Kanangra Walls

Kanangra Walls is a line of cliffs on the western edge of the Blue Mountains wilderness, where a plateau capped with hard quartzite ends abruptly above the Kanangra Creek gorge, several hundred metres below. A short loop walk from the car park leads to lookouts along the rim, with Kanangra Falls dropping over the edge nearby and the isolated Thurat Spires standing out from the wall. Longer routes descend to the Kanangra Deep and run out to Mount Cloudmaker along a ridge used by experienced walkers on multi-day trips to Katoomba. The plateau behind holds swamps and snow gums, and the whole area is remote, with the last thirty kilometres unsealed.

What's there

• The wall of cliffs - the quartzite-capped escarpment above the gorge.
• The rim lookouts - the short loop walk to viewpoints along the edge.
• Kanangra Falls - water dropping over the escarpment beside the walls.
• The wilderness beyond - Thurat Spires and the Kanangra Deep.

When to go

October to May for the best conditions; the plateau is cold, wet and sometimes snowbound in winter, and the unsealed road becomes slippery. Fire closures affect the area in summer. Cloud frequently fills the gorge in the mornings.

What to expect

The access road is around thirty kilometres of unsealed gravel, corrugated and slow, and unsuitable for low cars after rain. There is no water, fuel or phone coverage. Beyond the short rim loop, the walking is serious wilderness with steep descents and no easy exits.

Nearby

Jenolan Caves lie to the north; Oberon is the nearest town with services.

Key facts