Fortress Ridge Trail
Download & Print Map and Notes3 hrs
7.4 km Return
244 m
Moderate track
(0km) Fortress Ridge car park → End of service trail
1.5 km
29 mins
48m
-36m
Moderate track
From the car park (and ‘Fortress Ridge’ sign), this walk heads around the gate and up the hill. The management trail swings right for approximately 50m then turns left. The trail leads to an area of low heath, then tends right (down the hill) for approximately 100m before coming to an intersection.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill in a northerly direction. The trail soon rises up a slight hill, passing low heath on the left before continuing up the hill. The walk then flattens out for approximately 200m before slowly rising up another hill for approximately 100m more, coming to an intersection with a smaller track on the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill in a northerly direction. The trail soon rises up a slight hill, passing low heath on the left before continuing up the hill. The walk then flattens out for approximately 200m before slowly rising up another hill for approximately 100m more, coming to an intersection with a smaller track on the left.
(1.47km) End of service trail → Western Trail Split
220 m
5 mins
11m
-1m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads west up the hill, following the bush track. The track soon comes into view of a knoll, with a rock feature at its head. The track continues to the intersection below this feature.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill of the knoll, keeping the rock feature to the left of the track. The track continues down the other side, soon coming to an intersection.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill of the knoll, keeping the rock feature to the left of the track. The track continues down the other side, soon coming to an intersection.
(1.69km) Western Trail Split → Fortress Canyon Entry Trk
270 m
6 mins
15m
-5m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, then over a small hill with denser bushland, before coming to a defined ‘Y’ intersection in the track.
(1.96km) Fortress Canyon Entry Trk → Fortress Canyon Exit Trk
1.6 km
33 mins
56m
-61m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk does not follow the track marked by the arrow on the rock, but instead heads over a large grey rock surface. The track heads across the ridgeline, undulating over four knolls. The track passes through areas of trees and open heath then turns north, off the last knoll. From this last knoll, the track heads down the spur line, nearing the cliffs on the left. On the spur line, the track comes to an intersection with another track on the right (which heads down into the valley).
(3.55km) Fortress Canyon Exit Trk → Fortress Ridge Lookout
130 m
3 mins
2m
-9m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the spurline towards the large valley and views of cliffs. The track continues down into a saddle and up to a lookout, near a few bushes on the edge of the cliff.
Fortress Ridge
Fortress Ridge lookout has stunning views over the Grose Valley to Govetts Leap, Horseshoe Falls and Blackheath. From the lookout, the vista to the west includes the impressive Lockley’s Pylon, with Mount Hay in the background.
Maps for the Fortress Ridge Trail walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Katoomba | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89301S KATOOMBA | NSW-89301S |
Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the Fortress Ridge Trail bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Fortress Ridge Trail
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 7.4 km | ||
Time | 3 hrs | ||
. | |||
Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
This whole walk, 3.7km has short steep hills.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 3.7km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
This whole walk, 3.7km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 3.7km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 3.7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 3.7km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Fortress Ridge Trail walk starts and ends at the Fortress Ridge car park (gps: -33.658099, 150.3642)Your main transport option to Fortress Ridge car park is by;
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/frxx
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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