Martin’s Lookout to Woodford Station

A long day walk, with a few solid hills to start, and some great views. The walk follows the St Helena Ridge, after crossing the Glenbrook Creek, then continues along The Oaks Fire Trail to Woodford Station. The the last part of the walk follows a management trail with plenty of wild flowers at the right time of year.* This walk passes through very remote areas and sections have no visible track. At least one person in your group should have training and experience in off track walking and navigation. Even with these notes and a GPS these extra skills and equipment are required.

(0km) Int. Martins Lookout and Short Trks → Martins Lookout Carpark

60 m
2 mins
12m
0m

Easy track

From the intersection, the walk heads up the stairs around a rocky outcrop and continues through the low scrub, to the cable rimmed car park.

(0.09km) Martins Lookout → Bunyan Lookout

1.5 km
1 hr 4 mins
224m
-205m

Experienced only

Turn right: From Martins Lookout, the track heads south-east around the rocky knoll, with the views to the right of the track. The track quickly comes off the sandstone surface and descends stairs which zigzag under the cliffs. The walk passes under many overhangs, some of which overhang the track as it makes its way down the hillside. Tightly winding its way down the hill, the track descends a final flight of stairs to the signposted intersection.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Bunyan Lkt’ post down the stairs. The walk soon meets the creek and turns left, following the creek for a short distance before crossing at an opening in the shrubs around the creek. From here, the walk follows the cairns (rock stacks) across creek flats before climbing the hill to the base of a small cliff line. At one point beneath the cliff line, the walk ducks through a hole in the rock, then winds up through boulders, following more cairns. The walk continues up the hill, passing through a few more rocky outcrops to reach the informal, unfenced Bunyan Lookout, in a clearing near the cliff line.

Bunyan Lookout

Bunyan Lookout is an large, unfenced sandstone platform overlooking the Glenbrook Creek valley. Behind the lookout, there is a small sandy clearing, big enough for a few tents. The lookout spans across Glenbrook Creek and sandstone cliffs of the valley.

(1.57km) Bunyan Lookout → Int. Bunyan Lookout Trk and Lost Worlds Trk

570 m
10 mins
18m
-7m

Moderate track

Turn sharp right: From Bunyan Lookout, the walk heads back into the clearing behind the unfenced cliff line and turns left at the cairn (if you head down into the valley, you have gone the wrong way). The walk meanders through the heath for a short time before coming to a red painted stump, on the right of the track.

(2.14km) Int. Bunyan Lookout Trk and Lost Worlds Trk → Lost Worlds Lookout

570 m
11 mins
20m
-13m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the red stump intersection, the walk follows the ‘Lost Worlds’ sign up the small hill. The walk winds through the bush for a short time then crosses a rocky surface. The track then leaves the rocky surface briefly to return to a similar rock surface with a white crucifix on the edge of the cliff. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Lost Worlds Lookout

Lost Worlds Lookout is a cliff edge marked by a cross. The cross commemorates the Rev. Raymer who was a prominent bushwalker in the area, and has been commemorated by a plaque at Martins Lookout across the valley. The lookout views Glenbrook Creek valley below, the surrounding cliffs and down to Penrith in the west.

(2.14km) Int. Bunyan Lookout Trk and Lost Worlds Trk → Int. St Helena Ridge Trail and Bunyan Lookout Trk

2.7 km
47 mins
56m
-42m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads in a southerly direction away from the red stump, keeping it behind on the right of the track. The walk winds through the bush, crossing a few sandy areas that lead to a small cairn marking the intersection, on the left of the track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads in a southerly direction along the track. The walk meanders through the low green heath for quite some time, through a section of pines, before entering the clearing with a fire place.
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads south-east through the bush. The track winds through the heath for a short time before opening onto a clearing with a rocky outcrop at the far side.

(4.85km) Int. St Helena Ridge Trail and Bunyah Lookout Trk → Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk

6.9 km
2 hrs 21 mins
363m
-187m

Hard track

Turn right: From the clearing, the walk heads west out of the clearing along the single track. The walk then undulates and winds for quite some time with the track widening and narrowing greatly in many areas. The walk then zigzags up hill, climbing to the intersection with the Oaks Fire Trail.
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads down across the saddle and tends right below the cliff (above on the left). The trail winds up and onto a plateau lined with rocks, which look as though they could have been placed there. The vegetation along this higher area is lower and clearer, which gives views across the distant ridge lines. The walk continues to head in a northerly direction and descends right, off the plateau, to head up another hill to a stepped intersection on the left.

(11.74km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk → Cliff lookout

100 m
3 mins
5m
-18m

Hard track

Turn left: 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 left.

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.

(11.74km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk → Int. Oaks Firetrail and Old Bathurst Rd

3.5 km
1 hr 10 mins
175m
-87m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads in a northerly direction down the hill, turning steeply up and to the left a few times. The trail passes a small dam (just to the right) and continues to wind and undulate for some time to a mound of dirt in the middle of a junction. The trail passes this mound of dirt and continues north, winding and undulating slightly for some time before passing an interpretative board (on the right). Soon after this, the trail comes up to a gate (with a tap for drinking water, on the right). The track crosses over this gate to the intersection with the road.

(15.22km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and Old Bathurst Rd → Woodford Station

730 m
15 mins
39m
-22m

Easy track

Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads uphill along Taylor Rd, and soon turns right onto Parker St. The walk follows Parker St, tending right, then turns onto The Appian Way. The walk turns left at Railway Pde, just before a bridge. Continuing down Railway Pde, keeping the railway line on the right, the walk comes to a shelter on the left and railway sign on the right. The walk follows the footpath under the Woodford Station sign, leading under the tracks and up stairs onto the platform.

Maps for the Martin’s Lookout to Woodford 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 Martin’s Lookout to Woodford Station bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Martin’s Lookout to Woodford 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	15.9 km
		Time	7 hrs
		.
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	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

10km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.9km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 1.5km is very steep and the remaining 1.1km is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

8km 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 960m follows a rough unclear track and a 730m section follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining 60m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

8km of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 7km has directional signs at most intersection. Whilst another 960m Has no directional signs and the remaining 790m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 16km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 16km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

9km 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). The remaining (790m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Martin’s Lookout to Woodford Station walk starts at the Int. Martins Lookout and Short Trks (gps: -33.734502, 150.57562)
Your transport options to Int. Martins Lookout and Short Trks are by;

Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)

Train. (get details)

The Martin’s Lookout to Woodford Station ends at the Woodford Station (gps: -33.735763, 150.48228)
Your transport options to Woodford Station are by;

Bus. (get details)

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

Download Pdf

Open iPhone app

Short URL = http://wild.tl/mltws

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 🙂

Martin’s Lookout to Woodford Station

(0km) Int. Martins Lookout and Short Trks → Martins Lookout Carpark

Easy track

(0.09km) Martins Lookout → Bunyan Lookout

Experienced only

Bunyan Lookout

(1.57km) Bunyan Lookout → Int. Bunyan Lookout Trk and Lost Worlds Trk

Moderate track

(2.14km) Int. Bunyan Lookout Trk and Lost Worlds Trk → Lost Worlds Lookout

Moderate track

Lost Worlds Lookout

(2.14km) Int. Bunyan Lookout Trk and Lost Worlds Trk → Int. St Helena Ridge Trail and Bunyan Lookout Trk

Hard track

(4.85km) Int. St Helena Ridge Trail and Bunyah Lookout Trk → Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk

Hard track

(11.74km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk → Cliff lookout

Hard track

Cliff Lookout

(11.74km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and cliff lookout Trk → Int. Oaks Firetrail and Old Bathurst Rd

Moderate track

(15.22km) Int. Oaks Firetrail and Old Bathurst Rd → Woodford Station

Easy track

Maps for the Martin’s Lookout to Woodford Station walk

Cross sectional view of the Martin’s Lookout to Woodford Station bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Martin’s Lookout to Woodford Station

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Some more details of this walks Grading

Gradient

Quality of track

Signs

Experience Required

weather

Infrastructure

Similar walks

Other Nearby walks

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

Fire Danger

Weather Forest

Park Information & Alerts

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