The well signposted trail to the Rocky Creek Canyon starts near the Galah Mountain Road; it’s the same trailhead as the shorter Twister Canyon, which is often combined with this canyon. Rock Creek Canyon was “discovered” on a joint SUBW – UNSWBWC trip on 4 Dec 76 led by Bob Sault and Dave Noble, who named the canyon after the creek it was in. It’s one of the most spectacular non-technical canyons around Sydney – and one of only two canyons rated 10/10 in terms of quality in Ozultimate’s Canyoning Guide (the other being the much longer Bell Canyon).
The wide access trail passes under tall cliffs as it descends into the valley, and soon becomes a narrow bushwalking trail.
The open eucalyptus forest changes to rainforest as the Rocky Creek Canyon entry (and exit) trail gets deeper into the gully.
While the trail (or trails, as there are sometimes a couple of options that all follow the unnamed creek downstream) is fairly distinct, there are a few tricky bits. The first one is a climb down a small ledge, with trees roots providing some good hand-holds.
Next is an easy scramble through a gap in some boulders.
Although we’re not in Rocky Creek Canyon yet, the gully is getting narrower and the scenery more dramatic as the track continues to follow the creek downstream.
It’s becoming easier to walk in the fern-lined creek, instead of the track which follows the creek.
Rocky Creek Canyon starts above a waterfall which drops into a small pool, just below the junction with the unnamed creek which we’ve been following and Rocky Creek.
While leaping down the water fall into this first pool may look far more appealing that climbing down, it’s a bad idea: “Do not jump the first pool. It’s shallow and full of leg breakers.” [Ropewiki]. Other Rocky Creek Canyon track notes suggest it can be jumped – but you’d want someone to climb down and check the water first for both depth and submerged logs.
This is the hardest of several drops along Rocky Creek Canyon, and a rope/tape is highly recommended for the slightly awkward descent (and even more helpful coming back up!)
There are a few very short swims and and some scrambling over a log-jam before the next obstacle.
An infamous Rocky Creek Canyon feature is The Washing Machine, which is almost invariably featured on videos and social media posts of trips down this canyon. Although it looks a little intimidating, the deep water means you can jump down into the narrow constriction (going back up is a little more challenging!).
There’s another short swim after The Washing Machine through a picturesque section of Rocky Creek Canyon.
At the end of this second swim is The Slide, another fun obstacle between the constrictions of Rocky Creek Canyon.
You can climb down the side of the waterfall… but it’s much more fun to slide – or jump – into the deep pool.
Some groups finish here before returning back up the canyon, but that means you miss the main constriction and one of the most spectacular sections of Rocky Creek Canyon. There is a bit of creek walking first, past a wall of ferns on both sides of the canyon.
Next is a narrow slot and short swim, before the canyon opens again a little.
Shafts of sunlight penetrate the tall slot, creating a very photogenic scene.
There is a bit of walking through the narrow constriction, before another short swim.
This part of Rocky Creek Canyon has been described as “particularly spectacular, similar to Claustral and the Grand Canyon” and it lives up to its reputation.
There’s another short swim before more walking along the creek.
Just before the end of the canyon is the longest swim – it’s about 50m in length – through one of the narrowest and most spectacular slots.
Rocky Creek Canyon ends after this last swim at a small sandy beach.
A short distance downstream, past a small cascade, is a shaded and sandy beach just before Rocky Creek meets Budgary Creek.
Rocky Creek Canyon exit
The most common way back is to reverse up the canyon; there are two alternate (and longer) exit routes:
- Continue for a kilometre downstream to a gully on the left which is on a sharp right hand bend in the creek; after the upper line of cliffs the “Wall of Death” (a steep rock slab) needs to be climbed. It’s “technically easy but exposed” so a rope or tape is useful. The ridge then takes you back via an overgrown fire trail to Galah Mountain Road (turn left down the road to get back to the car park).
- Opposite the Rocky Creek / Budgary Creek junction is a slightly more technical climb up a slab to a narrow ledge. From the end of the ledge an exposed climb up leads to another ledge which after 100m ends at another slab which involves a “difficult climb of about 5m”. Follow the ridge through another cliff line to reach a track that leads to Coachwood Canyon, and contour around the east side of Galah Mountain to return to the carpark. Not recommended unless you are comfortable with exposed climbing.
We re-trace our steps, which I’d suggest is the most pleasant route on a hot day. If the water flow is high, climbing up some of the drops – in particular The Washing Machine – can be difficult and the Wall of Death would be the safest exit. The Slide is fairly easy to climb up on the right-hand side, while The Washing Machine is a bit more challenging as at one point you have the full force of the cascade on you as you clamber up the slot. The last and biggest climb is next to the waterfall out of the canyon, which is much easier with a rope/tape.
Allow about four hours for the return trip, with about 45min for the descent and a similar time for the climb back out.
Getting to Rocky Creek Canyon
The signposted Rocky Creek Canyon trailhead is at the end of the Rocky Creek Firetrail, which is accessed via Glowworm Tunnel Road. If coming from Sydney, turn off Chifley Road at Clarence onto the Old Bells Line of Road and drive about 8km to the junction with State Mine Road / Glowworm Tunnel Road. Turn right onto Glowworm Tunnel Road and continue for 15.7km, where you turn right onto Galah Mountain Road (which is signposted to Rocky Creek). After passing the Pass Barcoo Swamp camping area you veer left (at a Y intersection) before turning right onto the Rocky Creek Firetrail after about 5km. Afer 1,5km you reach the Rocky Creek car park (Galah Mountain car park).
The roads from Clarence are all unsealed but generally suitable for all cars. Allow 45min from Clarence to the Rocky Creek Canyon car park, and 2 hours from Sydney to Clarence via Bells Line of Road. Google Maps may work… or it may not. There is a maze of firetrails in the Newnes Plateau, and Google Maps is fairly useless in providing accurate directions.
More information
- OZultimate – Rocky Creek Canyon – track notes
- Ropewiki – Rocky Creek
0 Comments