Popular lookouts, fire trails and some walking tracks in Blue Mountains National Park have been re-opened to visitors, following significant damage from sustained wet weather.
Blue Mountains Branch Director at NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), David Crust said NPWS was continuing to inspect and progressively re-open sites as safety and damage assessments were completed across the 247,000-hectare park.
“The recent sustained heavy rainfall and flash flooding caused extensive damage to park roads, bridges, walking tracks and campgrounds,” Mr Crust said.
“We know visitors are keen to return to Blue Mountains National Park and our staff are working hard to assess roads, walking tracks, fire trails, visitor precincts and camping areas to enable this to happen,” he said.
“Initially we are focussing on popular picnic areas, lookouts, campsites and fire trails.”
Mr Crust said a significant number of areas across the park were now open to the public in the Blackheath, Katoomba, Wentworth Falls, lower and mid mountains and the Bells Line of Road areas.
For beautiful short walks, he recommended that visitors head to Wentworth Falls where the track to the top of the waterfall had been re-opened, along with several spectacular lookouts.
“A selection of half-day walks are also available in the upper mountains, including the Clifftop Track and Popes Glen in Blackheath, and the Prince Henry Clifftop walk in Katoomba,” he said.
“For full-day walks and cycling opportunities many fire trails have been re-opened including Burramoko Fire Trail in Blackheath and Mount Banks Fire Trail off the Bells Line of Road.”
However, Mr Crust said some tracks and sites would remain closed for a significant period of time due to extreme ground saturation, major damage and access challenges.
“If you plan to visit the park, check the website for closures and be prepared to change your plans if weather conditions deteriorate and we receive significant rainfall,” he said.
Further information on park safety measures and closures can be accessed at this PS News link.
