Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek

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Time 2 hrs
Return 2.6 km Return
Climb 241 m
Grade 5 Experienced only
Car
no_pets
This walk explores the Jack Evans Track, from the end of Nepean Lookout fire trail to Erskine Creek. The walk boasts fantastic rock formations, great views, grass trees and mosses, and gets up close to Erskine Creek. Erskine Creek is a great place to rest, and wet the toes, before the climb back up to the car park.

* 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) End of Nepean Lookout Fire Trail → Erskine Lookout

distance 320 m time 8 mins climb 1m descent -29m Moderate track
From the car park, at the end of the publicly accessible section of the Nepean Lookout Fire Trail, this walk heads through the gap in the wire fence next to the large 'Blue Mountains National Park' information sign. The walk soon passes a silver information sign about 'Jack Evans Track', where the sandy track starts to head down hill, with the occasional wooden step. Passing a burnt 'take care when walking near cliffs' sign the track passes several informal tracks off to the right. The main track continues down the hill until a larger sandy area gives way to a rock platform and view on the right, this is Erskine Lookout, an unfenced informal lookout.

Erskine Lookout

Erskine Lookout
This informal and unfenced lookout on Jack Evans Track is in the lower Blue Mountains south west from the end of Nepean Lookout Fire Trail. The lookout is perched high above Erskine Creek and provides wonderful view upstream, and good views downstream. The view down in to the gorge gives a unique perspective of the lower section of Erskine Creek.

(0km) Erskine Lookout → Int of Jack Evans and the lower Erskine tracks

distance 850 m time 31 mins climb 28m descent -172m Hard track
Continue straight: From Erskine Lookout, this walk heads down the gentle hill, keeping the view to the right. Soon the track passes a long sandstone wall on the right of the track, then comes to another vantage point at the top of a steps set of steps. From here the track becomes steeper following the timber and dirt steps, the track uses several switchbacks and passes through clefts in the rock to wind down through the sandstone outcrop, passing some interesting overhangs on the way. The track continues down the steps, until becoming a narrower track, with a steep drop to the left. The track then bend around the side of the hill and after passing several boulders the track then comes to an intersection with the faint shortcut track on the left, just before the saddle.
Continue straight: From the intersection this walk follows the wider bush track down the hill to the saddle. On the other side of the saddle this walk heads down a series of timber steps. At the bottom of the steps the track winds through the grass trees. Before seeing the creek the track passes a large gum to come to an intersection with a faint bush track on the right (and a wider track to the left).

(1km) Int of Jack Evans and the lower Erskine tracks → Eastern side of natural dam wall

distance 180 m time 7 mins climb 30m descent -17m Experienced only
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the wider bush track down hill keeping the sound of Erskine Creek to the right, soon the creek is in view. The track soon fades to a become a less distinct bush track leading up the bank away from the creek. The track climbs to a large boulder providing great views of the pool in Erskine Creek. The track then leads down to the natural charcoal deposits and continues along the creek edge to the water depth indicators. (A remote monitoring box is visible up the hill).
Veer left: From the water depth indicators this walk follows the creek down stream keeping Erskine Creek on the right. The faint bush track soon leads to the visible series of large boulders forming a natural dam wall. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

Natural dam pool

Natural dam pool
A series of very large boulders have formed a natural dam on Erskine Creek, about 170m north of Big Crater Creek. The dam forms a large lovely pool upstream. The pool is used by Sydney Water for measurements, and a water depth indicator is bolted to the rock. The pools is not safe to dive or jump into, there are many submerged objects.

(1km) Int of Jack Evans and the lower Erskine tracks → Int of Jack Evans Track and Erskine Creek

distance 100 m time 2 mins climb 5m descent -6m Experienced only
Veer right: From the intersection this walk follows the narrower bush track down the hill, into the thick vegetation towards the creek. The track passes through a tunnel of vegetation to then turn right as the creek comes into view. From here the track continues upstream till coming to a small sandy beach on Erskine Creek .

Maps for the Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek 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.

Penrith1:25 000 Map Series90303N PENRITHNSW-90303N
Penrith1:100 000 Map Series9030 PENRITH9030

Cross sectional view of the Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek

Altitude analysis for Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek

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.

Length2.6 km
Time2 hrs
.




Grade 5/6



Experienced only
AS 2156.1GradientVery steep (4/6)
Quality of trackFormed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
SignsNo directional signs (5/6)
Experience RequiredModerate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
WeatherStorms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
InfrastructureLimited 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

Around 850m of this walk is very steep, whilst the remaining 430m has short steep hills.

Quality of track

This whole walk, 1.3km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

850m of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 320m has directional signs at most intersection. The remaining (100m) Has no directional signs.

Experience Required

Around 970m of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 310m requires a leader a with moderate level of bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 1.2km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 100m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 970m of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 310m has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Jack Evans track to Erskine Creek walk starts and ends at the End of Nepean Lookout Fire Trail (gps: -33.840333, 150.58145)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Blue Mountains National Park

Attracting over 3 million visitors annually, Blue Mountains National Park holds some of Australia's most spectacular and diverse wilderness areas. Explore the Grose Valley, with its sheer sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and scenic walking, or enjoy the famous views of the Three Sisters. Easy access makes a day trips very worthwhile, but with such diversity it would be great to stay in one of the many B&B's and spend a few days soaking up the region.

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