There are alerts raised for Blue Mountains National Park as at Mon, 11 Dec 2023 16:07:18 +1100
Closed areas: Parts of Blue Mountains National Park closed
Many walking tracks, roads and fire trails within Blue Mountains National Park remain closed following sustained wet weather causing subsidence hazards, major landslides or infrastructure upgrades. 
The following areas are closed:
Katoomba and Leura

• Leura Forest, Dardanelles Pass (between base of Giant Stairs and Leura Forest), Lila Falls and Lindeman Pass near Amphitheatre track are closed Wednesday 13 December for a helicopter operation.
• Federal Pass between Dandanelles Pass (below Three Sisters) and Amphitheatre track is closed Wednesday 13 December for a helicopter operation.
• Federal Pass between Golden Stairs and Dardanelles Pass (not including Scenic World) is closed Thursday 14 to Friday 15 December for a helicopter operation.
• Furber Steps, Round Walk and Prince Henry Cliff walk between Katoomba Falls Reserve and Lady Darley lookout closed Thursday 14 to Friday 15 December for a helicopter operation.
• Tarpeian Rock lookout is closed at the Prince Henry cliff walk junction from Monday 13 November 2023 for repair.
• Underfalls track (side track off Furber Steps) closed for maintenance.
• Honeymoon Bridge is closed due to rockfall risk.
• Honeymoon Point lookout is closed due to upgrade works.
• Lone Lyrebird track is closed between Gordon Road and the War Memorial, due to subsidence. Detour is in place.
• Leura Cascades/Fern Bower circuit has a minor detour due to a landslide on Prince Henry Cliff walk. You must return via Leura Cascades track.
• Leura Cascades picnic area is closed to vehicles. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• Prince Henry Cliff walk is closed between Gordon Falls picnic area and Elysian Rock lookout, due to a landslide. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• Prince Henry Cliff walk is closed between Olympian Rock lookout and Tarpeian Rock track, due to a landslide. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• Glenraphael Drive is closed due to major subsidence. No vehicle or pedestrian access to Golden Stairs.  Pedestrian and cycle access available from Narrowneck LO (via Miners walking track) except for Thursday 7th and Friday 8th December.  
• Narrowneck Fire Trail is closed to all walkers and cyclists from Monday 20th November until Saturday 9th December to allow for road repairs. Closure periods each week are from Monday 0600hrs to Friday 1800hrs .  
• Kedumba River Crossing campground will be closed from Monday 4th December 2023 until Friday 1st March 2024 with no weekend access due to Kedumba Valley road repairs.
• No access to the Mt Solitary walking track/ loop via Kedumba Valley Road during weekdays from Monday 4th December 2023 until Saturday 2nd March 2024.  Mt Solitary can be accessed from Katoomba (via Ruined Castle or Sublime Point Fire trail only).  
• Kedumba Valley Road and Kedumba Pass are closed to the public from Monday 4th December 2023 until Friday 1st March 2024 to allow for road repairs. Pedestrian access is open during weekends. 
• Part of Lindeman Pass is closed due to a major landslide below Gladstone lookout. Roberts Pass is closed due to rockfall and landslide hazards.  

Wentworth Falls and Woodford 

• Wentworth Falls picnic area carpark is closed for upgrade works until mid-December 2023 (weather permitting).
• Valley of the Waters track is closed below Sylvia Falls. There is no access to Roberts Pass, Vera Falls, Hippocrene Falls or Wentworth Falls from Valley of the Waters.
• Charles Darwin walk is temporarily closed due to flood damage. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
• Part of National Pass (west of Wentworth Falls middle crossing) is closed due to major landslide. Grand Stairs are open but there is limited access to the mid falls area while flood repairs are undertaken.
• Wentworth Pass and Slack Stairs are closed due to landslide.
• The western side of Rocket Point loop is closed due to track repairs. (Access to Rocket Pt is available via the eastern side).
• National Pass, Rocket Point, Little Switzerland and Chester Tracks & Trails will be closed south of Wentworth Falls top crossing for a helicopter operation on 6 Decemeber 2023.     
• Ingar Road is closed where it traverses private property at the western end. You can walk in to Ingar campground via Andersons or Bedford Roads.
• Partial closure of the end of Clearview and Windbourne Roads within the Woodford Special Area to allow for road clearing on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December 2023.  

Blackheath, Mount Victoria and Bells Line of Road

• Govetts Creek access routes including Horse track and Rodriguez Pass (Bridal Veil Falls) are closed due to rockfalls and landslides. Entry is not permitted due to serious risk of injury or death. Entry is not permitted into the Grose Valley from Govetts Leap, Evans lookout, Grand Canyon track, or south of Acacia Flat.
• Anvil Rock access road and picnic area is closed for upgrades until Wednesday 20 December 2023 and from Monday 5 February to Friday 23 February 2024.
• Perrys Lookdown campground is closed.
• Perrys Lookdown access road and picnic area will be closed for upgrades from Monday 9 October until Wednesday 20 December 2023, and from Monday 5 February to Friday 23 February 2024. There is no access into the Grose Valley (Acacia Flat and Blue Gum Forest) from Perrys Lookdown during this period. Access into the Grose Valley is via Victoria Falls, Pierces Pass or Lockleys Pylon. There is no access to Perrys Lookdown from these locations during this period.
• Pulpit Rock Reserve, lookouts and walking track are closed. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information. Pulpit Rock walking track from Popes Glen is open as far as the NPWS boundary (as shown on Google maps).

Canyons and rock climbing
Climbing and canyoning areas in the Blue Mountains are open unless the access road is closed, or the site is listed in this alert.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the local office.

Closed areas: Glenraphael Drive closed to vehicles
Glenraphael Drive will be closed to all vehicle access from 17/11/2023 until further notice.  Walkers and cyclists can access Narrow Neck and Golden Stairs by using the Miners walking track, except for 7th and 8th December.  For further information please call NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on (02) 47878877.  

Closed areas: Perrys Lookdown and Anvil Rock closed for upgrades
The following areas in Blue Mountains National Park will be closed for upgrades during the times mentioned below:

• Perrys Lookdown access road and picnic area will be closed for upgrades from Monday 9 October to Wednesday 20 December 2023 and from Monday 5 February to Friday 23 February 2024. There is no access into the Grose Valley (Acacia Flat and Blue Gum Forest) from Perrys Lookdown during this period. 
• Anvil Rock access road and picnic area will be closed for upgrades from Tuesday 3 October to Wednesday 20 December 2023 and from Monday 5 February to Friday 23 February 2024.
• Perrys Lookdown campground is closed.
• Access into the Grose Valley (Acacia Flat and Blue Gum Forest) is via Victoria Falls, Pierces Pass or Lockleys Pylon. There is no access to Perrys Lookdown from these locations during this period.

Closed areas: Campfire Creek (Red Hands Cave) walking track - partial closure
Campfire Creek walking track (also known as Red Hands Cave walking track) and the adjoining Link track are undergoing partial closures until May 2024, for extensive flood damage repairs.

• The section of track from Glenbrook causeway to Link Track junction is expected to re-open in January 2024;
• The section from Link Track junction to Red Hands Cave will close in January, with an expected finish date of May 2024.

• Please note that Red Hands Cave will remain open to the public during this time, with access available via the road and Red Hands Cave carpark.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.

Closed areas: Kedumba Valley Road (Kedumba Pass) Closure
Kedumba Valley Road (Kedumba Pass) will be closed to the public from 06:00hrs Monday 4th December until18:00hrs on Friday1st March 2024.  This is to allow for major road maintenance.   The Kedumba Valley Road (Kedumba Pass) will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays during this period.  For more information please contact Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on (02) 4787877.  

Other planned events: Notice of ongoing 1080 baiting program
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting ongoing ground baiting program from Thursday 2 November 2023 to Wednesday 1 May 2024 in the following areas:

• Abercrombie River National Park
• Abercrombie River State Conservation Area
• Kanangra-Boyd National Park
• Blue Mountains National Park (southern section)
• Wollemi National Park (Wolgan Valley area)
• Gardens of Stone National Park
• Jenolan Karst Conservation Area
• Turon National Park
• Marrangaroo National Park

The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes.
The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
For more information, contact the NPWS Kanangra area office at Oberon on 02 6336 6200.

Closed areas: Mt Solitary Loop Walking Track - changes to acces.
No access to the Mt Solitary walking track/ loop via Kedumba Valley Road from Monday 4th December 2023 until Saturday 2nd March 2024.  Mt Solitary can be accessed from Katoomba via Ruined Castle or Sublime Pt fire trail.  For further information please contact NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on (02) 47878877.  

Closed areas: Kedumba River Crossing Camping Area closure
Kedumba River campground will be closed from Friday 4th December 2023 to Friday 1st March 2024.  This closure is due to major road maintenance on Kedumba Valley Road (Kedumba Pass).  For further information please contact NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on (02) 4878877.  

Fire bans: Park fire ban
A park fire ban is in place in this park and remains in effect unless otherwise extended or removed.
The following campgrounds are exempt:

• Galong Cabins, Burralow Creek and Euroka campgrounds in Blue Mountains National Park
• Coorongooba, Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, Newnes, Wheeny Creek and Colo Meroo campgrounds in Wollemi National Park.

During park fire ban periods, all campfire and solid fuel (wood, heat beads, charcoal, briquettes, hexamine) barbecues and stoves are prohibited. Gas and electric barbecues and cookers are permitted as long as:

• They're under direct control of an adult
• The ground within 2m of the barbecue is cleared of all flammable materials
• There's an adequate supply of water (minimum of a bucket)

If a Total Fire Ban is in place, different rules apply. Contact the local park office before bringing a gas or electric barbecue or cooker.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire bans in parks and reserves including your responsibilities, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page.

Closed areas: Wentworth Falls picnic area carpark closed
Wentworth Falls picnic area carpark is closed to vehicles from Tuesday 22 August 2023 to mid-December 2023 for a carpark upgrade.
Access to tracks, toilets and lookouts will remain open to walkers. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website or by call the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.

Safety alerts: 4WD Oberon Colong historic stock route - 4WD only access
The 4WD Oberon Colong historic stock route to Yerranderie is only accessible via 4WD vehicles. Some creek crossings may be inaccessible for vehicles with low clearance.
Please drive carefully and be aware of road conditions. For more information, call the Wollondilly Shire Council on 02 4677 1100.

Closed areas: Waratah Native Gardens picnic area closed
Waratah Native Gardens picnic area is closed until further notice. This includes Gorge walking track. No access to the area is permitted. 
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Hawkesbury-Nattai area office on 02 4588 2400.

Closed areas: Ingar Road partial closure
There is no vehicle or pedestrian access to the section of Ingar Road past the end of Queen Elizabeth Drive. Please do not enter private property.
This means there is no vehicle access to Ingar campground. You can access Ingar campground by hiking in via Andersons fire trail or Bedford Road.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the local office.

Safety alerts: Remote walking track conditions
Remote routes within the Kanangra Wilderness Area including Kanangra to Katoomba (K2K) trail have been impacted by heavy fire regrowth and flood damage.
If you plan to walk in the area, please ensure you have an appropriate level of experience, navigation skills and equipment.
Mobile reception is limited so alternative communication methods are strongly recommended.
For more information, contact the NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.

Closed areas: Six Foot track - Bowtells Bridge closure
Bowtells swing bridge on Six Foot track is closed to protect public safety. An upgrade is being planned, and the bridge is expected to reopen at the end of 2023. Signs and barriers are in place to prevent access onto the bridge.
Crown Lands, which manages the bridge, is advising track users not to attempt to cross Coxs River. Any attempts to cross the river are at your own risk and are discouraged due to the potential for slips or falls, rainfall and risk of flash flooding.
For further information visit the Six Foot track website.