Sassafras Gully Loop
Download & Print Map and Notes
4 hrs 15 mins
10.5 km Circuit
501 m
Hard track
(0km) Springwood Station → No. 18 Sassafras Gully Rd
1.2 km
23 mins
35m
-38m
Very easy
From Springwood Station, the walk crosses the pedestrian crossing and turns right, passing the shop fronts. The walk continues along Macquarie Rd and turns left onto Homedale St. At the bottom of Homedale St, the walk turns right onto Valley Rd, and then left onto Sassafras Gully Rd. The walk continues to the bottom of Sassafras Gully Rd, in front of house number 18.
(1.19km) No. 18 Sassafras Gully Rd → Perch Ponds camping area
4.5 km
1 hr 38 mins
108m
-333m
Hard track
Veer left: From the end of Sassafras Gully Rd, the walk heads down the hill along the fenceline of house No. 18. The walk passes two signs for ‘Sassafras Gully’ as it winds to the right at a rock outcrop and down to an unsignposted intersection.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads down the hill, keeping the rock outcrop on the left. The walk passes a track on the left (which heads over the rock outcrop) and turns down the hill. As the walk winds down the hill, a few smaller tracks are passed before nearing a creek. The walk crosses the creek a few times as it heads down the gully to a larger creek junction. The walk crosses the junction, then follows the larger gully, soon coming to a ‘Sassafras Gully Rd’ sign (pointing back the way you came)[1].
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads down across the creek in the direction of the ‘To Wiggins Track’ sign[2]. The walk winds along the hillside, keeping the creek on the right, passing a blue track marker[3] which directs the walk to the other side of the creek. The walk now keeps the creek on the left as it winds up to a ‘Perch Ponds, Springwood Stn’ sign[4].
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the direction of the ‘Perch Ponds’ sign[5] across the hillside. The walk soon nears the creek on the left, then undulates above it for a short while. The track crosses a steeply banked creek junction, then continues following the main creek (which is on the left). The walk stays near this creek, coming into a campground clearing with large boulders.
Continue straight: From the campground clearing, the walk exits the clearing, keeping the main creek to the right, and immediately crosses a side creek. The walk keeps the main creek on the right as it slowly climbs the hillside. The track then heads downhill, passing under a few rock overhangs and soon entering the campground clearing of ‘Perch Ponds’.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads down the hill, keeping the rock outcrop on the left. The walk passes a track on the left (which heads over the rock outcrop) and turns down the hill. As the walk winds down the hill, a few smaller tracks are passed before nearing a creek. The walk crosses the creek a few times as it heads down the gully to a larger creek junction. The walk crosses the junction, then follows the larger gully, soon coming to a ‘Sassafras Gully Rd’ sign (pointing back the way you came)[1].
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads down across the creek in the direction of the ‘To Wiggins Track’ sign[2]. The walk winds along the hillside, keeping the creek on the right, passing a blue track marker[3] which directs the walk to the other side of the creek. The walk now keeps the creek on the left as it winds up to a ‘Perch Ponds, Springwood Stn’ sign[4].
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the direction of the ‘Perch Ponds’ sign[5] across the hillside. The walk soon nears the creek on the left, then undulates above it for a short while. The track crosses a steeply banked creek junction, then continues following the main creek (which is on the left). The walk stays near this creek, coming into a campground clearing with large boulders.
Continue straight: From the campground clearing, the walk exits the clearing, keeping the main creek to the right, and immediately crosses a side creek. The walk keeps the main creek on the right as it slowly climbs the hillside. The track then heads downhill, passing under a few rock overhangs and soon entering the campground clearing of ‘Perch Ponds’.
Perch Ponds Campsite
Perch Ponds is a lovely waterhole, with a clearing suitable to pitch a tent, located at the junction of Magdala Creek and Glenbrook Creeks. The meeting of the two creek provides a relaxing sound of rushing water and a cool spot to rest on warmer days. The campsite is a flat area above the pool marked with a fire scar. A great shady and quiet area for a camp. There are no facilities and water from the creek needs to be treated.
(5.69km) Perch Ponds camping area → Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks
380 m
10 mins
63m
-14m
Hard track
(6.08km) Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks → Behind Martins Falls
30 m
1 mins
1m
-2m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads to the left of the ‘Martins Falls’ sign (towards the falls). The walk skirts around the edge of the valley, coming under the rock overhang of the falls, and then arriving behind the falls. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Martins Falls
Martins Falls are at a rock overhang on Magdala Creek, near Springwood, almost 400m upstream from the Glenbrook Creek junction. The water falls off a rock platform, over the overhang into a large pond. There is a faint track leading behind the falls, giving a different perspective of the pond and falls – extra care is required. This is a lovely area to enjoy the cool temperatures on warmer days, and is more spectacular after recent rain.
(6.08km) Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks → Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk
3.5 km
1 hr 14 mins
206m
-105m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads up the gully, keeping the creek to the right. The track winds for a short time, passing a few rocky overhangs as it climbs to a ‘Magdala Falls’ sign.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk keeps the valley on the right as it heads up the hill. The walk winds up the hill, crossing the creek after some time. The walk continues up the hill, now with the creek on the left, to an intersection, with arrows engraved in the rock.
Turn left : From the intersection engraved with arrows[8], the walk heads down across the creek. The track then keeps the Magdala Creek on the left before crossing for the first of many times. The walk continues up along Magdala Creek and crosses a rock shelf below some small falls, coming to a ‘Lawson’s Lookout’ sign[9].
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk keeps the valley on the right as it heads up the hill. The walk winds up the hill, crossing the creek after some time. The walk continues up the hill, now with the creek on the left, to an intersection, with arrows engraved in the rock.
Turn left : From the intersection engraved with arrows[8], the walk heads down across the creek. The track then keeps the Magdala Creek on the left before crossing for the first of many times. The walk continues up along Magdala Creek and crosses a rock shelf below some small falls, coming to a ‘Lawson’s Lookout’ sign[9].
(9.61km) Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk → Lawsons Lookout
410 m
11 mins
39m
-11m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the direction of the ‘Lawsons Lookout’ signs[10], up the hill. The track heads up to a rocky outcrop, where the track turns back on itself and steps through some bushes to the rocky surface of the lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Lawsons Lookout
Lawsons Lookout, in Springwood, Blue Mountains, is an unfenced rockshelf overlooking the wonderful Magdala Creek valley. The lookout is most easily accessed from Raymond Rd.
(9.61km) Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk → Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks
140 m
3 mins
13m
-1m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the direction of the ‘Springwood Station’ sign[11] up the hill, keeping the creek on the left of the track. The track stays close to the creek as it climbs the hill, soon coming to a signposted intersection next to the bridge.
(9.75km) Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks → Picnic Point
160 m
6 mins
33m
-2m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk crosses the bridge, following the ‘Picnic Point’ signs[12]. The walk immediately climbs many stairs which wind up to a the picnic shelter and grass area of Picnic Point. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left .
Picnic Point
Picnic Point, in Springwood, Blue Mountains, is a quiet, grassy clearing tucked behind the houses above Magdala Creek. The area has a gazebo, picnic table and water tank (water needs to be treated). The clearing has a track leading down to many popular walks, with Lawson’s Lookout and Fairy Dell Reserves nearby.
(9.75km) Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks → Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area
390 m
9 mins
44m
-5m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Fairy Dell’ signs[13], keeping the creek on the left. The walk winds up the hill, passing a vandalised building (which has since been reported as demolished by another walker), and continuing up more stairs into a grassy area with picnic tables.
Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area
Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area is a quiet and shady terraced garden at the head of the Magdala Gully. Fairy Dell is situated just south of Springwood in the Lower Blue Mountains. The picnic area has numerous tables, parking and a grassy area for the kids to play. The Fairy Dell Reserve Picnic area is also the starting point for a number of walks down to Magdala Creek, Picnic Point and nearby Lawson Lookout.
(10.14km) Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area → Int. Springwood Ave and Fairy Dell Reserve
150 m
3 mins
21m
0m
Easy track
Veer right: From Fern Dell Reserve picnic area, the track heads up the hill in the opposite direction to the ‘Sassafras Gully’ arrow on the blue sign. The track reaches the end of a small road, and heads up this road to the intersection with Springwood Ave, next to house number 51.
(10.28km) Int. Springwood Ave and Fairy Dell Reserve → Springwood Station
270 m
5 mins
11m
-4m
Very easy
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads across the road and up through the car park. The walk continues up to the main road, Macquarie Rd, and turns left. The walk follows the shop fronts for about 150 metres, then crosses the road at the pedestrian crossing opposite Springwood Station.
Maps for the Sassafras Gully Loop 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.
| Springwood | 1:25 000 Map Series | 90304S SPRINGWOOD | NSW-90304S |
| Penrith | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9030 PENRITH | 9030 |
Cross sectional view of the Sassafras Gully Loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Sassafras Gully Loop
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 | 10.5 km | ||
| Time | 4 hrs 15 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
| Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
5km of this walk is very steep and another 3.8km has short steep hills. Whilst another 1.5km is flat with no steps and the remaining 150m has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
6km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 3.3km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (1.6km) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
4.6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 4.2km has minimal directional signs. The remaining (1.7km) is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 11km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 11km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
5km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 3.2km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (2.1km) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Sassafras Gully Loop walk starts and ends at the Springwood Station (gps: -33.699107, 150.5638)Your transport options to Springwood Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/sgl
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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