Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley

Download & Print Map and Notes

4 hrs 15 mins

10.1 km Return

492 m

Hard track

This walk, mostly in Popran National Park, passes through a great variety of scenery and beautiful views. The early part of the walk, along a ridgetop, is through relatively dry forest with some great views, while the steep but beautiful descent to Glenworth Valley is through moist, fern filled forest. The cafe at Glenworth Valley is open on weekends. There is also an optional sidetrip for some nice views from Mt Olive.

Boronia Pinnata wildflowers in Popran National Park

Nice rock outcrops in Popran National Park

Ferns on the descent to Glenworth Valley

(0km) Int of Ironbark Rd and Popran Pipeline Trail → Ironbark Rd picnic area

1.7 km

35 mins

88m

-19m Easy track

Starting from the car park at the end of the 'Pipeline Trail', the walk follows the gravel Ironbark Rd south, initially keeping the 'Pipeline Trail' gate to your left (not following the 'Pipeline Trail'). The gravel road passes between some houses with prominent 'private property' signs so stick to the road along here. The walk eventually comes to the car park and picnic area at the end of the road. Vehicles with reasonable ground clearance could be driven along this section, to the car park at the end of the road.

Ironbark Rd Picnic area

This picnic area is located at the end of Ironbark Rd, on the edge of Popran National Park. While this is not a special spot for a picnic, there are good facilities if you are doing a walk in the area. There is a picnic table, pit toilet (with a small rainwater tank for handwashing), information signs and track arrows at this point. Some of the tracks starting from this point are also horse trails. A section of Ironbark Rd may not be suitable for 2WD vehicles so you may have to walk the last section of road.

(2km) Ironbark Rd picnic area → Int of Mt Olive trail and Mt Olive bush track

340 m

6 mins

10m

-11m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the car park, the walk passes around a gate and follows the management trail down the hill and soon arrives at the intersection marked with 'Mt Olive' and the '248 Trail'.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Mt Olive' arrow along the management trail for a very short distance before reaching an intersection with a bush track signposted for 'Mt Olive'.

(2km) Int of Mt Olive trail and Mt Olive bush track → Int of Mt Olive bush track and Glenworth Valley track

120 m

3 mins

11m

0m Hard track

Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Mt Olive' signpost along the bush track. The walk meanders for a while before reaching an intersection with another bush track.

(2km) Int of Mt Olive bush track and Glenworth Valley track → Top of Mt Olive

60 m

2 mins

11m

-1m Hard track

Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track steeply up the hill and soon arrives at the top of Mt Olive. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.

Mt Olive

Mt Olive is a low rising hill in Popran National Park. The views from the top, across the surrounding national park, in all directions, are very nice. The nice cliffs around the base of Mt Olive also add to the scenery. There are the remnants of a couple of old trig points at the top.

(2km) Int of Mt Olive bush track and Glenworth Valley track → Glenworth Valley

2.9 km

1 hr 3 mins climb

40m

-313m Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track steeply down the hill, directly away from the top of Mt Olive. The walk follows the bush track for a long distance, through a beautiful variety of terrain and vegetation. The first section of the walk is along, or close to, the ridge line with some great views. The later section of the walk drops, steeply at times, into Glenworth Valley and is through more moist, fern covered forest. Take the sharp right fork beside a rock with a large 'capstone' to avoid a steeper section of the track. The scenery is beautiful on the descent. Ignore the bush track to the right when the walk passes through a gap in a fence, and follow the bush track straight ahead. The walk then comes to an intersection with the 'Wilderness Trail' horse riding trail on the edge of a large grassy clearing at the Glenworth Valley horse riding centre.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the horse riding trail down the hill and immediately bends to the right, toward the clearly visible main buildings of the Glenworth Valley horse riding centre. The walk soon arrives at Popran Rd beside the buildings.

Glenworth Valley Horse Riding and Outdoor Adventures

The Glenworth Valley Horse Riding and Outdoor Adventure Centre is located at 69 Cooks Rd, Peats Ridge, NSW. Activities include Horse riding, Kayaking, Quad biking, Abseiling and camping. The Café is open on weekends and vending machines for drinks and snacks are available every day. There are toilets at the cafe. If you are walking to or from Glenworth Valley, keep in mind that it is private property and take care around the horses. Phone on (02) 4375 1222. More info.

Maps for the Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley 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.

Gunderman	1:25 000 Map Series	91313S GUNDERMAN	NSW-91313S
Mangrove	1:25 000 Map Series	91313N MANGROVE	NSW-91313N
Gosford	1:100 000 Map Series	9131 GOSFORD	9131

Cross sectional view of the Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley

Altitude analysis for Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley

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	10.1 km
		Time	4 hrs 15 mins
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
		Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
		Signs	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
		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

2.9km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.2km has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (25m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

2.9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 2km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (120m) follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

2.8km of this walk has minimal directional signs and another 2km is clearly signposted. The remaining (300m) has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 2.9km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 2.2km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 2.8km of this walk is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety, whilst the remaining 2.3km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 2.9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 2.2km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley walk.

Mt Olive

4.4 km Return, 2 hrs

A very nice walk to a viewpoint on top of Mt Olive, in Popran National Park. The walk passes through nice forest, and offers good views over Popran National Park from the top of Mt Olive. If you have a car with good ground clearance, you could drive to the picnic area, making the walk shorter.

Total climbing: 151m

Hard track

248 Track

8.3 km Return, 3 hrs 15 mins

A nice walk through Popran National Park with good views along the way. The optional side trip to Mt Olive adds some great views and scenery. If you have a car with good ground clearance, you could drive to Ironbark picnic area and start the walk from there.

Total climbing: 255m

Moderate track

Emerald Pool circuit from Ironbark Rd

10.8 km Circuit, 4 hrs 15 mins

A great circuit walk in Popran National Park, to the beautiful Emerald Pool. This walk passes through a variety of vegetation and offers some great views along the way. Emerald Pool is a really beautiful spot and it is well worth spending some time exploring around the creek. The optional side trips

Total climbing: 344m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley walk.

Somersby Store to Ourimbah Valley Trackhead

6 km One way, 2 hrs 30 mins

Starting with a walk through the streets of urban Somerbsy, you soon leave the farms and head into Palm Grove Nature Reserve. First you will follow the signposted track down the open dry ridge to the dense rainforest. In this valley you can explores the moist rainforest with towering Eucalypts, Str

Total climbing: 194m

Hard track

Somersby Store to Greta Road

21.1 km One way, 8 hrs

This section of the Great North Walk starts from the Somersby General Store and winds north, through the Jilliby State Conservation Area, and finishes at the corner of Greta Road and Cherry Lane. At just under 20km, this full day walk explores the Palm Grove, Hidden Valley and Ourimba Creek tracks,

Total climbing: 924m

Hard track

Somersby to the Basin Campsite

47.4 km One way, 3 Days

This three day walk starts at the Somersby General Store and follows the Great North Walk, heading north, into the the Jilliby State Conservation Area where the first nights campsite is at Stringy Bark Point. The walk continues north, out of the Conservation Area, to Yarramalong for the second night

Total climbing: 2032m

Hard track

Somersby to Yarramalong via Stringy Bark Point

26.7 km One way, 2 Days

This section of the Great North Walk starts form the Somersby General Store and follows the Great North Walk north into the Jilliby State Conservation Area to Stringy Bark Point campsite. On day two, the walk continues north through the forest and around the back of some farmland to Cherry Lane, and

Total climbing: 1201m

Hard track

Strickland Falls

1.7 km Return, 45 mins

This walk from the Banksia picnic area, to the Strickland Falls, includes a fantastic variety of forest scenery. The falls themselves are often just a trickle, although the scenery in the area makes the walk well worthwhile. The cliff lines and boulders around the falls are interesting and there are

Total climbing: 87m

Moderate track

Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree loop

3 km Circuit, 1 hr 30 mins

This excellent loop walk combines the Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree loop walks. The walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest around the Banksia Picnic Area and soon descends into lush green rainforest remnants, filled with ferns and cabbage tree palms. The walk includes some great scenery along th

Total climbing: 221m

Moderate track

Cabbage Tree Trail

1.7 km Circuit, 1 Hr

A beautiful walk from the Banksia picnic area. This walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest, typical of the hilltops in the area, and descends to areas of lush forest, filled with cabbage tree palms and ferns. Some interesting boulder outcrops and the great variety of vegetation just add to the scene

Total climbing: 115m

Moderate track

Stoney Creek Trail

2.2 km One way, 1 Hr

An excellent walk, spending much of its time in the shaded, rainforest-filled valleys of the Strickland State Forest. From the dry eucalypt forest around the Banksia picnic area, the walk soon descends into moist forest, filled with ferns and cabbage tree palms. You could make this a return walk by

Total climbing: 58m

Moderate track

Strickland Falls Loop Trail

1.8 km Circuit, 1 Hr

A loop walk with plenty of excellent scenery. The walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest around the Banksia Picnic Area and soon descends into lush green rainforest remnants, filled with ferns and cabbage tree palms. The walk includes some great scenery along the base of the cliff line and around th

Total climbing: 133m

Moderate track

Strickland Tour

8.1 km Circuit, 3 hrs 30 mins

A grand tour of the Strickland State Forest. This great walk covers most of the established walking tracks in Strickland and enjoys much of the excellent scenery available in the area. Plenty of time is spent in the lush green, rainforest-filled valleys, and there is some really nice boulder and cli

Total climbing: 402m

Moderate track

Somersby Falls

426 m Return, 20 mins

This short walk starts from the Somersby Falls picnic area and follows the series of waterfalls along Floods Creek. The picnic area provides barbeques, picnic tables, toilets and ample parking. This walk could make part of a great family day out in the area. The main falls drop onto a large rock pl

Total climbing: 39m

Moderate track

Arboretum Loop Trail

2.3 km Circuit, 1 Hr

A very nice walk through a mixture of native (regrowth) forest and one of Australia's oldest arboretums. The arboretum has both native and exotic trees, with the plantings dating from 1887-1924. This walk takes you along some of the rainforest-clad creeks of Strickland State Forest, before crossing

Total climbing: 45m

Moderate track

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley walk starts and ends at the Int of Ironbark Rd and Popran Pipeline Trail (gps: -33.371590, 151.19528)

Car. There is free parking available.<br /> (get details)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Popran National Park

Popran National Park is divided into 5 main section and sits north of the Hawkesbury River between Dharug NP and the Sydney-Newcastle freeway. The park protects many creeks, Aboriginal sites, some shore line of the Hawkesbury, interesting rock formationtions and a diverse range of flora and fauna. One of the five section is closed to the public and walking is more popular in the larger of the five. Walking during spring will reward you with many wildflowers, warmer days are great for enjoying the refreshing water holes.

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