff track, Den Fenella walking track

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