Bushwalk Australia

I'm looking at doing the descent into the valley from Evans lookout via the horse track.

I've read differing reports on the condition and status of the track, has anyone walked it recently and can comment ?

I was out that way a week or two ago - and its in very good condition. Most big logs and trees that had fallen on the track had been sawn through etc.

Dave

Thanks - is the track straightforward to follow ? ie no off-track sections to contend with. I plan to have the kids with me so want to keep matters simple.

Yes - pretty easy to follow. The hard parts are finding the starts at each end.

DaveNoble wrote:Yes - pretty easy to follow. The hard parts are finding the starts at each end.

Haven't been along it for a while and can't remember what's now at the bottom end, but there is a yellow warning sign at the top that states it is the Horse Track (once you find it). Coming down from Evans Lookout, after maybe 5-10 minutes you keep going straight ahead along a bit of a ridge, at a point where the Grand Canyon track deviates to the right down some steps. There is some signage at this point guiding the flow away from the Horse Track.

I think the directions here are still pretty up to date
http://bushwalkingnsw.com/walk.php?nid=791

It's fairly obvious if you're looking for it and don't follow the masses going along the Grand Canyon walk. There's a sign too, but I think it's slightly obscured by a bush or you only see it when you're about 10-30m in iirc. Heaps of trees down on the track when I went down in January, but they were easily passable and the track was obvious. I used the bushwalkingnsw directions tom linked.

can't remember what's now at the bottom end

My memory, from some years ago, was that the NPWS had put a large signboard across the turnoff at the bottom with arrows to Grand Canyon and Junction Rock. They were trying to 'deprecate' the Horse Track.
So, of course, someone had carefully carved into the NPWS sign the words 'Horse Track' and an arrow in the right direction. And for some years walkers made a point of using the Horse Track in both directions.
It is very much a current track.

Cheers
Roger

Came up the Horse Track today, I think next time I'll go down it as I was puffing like an old horse when I reached the top !

oldlock wrote:Came up the Horse Track today, I think next time I'll go down it as I was puffing like an old horse when I reached the top !

Well done. My preference is to go down it then up Rodriguez Pass, which is the prettier section with waterfalls etc, but unfortunately you'll probably still be puffing . Surprisingly, the Horse Track is actually one of the least steep descents into the Grose system.

Or alternatively continue on to junction rock and then up Govetts Leap.

Thats the only problem with walking down into a land of waterfalls and spectacular escarpments...still got to climb out of the valley which ever way you go.

wildwanderer wrote:Or alternatively continue on to junction rock and then up Govetts Leap.

Thats the only problem with walking down into a land of waterfalls and spectacular escarpments...still got to climb out of the valley which ever way you go.

Too true. Yeah, I thought about Govetts but it's a longer walk and oldlock said he was already puffing

I went down govetts leap and up the horse track.

I think I would finds the steps back up easier on my knees and calves than the slope of the horse track !