Map of Walk

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Map of Red Hands Cave and Axe Grinding Tour
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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

Penrith

1:25 000 Map Series

NSW-90303N

Penrith

1:100 000 Map Series

9030

Photo Gallery

Terrain

Cross sectional view of the Red Hands Cave and Axe Grinding Tour bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Red Hands Cave and Axe Grinding Tour 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	4.1km
		Time	2 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, 4.1km has short steep hills.

Quality of track
This whole walk, 4.1km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs
Around 2.1km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 2km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required
This whole walk, 4.1km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

Weather
This whole walk, 4.1km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure
Around 3.2km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 880m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Track Notes

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 Red Hands Cave car park
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park. 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

Red Hands Cave Picnic Area	Alt = 208 m
Red Hands Cave Picnic Area is found at the end of the Red Hands Cave Fire Trail in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park. The small picnic area is next to the car park and has a couple of platforms (to act as both a table and seat) as well as a fire place and toilet. The toilet itself is wheelchair accessible, but access to the toilet is over moderately rough terrain. A good spot to rest when exploring Red Hands Cave.

(0 km) Red Hands Cave car park to Axe Grinding Grooves Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 2.08 km	Time = 44 mins
	Climb = 42 m	Descent = -161 m
From Red Hands Cave car park, the walk follows the sign for the 'Link Track' past the bench and fireplace and into the bush. The track winds down the hill via many steps, winding for quite some time, then comes near a creek, which it loosely follows. The walk then crosses this creek to the signposts on the other side. Turn left: From the creek intersection, the walk follows the 'Glenbrook Causeway' sign, keeping the water on the left. The track continues up to a rock overhang from where it heads down the hill, coming near the creek again. The track follows the creek to a junction with another creek. To the left is a large sandstone area and approximately 10m along the track is a sign explaining the grooves in the sandstone.

Axe Grinding Grooves	Alt = 87 m
These well-defined axe grinding groves are found on the sandstone bed of Camp Fire Creek. The grooves were formed by Aboriginal people when sharpening axes (or forming axe blanks). Rubbing the axe blanks would sharpen the stone into a more useful tool, and the process would also wear the sandstone, leaving these markings. These sites are typically found near water, as the water was added to make the stone more abrasive. Sites like this will fade in time due to erosion of the sandstone - please help them last as long as possible by not walking on, or close to the grooves. More info

(2.08 km) Axe Grinding Grooves to Red Hands Cave Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 1.48 km	Time = 37 mins
	Climb = 128 m	Descent = -40 m
Continue straight: From the grinding grooves at the creek junction, the walk heads across the side creek, keeping the larger creek on the left. The track immediately passes a sign with information about the grinding grooves, then continues above the creek. The track undulates above the creek and over a log bridge to tend right, down to a signposted intersection above a creek. Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Red Hands Cave' sign down across the creek. The track leads over a small rise across another smaller creek, then follows the hillside for a short while, passing a bench seat and then a small log bridge. The track then starts tending left, heading up to a rocky outcrop where the walk arrives at the metal verandah of Red Hands Cave.

Red Hands Cave	Alt = 178 m
Red Hands Cave, in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park, is found near the end of Red Hands Cave fire trail. The cave has quite a few hand stencils and prints of various colours (including red). The cave is well protected, with a perspex and steel cage. There are some information signs and some artifacts to help visitors learn more about the people who made these prints over 1600 years ago. In 1913, when searching for a lost child, this cave was found by Europeans and is now protected.

(3.57 km) Red Hands Cave to Red Hands Cave car park Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 503 m	Time = 12 mins
	Climb = 41 m	Descent = -10 m
Continue straight: From Red Hands Cave, the walk heads up the stairs, winding to be above Red Hands Cave. The track then continues across the rocky surface, slowly climbing through the bush and leading away from the rock outcrop. The track winds through a few rocky outcrops, tending right, before coming to a car park and 'Red Hands Cave' sign (pointing back to the cave).

Drive from Red Hands Cave car park
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park. 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	11 Ross St , Glenbrook	(02) 4739 4373	3.4 km
Boots Great Outdoors	Shop 25 Home Centre Wolseley St , Penrith	(02) 4733 5744	7.6 km
Kangaroo Tent City	Cnr Mulgoa & Blaikie Rds, Penrith	(02) 4733 4111	8.1 km
Getaway Disposals	549 High St , Penrith	(02) 4732 2285	10.2 km
Mitchell Adventure	24 Henry St , Penrith	(02) 4731 8482	11.1 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Red Hands Cave and Axe Grinding Tour.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Red Hands Cave and Axe Grinding Tour Click to re-center search
4	RIV04	Fire Service Rusden Road MT RIVERVIEW	7 km (to the NNE)
2	KUR02	Miles Comms Site 1 1 246 Burralow Road KURRAJONG HEIGHTS	26 km (to the N)
7	SYD07	7 Glamorgan St BLACKTOWN	30 km (to the E)
5	SYD05	Sydney Adventist Hospital 185 Fox Valley Rd WAHROONGA Emergency use only	47 km (to the E)
6	LGW06	Lithgow Council Site HASSANS WALLS	52 km (to the NW)

Weather and Park info

Fire Danger
This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 36 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

Possible shower. 14.7°C (feels like 12.5°) 6 km/h from the S 53% humidity     (as at 18/03:00pm) Tue       ° Possible shower. Wed 6°|14° Partly cloudy. Thu 6°|14° Partly cloudy. Fri 4°|14° Becoming 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 Tuesday 18th of June 2013 04:00 PM
CLOSED AREAS
Attention-Katoomba tracks closed Tuesday 18/6/13 (Ends Wednesday 19 June)

The following walking tracks in the Katoomba area will be closed  Tuesday
18^th June 2013 due to helicopter lifting in materials for the upgrading 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.
 NPWS Heritage Centre is open 7 days a week for information.  Tel: 4787 8877
 
Attention-Wentworth Falls Walking Track Closures wednesday 19/06/2013 (Ends Wednesday 19 June)

The following tracks will be closed on Wednesday 19th 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
For further information please call the NPWS Heritage Centre, Blackheath –
Ph: 4787 8877 - open daily 9am – 4.30pm
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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