Bushwalk Australia

Hi

I am looking at track notes & reports for walks to Canoe Creek which all describe driving down the Grassy Hill Fire Trail.

But my topo (memory-maps 2012) shows a locked gate right on the Putty Road turnoff.

Can anyone confirm if it is still possible to drive down Grassy Hill FT? I tried calling NPWS but got no answer...

Curious, there wasn't one when I did this walk about 12 months ago and I haven't noticed a gate when going past up the putty road

There is a gate now on the road in from Stoney waterholes which has only been installed about a year ago so its possible a few other gates were installed at the same time.
I have also heard of a gate blocking access to the start of the T3 track (off Sams Way), I am going to check this out very soon.

A shame you posted this just now - I was up at Bob Turners track yesterday and could have checked out access for canoe ck at the same time.

regards
Bron

I'd be very surprised if the Grassy Hill FT is closed. It's not listed on
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/Natio ... osure.aspx
and the current barrier is at the wilderness boundary. I'd say it's just a problem with Memory Maps (are you sure it's a locked gate? since the LPI topo shows a sliprail, not a locked gate or barrier)

T3 Fire Trail is open as of 3 weeks ago.

I was out that way a month or two back. Grassy Hill FT is definitely open, and still in good condition after being graded about a year back. 2wd friendly all the way.
It was closed for a few months last winter when they graded it, but I'm not aware of any closures since. Check the NPWS website. If it's not listed there you should be fine.

I got hold of Richmond NPWS, the person I spoke to was a bit hazy about exactly where the locked gate was but confirmed it is not closed off at putty road.

BTW the memory maps data is the NSW lands dept 1:25K data, but it is a bit more recent then the "3rd edition" maps. Well it used to be identical, then there was an update in Dec. I assume the paper maps will eventually catch up (4th edition?). A screen shot is attached, it definately says "locked" but I will assume it's just one of those errors.

Thanks for the tip re being 2WD friendly - I was thinking I would have to take my patrol out, which is very very thirsty.

Does Memory Map also have a locked gate at the wilderness boundary?

It's always been 2wd accessible - there's only one section that's been problematic, a rock shelf that low slung vehicles bottom out on. I assume that's been (temporarily!) fixed.

There's no wilderness area boundary shown, only the Wollemi National Park boundary (on Putty Road). But the only gate (locked or otherwise) is the one right at Putty Road.

jonnosan wrote:BTW the memory maps data is the NSW lands dept 1:25K data, but it is a bit more recent then the "3rd edition" maps. Well it used to be identical, then there was an update in Dec. I assume the paper maps will eventually catch up (4th edition?). A screen shot is attached, it definately says "locked" but I will assume it's just one of those errors.
[attachment=0]grassy_hill_track.png[/attachmen

Interestingly the NSW SIX maps show a gate at the beginning of the fire trail as well. You have to zoom in close but it is there marked on the map.

My understanding is the NSW SIX data is where the 1:25K topos are derived from (whether paper based, or the version in Memory Maps). So not surprised the error is in there. Assuming it is an error of course - will find out this weekend, and confirm back here either way...

For completeness sake- I can confirm that there was a gate right at the start of the fire trail, but it was open. I assume it would only be closed & locked if the fire trail is closed.

And the permanently locked gate (at the start of the wilderness area) is right where the fire trail ends on my topo.

Also - Canoe creek is awesome, and the Colo was very cold, I am keen to go back again in summer.

Thanks jonnosan for clearing this up.

Cheers,
Michael.

While we are on fire trails near the Colo:

I'm thinking of doing the Crawford's Lookout track in the next month or so. Is the Culoul Range fire trail suitable for 2WDs? I don't want to take my car in there if it's not suitable to get down to the carpark.

I have driven down with 2wd no problem but not recently.