Woodford to Blaxland Station
Download & Print Map and Notes
7 hrs 15 mins
18.3 km One way
519 m
Experienced only
Woodford
Woodford is situated along the Great Western Highway in the Blue Mountains. Woodford boasts one of the Blue Mountains oldest buildings, with the Woodford Academy dating back to 1833 . Access to the academy is made easy by Woodford train station and other public transport connections. Woodford is also the start of the popular Woodford to Glenbrook mountain bike which follows the Oaks Fire trail. Woodford station offers a public telephone and toilets. There are no commercial facilities in the area.
(0km) Woodford Station → Int. Oaks Firetrail and Old Bathurst Rd
730 m
15 mins
22m
-39m
Easy track
From the station, this walk heads down the stairs, off the station and turns left under the station. It then continues up to Railway Parade, opposite a shelter with a bench seat. The walk heads up Railway Pde, keeping the railway tracks to the left. The road tends right then the walk turns right onto The Appian Way. The walk follows The Appian Way, which turns into Parker St. (If you cross over a bridge, you have gone the wrong way.) The walk leads along Parker St to Taylor St, where it turns left and continues down the hill to the intersection with The Oaks Fire Trail. This is signposted at the clearing on the right.
(0.73km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and Old Bathurst Rd → Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk
3.5 km
1 hr 10 mins
87m
-175m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the road, the walk heads to the gate and crosses over it. (On the lower side of the gate is a tap which provides drinking water.) From the gate and tap, the walk heads down the hill, passing a broken interpretative sign on the left, and continues to wind and undulate for quite some time. The trail passes a mound in a junction. From the mound, the trail continues to wind and undulate, turning right and steeply downhill twice, before passing a small dam (just to the left). The walk winds, with the hillside higher on the right than left, before leading up a steep slope to a small clearing with a large step.
(4.21km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk → Cliff lookout
100 m
3 mins
5m
-18m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads away from the management trail, with the small depression (or waterhole) on the left, surrounded by reeds. The track winds up the hill, following the gap in the vegetation, leading to a rock shelf with a view. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Cliff Lookout
Cliff lookout, an unofficially-named, informal view point, is a dramatic cliff edge perched just above the trees. The cliff is unfenced. The view across the valley provides a pleasant panorama.
(4.21km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk → Int. St Helena Ridge Trail and Bunyah Lookout Trk
6.9 km
2 hrs 21 mins
187m
-363m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads down the hill in a southerly direction and tends right. At the bottom of the hill, the trail winds left and then up a hill to the right, onto a plateau with clearer, lower vegetation. The management trail here is also lined by large rocks, which look as though they could have been placed there. The trail comes off the hill and heads across a saddle to a large management trail intersection (on the left).
Turn left : From the intersection, the walk heads east, down the rocky management trail. The trail winds down the hill, passing over sandy and rocky areas. The trail then flattens out, undulating and winding for quite some time, with the track widening and narrowing greatly in many areas. After some time, the walk enters a large clearing, with a rocky outcrop to the right.
Turn left : From the intersection, the walk heads east, down the rocky management trail. The trail winds down the hill, passing over sandy and rocky areas. The trail then flattens out, undulating and winding for quite some time, with the track widening and narrowing greatly in many areas. After some time, the walk enters a large clearing, with a rocky outcrop to the right.
(11.1km) Int. St Helena Ridge Trail and Bunyan Lookout Trk → St Helena Ridge Lookout
4.9 km
1 hr 26 mins
41m
-174m
Hard track
Turn left : From the intersection, the walk heads north-east out of the small clearing. The track winds through the heath for a short time before coming to a clearing with a fireplace, on the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads north-east along the sandy track. The walk meanders through low, green heath for quite some time, winding through a section of pines before returning to heath as the track arrives at the cairn, on the right, which marks the intersection.
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk heads south east along track soon leading downhill. The walk meanders through the heath for quite some time. The walk nears a cliff line on the left, which it continues near for a short time before opening out onto a rocky outcrop with a view across to houses on the opposite hill (just before the steep downhill section).
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads north-east along the sandy track. The walk meanders through low, green heath for quite some time, winding through a section of pines before returning to heath as the track arrives at the cairn, on the right, which marks the intersection.
Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk heads south east along track soon leading downhill. The walk meanders through the heath for quite some time. The walk nears a cliff line on the left, which it continues near for a short time before opening out onto a rocky outcrop with a view across to houses on the opposite hill (just before the steep downhill section).
St Helena Ridge Lookout
St Helena Ridge Lookout, does not have the clearest view or the most spectacular scenery. However, it is a great place to rest before continuing on your way.
(16.03km) St Helena Ridge Lookout → Int. Waterfall and ridge trk
360 m
18 mins
4m
-122m
Experienced only
Continue straight: From St Helena Ridge lookout, the walk follows a very faint track initially very steeply down off the rock platform, The track initially tends a little to the left to then follow the main ridge line down. The track soon becomes much less steep (and a little clearer) when after about 100m the faint track bends right at another rocky outcrop. Here the walk leads off the side of the ridge to then wind down through the rocky outcrops and continue down through the scrub for about 180m until just before Glenbrook Creek where this walk comes to an un-signposted intersection.
(16.38km) Int. Waterfall and ridge trk → St Helena waterfall
160 m
3 mins
4m
-6m
Experienced only
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk heads upstream, keeping the creek on the right. The track undulates along the bank, passing a few large boulders in the creek before coming to a sandy beach at a bend in the creek.
Continue straight: From the beach, the walk heads across the sand bar (covered in reeds) to come within ear-shot of the waterfall, located behind the inlet on the creek. The walk passes through the sandy, shallow section of the creek then walks up the bank and around to the waterfall. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Continue straight.
Continue straight: From the beach, the walk heads across the sand bar (covered in reeds) to come within ear-shot of the waterfall, located behind the inlet on the creek. The walk passes through the sandy, shallow section of the creek then walks up the bank and around to the waterfall. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Continue straight.
St Helenas waterfall
St Helenas waterfall is a small fall, flowing from a side creek into Glenbrook Creek. It is rather unimpressive unless there has been recent rainfall. The water cascades down a nice rock face, among the sassafras trees and mossy rocks.
(16.38km) Int. Waterfall and ridge trk → Blaxland Library Carpark
1.4 km
34 mins
150m
-28m
Experienced only
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads downstream, keeping the creek on the left. After approximately 10m, the walk comes to a bushy creek crossing and winds over the rocks and through the bushes. Following this, the walk keeps the creek on the right whilst winding downstream. The track soon arrives at an intersection, which is a sandy area with rocks and stairs leading up the hill.
Turn left : From the large boulder, this walk heads up the hill and climbs the stone steps steeply, with a number of pink ribbons marking the initial track. The track continues steeply (eroded in places) up the hill and winds its way up to the un-signposted T-intersection.
Turn sharp right: From the intersection[2], this walk heads along the mostly flat track along the side of the hill, keeping the valley to your right. Soon the track leads to another intersection at the base of more stone steps, and a rock wall (on the left) that has ‘Florabella Pass’ engraved in it[3].
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads around the boulder (which is on the left) and soon meets a set of stairs, to the left of a ‘Pippas Pass’ sign[4] in a tree.
Turn right: From the intersection[5], this walk follows the ‘Pippas Pass’ sign[6] (that is about 2m up a tree) gently downhill along the track, directly away from the rockface, keeping the main valley to your right. The track winds along the side of the hill for about 100m to then climb up a set of sandstone steps just past a shallow sandstone overhang[7]. From here the track gently undulates along the side of the hill (with a steep valley to your right[8]) for about 300m to lead gently down and cross the usually small creek in the shaded valley[9]. Just after crossing this creek[10], the track bends left to head gently up through the valley along the base of a few natural sandstone walls[11] for about 200m, where the the track becomes rocky and starts to climb a bit more steeply. The track then leads up through a cleft in the rock[12] then about 60m later comes to a unsignposted three-way intersection (with the track on the left crossing the creek), marked with a smooth bark Angophera[13].
Turn left: From the intersection[14], this walk crosses the sandstone platform and creek[15]. Here the track winds gently uphill for about 40m to cross a smaller often dry creek [16] where the track continues uphill for another 30m to pass a grafittied sandstone overhang (on your left)[17]. The track continues gently uphill and bends right to cross a sandstone rock platform and small creek[18] to almost immediately come to a faint intersection with a track in the tall heath[19]. Here the walk turns left and heads uphill for for about 50m where the track then leads up some steps to come to the base of a sandstone cliff and smaller overhang[20]. Here the track bends left and and continues along the side of the hill for another 15m to pass a larger and more grafittied sandstone overhang[21]. From here the track continues to wind more steeply uphill for about 80m before turning left and following a wider track (away from the houses) and into the lower car park of Blaxland library just past the ‘Bushcare site’ information sign[22]. Here this walk turns right to head up to the library and main car park[23].
Turn left : From the large boulder, this walk heads up the hill and climbs the stone steps steeply, with a number of pink ribbons marking the initial track. The track continues steeply (eroded in places) up the hill and winds its way up to the un-signposted T-intersection.
Turn sharp right: From the intersection[2], this walk heads along the mostly flat track along the side of the hill, keeping the valley to your right. Soon the track leads to another intersection at the base of more stone steps, and a rock wall (on the left) that has ‘Florabella Pass’ engraved in it[3].
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads around the boulder (which is on the left) and soon meets a set of stairs, to the left of a ‘Pippas Pass’ sign[4] in a tree.
Turn right: From the intersection[5], this walk follows the ‘Pippas Pass’ sign[6] (that is about 2m up a tree) gently downhill along the track, directly away from the rockface, keeping the main valley to your right. The track winds along the side of the hill for about 100m to then climb up a set of sandstone steps just past a shallow sandstone overhang[7]. From here the track gently undulates along the side of the hill (with a steep valley to your right[8]) for about 300m to lead gently down and cross the usually small creek in the shaded valley[9]. Just after crossing this creek[10], the track bends left to head gently up through the valley along the base of a few natural sandstone walls[11] for about 200m, where the the track becomes rocky and starts to climb a bit more steeply. The track then leads up through a cleft in the rock[12] then about 60m later comes to a unsignposted three-way intersection (with the track on the left crossing the creek), marked with a smooth bark Angophera[13].
Turn left: From the intersection[14], this walk crosses the sandstone platform and creek[15]. Here the track winds gently uphill for about 40m to cross a smaller often dry creek [16] where the track continues uphill for another 30m to pass a grafittied sandstone overhang (on your left)[17]. The track continues gently uphill and bends right to cross a sandstone rock platform and small creek[18] to almost immediately come to a faint intersection with a track in the tall heath[19]. Here the walk turns left and heads uphill for for about 50m where the track then leads up some steps to come to the base of a sandstone cliff and smaller overhang[20]. Here the track bends left and and continues along the side of the hill for another 15m to pass a larger and more grafittied sandstone overhang[21]. From here the track continues to wind more steeply uphill for about 80m before turning left and following a wider track (away from the houses) and into the lower car park of Blaxland library just past the ‘Bushcare site’ information sign[22]. Here this walk turns right to head up to the library and main car park[23].
(17.78km) Blaxland Library Carpark → Blaxland shops
460 m
9 mins
28m
-9m
Very easy
Turn left: From the Blaxland Library car park[24], this walk heads up the ramp on the side of the building[25] then follows the back deck behind the library and community centre[26]. On the far side of the building, this walk follows the bitumen footpath[27] footpath uphill to turn left at the ‘Blaxland Civic Centre’[28] sign onto the footpath beside Hope St. This walk follows the footpath uphill for about 150m before turning right to cross Hope St at the traffic calming device[29]. Here the walk bends left and crosses a car park entrance[30], then soon turns right into ‘Station St’[31]. Here the walk heads up the footpath to cross another car park entrance[32] then onto the pedestrian lane way that leads between the buildings, under the foot bridge[33] to the main footpath, just before the Great Western Highway, among the Blaxland shops.
Blaxland
Blaxland, found along the Great Western Highway, is one of the larger towns of the Lower Blue Mountains. The town has a number of shops and petrol station all lining the highway which lies between the town and train station. Wascoe was the original name of Blaxland until 1914 when it was renamed after Gregory Blaxland who was one of the explorers who found the route across the mountains for the colony . The Blaxland community hosts a number of events during the month of September. More info.
(18.24km) Blaxland Shops → Blaxland Station
70 m
1 mins
0m
0m
Very easy
Turn left: From the footpath, the walk uses the stairs or ramp to climb onto the pedestrian bridge. The walk then crosses the bridge over the Great Western Highway and then heads down onto Blaxland Station.
Maps for the Woodford to Blaxland Station 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 | 1:25 000 Map Series | 90303N PENRITH | NSW-90303N |
| Jamison | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89302N JAMISON | NSW-89302N |
| Katoomba | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89301S KATOOMBA | NSW-89301S |
| Penrith | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9030 PENRITH | 9030 |
| Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the Woodford to Blaxland Station bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Woodford to Blaxland Station
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 | 18.3 km | ||
| Time | 7 hrs 15 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 5/6 Experienced only |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough unclear track (5/6) | ||
| Signs | No directional signs (5/6) | ||
| Experience Required | Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6) | ||
| Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | No facilities provided (5/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
11km of this walk has short steep hills and another 4.7km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 1.6km is flat with no steps and the remaining 470m is very steep.
Quality of track
11km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 6km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. Whilst another 1.3km follows a smooth and hardened path and a 450m section follows a rough unclear track. The remaining 55m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
11km of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 6km has directional signs at most intersection. Whilst another 1.3km is clearly signposted and the remaining 100m Has no directional signs.
Experience Required
17km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience and another 1.3km requires some bushwalking experience. The remaining (110m) requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 17km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.3km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
11km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 6km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). Whilst another 1.3km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) and the remaining 100m has no facilities provided.
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Woodford to Blaxland Station walk starts at the Woodford Station (gps: -33.735763, 150.48228)Your transport options to Woodford Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Train. (get details)The Woodford to Blaxland Station ends at the Blaxland Station (gps: -33.743785, 150.60987)
Your transport options to Blaxland Station are by;
Bus. (get details) Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/wtbs
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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