Salvation Loop Track

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Time 1 hr 30 mins
Circuit 4 km Circuit
Climb 80 m
Grade 3 Moderate track
Car
no_pets
This walk makes a circuit from West Head Rd around the Salvation Loop track in Ku-ring-gai Chase NP. The walk passes through wet heathland vegetation and around a hanging swamp. The thick heath vegetation along the track means that the views are mostly restricted, however it is still a nice walk with wildflowers in spring, plenty of scribbly gums and some rock outcrops to explore. The full length of this walk is on road or well-defined management trail.

Salvation Picnic Area

Salvation Picnic Area
The Salvation Picnic Area is beside West Head Rd in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, about 3.6km north of the intersection of West Head Rd and General San Martin Dr. The picnic area has three picnic benches and a car park. There are no other facilities. This is a convenient point to start/finish the nearby Salvation Loop, Wallaroo and Yeomans walks.

(0km) Salvation Picnic Area → Salvation Loop north trackhead

distance 300 m time 6 mins climb 14m descent -2m Moderate track
From the 'Salvation Picnic Area' (on West Head Rd, about 3.6km north from the intersection with General San Martin Dr), the walk follows the road, crossing the bridge over Salvation Creek, leaving the picnic area on the right, and soon arrives at the northern trackhead of the 'Salvation Loop Track'.

(0km) Salvation Loop north trackhead → Int of Salvation Loop and Wallaroo track

distance 1.4 km time 27 mins climb 47m descent -19m Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Salvation Loop Track', passing around a gate and along the management trail. The trail gently arcs to the left for some time, offering occasional views over the low, dense heath vegetation. The walk then arrives at the signposted intersection with the 'Walleroo Track'.

Salvation Loop hanging swamp

Salvation Loop hanging swamp
The Salvation Loop hanging swamp is enclosed within the Salvation Loop Track, off West Head Rd in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, about 3.6km north of the intersection of West Head Rd and General San Martin Dr. This area of hanging swamp (swamp formed in a depression on high ground, usually near a cliff) and wet heathland is dificult to see from the surrounding Salvation Loop track due to the drier, tall, dense heath vegetation surrounding it. It may, however, reward the patient, or lucky, observer with the plant and animal life associated with this habitat type, such as reeds and frogs.

(2km) Int of Salvation Loop and Wallaroo track → Salvation Loop south trackhead

distance 1.7 km time 29 mins climb 17m descent -36m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, with the 'Walleroo Track' on the right, the walk follows the management trail to the west and soon swings to the right. The walk passes through an area of dense heath vegetation so there are only limited views away from the track. The track then passes around a gate and arrives at West Head Rd.

(3km) Salvation Loop south trackhead → Salvation Picnic Area

distance 540 m time 9 mins climb 2m descent -22m Moderate track
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, the walk follows the road gently down the hill leaving the 'Salvation Loop Track' to the left and soon arrives at the 'Salvation Picnic Area'.

Maps for the Salvation Loop Track walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Hornsby1:25 000 Map Series91304S HORNSBYNSW-91304S
Cowan1:25 000 Map Series91304N COWANNSW-91304N
Mona Vale1:25 000 Map Series91301S MONA VALENSW-91301S
Broken Bay1:25 000 Map Series91301N BROKEN BAYNSW-91301N
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map1:40 000 Map SeriesCMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist MapCMA Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Tourist Map
Sydney1:100 000 Map Series9130 SYDNEY9130

Cross sectional view of the Salvation Loop Track bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Salvation Loop Track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Salvation Loop Track

Altitude analysis for Salvation Loop Track

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length4 km
Time1 hr 30 mins
.




Grade 3/6



Moderate track
AS 2156.1GradientGentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Quality of trackClear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
SignsDirectional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience RequiredSome bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

Around 3.7km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 300m is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

Around 3.2km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 840m follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

Around 2.5km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 1.4km is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 2.5km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.4km requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 4km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 3.2km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 840m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Salvation Loop Track walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Salvation Loop Track walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Salvation Loop Track walk starts and ends at the Salvation Picnic Area (gps: -33.626613, 151.25796)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

A largely untouched wilderness on the northern boundary of Sydney, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP is one of Australia's oldest national parks. Here at the head of the Hawkesbury River, you'll find Aboriginal engravings and sites, as well as sandstone escarpments,

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