old walking tracks in RNP near Waterfall

[dnaylor]

Any one have info on where this track starts and finishes (other than the points i have noted) I spotted it on google maps (satellite view) while looking for places to walk to in the RNP near Waterfall.. its between Kangaroo Creek and Cridland Brook i was first interested in the exposed rock areas and spotted the track...
https://goo.gl/maps/Vj91EEyQqXhjpid68
https://goo.gl/maps/LaaHFqD7Zo7YF9ve8
Im assuming it goes to the rock formation at https://goo.gl/maps/8L8YNixDHQyeXH2LA
i think there may be a track at this point also thats connected..
https://goo.gl/maps/3EcmL8U3RXZ4GxR8A

[michael_p]

Could be the Kangaroo Creek Track: https://osm.org/go/uN89QKkr--

Michael.

[dnaylor]

doubt it, i've walked that track from waterfall all the way along Kangaroo creek to where kangaroo creek crosses the Engadine track, the track i noted is almost 1km as the crow flys from the second falls down on Kangaroo creek...

[michael_p]

I just looked at this area in Google Earth and set the historical imagery to 2009. Looking at the 2009 images there appears to be a number of trails in that area. I suspect that they are just old trails that are no longer used.

[dnaylor]

oooh... hadn't thought of that... i'll have a look and see...

[dnaylor]

drats, my computer wont run google earth easily... did find a branch track off the kangaroo creek track near waterfall at https://goo.gl/maps/MpJ6ihNTL4EES5pG7.. suspect it may head up towards where i want to go...

[michael_p]

Only one way to find out.

[dnaylor]

lol... might have a look tomorrow..hope its not overgrown by our local armored bushes... they must be a throw back to out ancient mega fauna period because i don't think we have anything currently that requires huge thorns to protect against being eaten...

[bush-walk-swim]

Look forward to an update if/when you get a chance to explore the track.
Thanks.

[michael_p]

I was researching a nearby area when I came across some information. Apparently the Broad Headed Snake has been found in this part of the RNP. NPWS closed off trails to the north (nearer Heathcote) to protect the snake. Not sure if this is correct but it may be why these trails stopped being used. But as I said I could be wrong.

[dnaylor]

hmm.. need to look into how to access the area better... the track i thought i could use that branched off the kangaroo creek track went straight to a nice old guy in a tent.... mind you i followed the kangaroo creek track down to the larger second falls/cascade with a nice water pool and had lunch there before returning to waterfall station...

[dnaylor]

I was researching a nearby area when I came across some information. Apparently the Broad Headed Snake has been found in this part of the RNP. NPWS closed off trails to the north (nearer Heathcote) to protect the snake. Not sure if this is correct but it may be why these trails stopped being used. But as I said I could be wrong.

oooh.. thankyou for that info!

[mandragara]

I did a bit of research and all I can find is the following:

1) These tracks don't appear on the WWII aerial imagery of Sydney

2) According to the Port Hacking map prepared by the Department of Lands, 1935, there are some falls and pools off to the south of Kangaroo Ridge, so *possibly* your tracks could be part of an old access route to them. Pure speculation though

[juxtaposer]

A lot of old tracks in the park predated the road building era initiated by the National Park Trust in the 1880s. The Trust was very busy in upgrading old tracks into roads well into the 1930s. This changed the access patterns and made some foot tracks obsolete. A more recent example was when NPWS closed a small parking area at the head of an old track down to Curracurrong from near the top of the Wattamolla road. That was an easy track to follow in the early 80s, but when I returned to it in about 2004 it had long been in disuse. The track was still there, but scrub had closed over the top of it and it was a battle to follow.

[michael_p]

A more recent example was when NPWS closed a small parking area at the head of an old track down to Curracurrong from near the top of the Wattamolla road. That was an easy track to follow in the early 80s, but when I returned to it in about 2004 it had long been in disuse. The track was still there, but scrub had closed over the top of it and it was a battle to follow.

Sounds like the Wattamolla Triangle access road, see this thread for reference: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3769&p=382922#p381963. This old road use to start just to the east of the current toll booth on Watamolla Rd and head toward Curracurrong via the triangle.

Cheers,
Michael.

[juxtaposer]

I think you are right. I read about that not so long ago in a book on the history of RNP. Just checked it out on Google for the first time and realised the connection. When I used to walk down that track I never picked up on the triangle, probably because when I got to the creek crossing I usually followed the creek the rest of the way down from there.