A Rainy Day at Dry Canyon
Dry Canyon
If you’re looking for a short but stunning adventure on the Newnes Plateau, Dry Canyon (also known as Wolgan Valley View Canyon) is an absolute must. It’s easily accessible, yet feels wonderfully remote, giving you that off-the-beaten-track experience without the need for an epic trek. Just a short drive from Lithgow (about three hours west of Sydney), this is one of those spots that you’ll remember for years to come.
Quick details
Length: 3.4km return
Elevation: 60m
Grade: Easy
Best season: Year-round
Suitable for kids: Yes
A Tale of Two Canyons?
There are two constrictions of the canyon, separated by about 200 meters. We wondered since there are two names for this canyon if perhaps originally the first constriction was called “Dry Canyon” and the second was “Wolgan Valley View Canyon”. As many places in this area are unofficially named, their names often change over time or even have multiple names floating around. Either way, we think it’s generally accepted now that both constrictions are considered as one canyon that has two alternate names.
Finding the Trailhead
To kick things off, you’ll drive almost the entire length of Glow Worm Tunnel Road and park near a short blue cable fence. There aren’t any official signs marking the trailhead, but there’s a small parking area on either side of the road. If you manage to drive through a tunnel in the rock, you’ve gone too far, turn around.
After stepping over the cable fence, you’ll see a clear foot track leading downhill to the left. Follow this path and it will curve back to the right as the ground flattens out (like in the shape of a "C"). You’ll pass a small clearing on your left - Just keep going straight.
The last few times we’ve been down here the undergrowth of ferns and scrub has been so thick that it was a struggle at times to not lose the trail. A lot of that has cleared out and this time when we came down. the path was easily visible and mostly unobstructed - Making it an ideal trail for anyone looking to build confidence with lightly marked tracks.
A Hippo in the Bush?
A little further along, you’ll come across a peculiar rock formation—an oddly shaped pagoda with an opening at the front that others have filled with stones, making it look like a mouth full of teeth. We once heard someone call it the “Hippopotamus Pagoda,” although we’re pretty sure that was just their own name for it. Whatever you want to call it, it’s a fun landmark along the trail.
Here the track veers slightly to the left and continues in much the same way. You’ll soon notice the stone walls around you are closer and closer together. The trail will lead you through a short canyon-esque section. The walls aren’t particularly high and there’s a lot of debris on the ground.
You’ll come out onto a rock ledge facing a drop full of fallen trees and it would be easy to think you’ve hit a dead end. That was what we thought when we first came here. The mass of dead trees in front of you looks pretty unpassable. But don’t worry, you don’t have to go through them, instead you go around them.
Standing here, there’s a sloping rock wall to your left. Climb up and over (from where the photo above was taken) and you’ll see the path continue down the other side of the hill, you’ll likely also see the path ahead under the rock wall on your left. There’s a short rocky section to scramble down but it’s not difficult. Before you know it, you’ll be walking among tall ferns and stepping into the first constriction.
The First Constriction and the Valley Beyond
The first section is relatively short and well-lit, allowing you to fully appreciate the intricate details of the sandstone walls. The way the sunlight filters through highlights the natural patterns of the stone, making it an incredibly photogenic spot. It’s so quiet inside the canyon you feel like you need to whisper so as not to disturb the silence.
Too soon you’ll find yourself walking out the end of the constriction into another fern-filled valley. The best is still yet to come. The foot track is a little difficult to see in some spots, but a few of the trees have arrows carved into the charred bark.
Basically you’re walking straight across, leaning slightly to the left for around 200m. The stone walls and pagodas that surround this area left us wishing we had more time (and better weather) to explore the valley further.
As you make your way across this open area, you’ll see some tall ferns close to the stone walls around you, leading you into the second constriction. The entrance is a really beautiful section that feels like a secret garden. Tall ferns surround you, and a few fallen trees lay on the ground. It’s a nice place to sit and rest on sunny days. Unfortunately for us the rain had begun to get heavier, so we quickly entered the second constriction to hopefully escape the bad weather.
The Second Constriction – A Natural Cathedral
The walls here are much higher than the first constriction and in the middle it's quite dark, even on sunny days. The air is cold and the walls are usually damp. The sounds of your footsteps over the loose gravel echo in the silence. Most of the walls are a dark green in colour close to the ground, which we presume is some sort of moss or lichen covering the sandstone.
Looking up at the walls the light catches on the sweeping curves that have been sculpted over thousands of years of natural erosion. The changing angles of the light throughout the day reveals aspects of the walls that you may not otherwise notice. You'll notice patterns in the rock in the morning and then see entirely different patterns in the afternoon.
Part way through the second constriction there’s a short drop that’s easily managed by a brief scramble. It’s much lighter through this last section, revealing the twists and curves of the walls from their base all the way to the top.
The narrow passage through the curved walls opens up to a large alcove of sorts. The pale yellow sandstone walls around you almost seem to glow on sunny days. As this last section is mostly shielded from the weather by its shape, but still lets in plenty of light, the sandstone has maintained its brilliant colouring.
If you continue walking out a short way you’ll sort of see the Wolgan Valley below… Unfortunately, on the day we visited it was raining and all we could see was clouds and mist in front of us. But even on sunny days you’ll only catch a small glimpse through the trees of a paddock, a road, and the cliff walls on the other side of the valley.
To exit, simply retrace your steps back to the car park area. You’ll be amazed at the different things you notice going back through the canyons the other way. All up it only took us around half an hour to get to the end of the second constriction from the car, making it an easy and rewarding adventure.
Getting There
From Bells Line of Road, turn onto Old Bells Line Road at Zig Zag railway, then turn right onto Glow Worm Tunnel Road at the T-intersection. From Lithgow, use State Mine Gully Road which merges into Glow Worm Tunnel Road as you enter the Newnes Plateau.
From the T-intersection drive around 24km along Glow Worm Tunnel Road and park at the blue cable fence (it’s the first cable fence you’ll see on the road). If you drive through a tunnel, you’ve gone too far - turn around
Tips and Tricks
This is a short track and doesn't take up a lot of time. Be sure to check out other short hikes in the area, like River Caves or the Glow Worm Tunnel, to add more to your day.
If you find the trail hard to follow, turn around and go back, rather than risk getting lost.
You’ll find the trail on hiking apps such as All Trails if you'd like a little reassurance that you're going the right way.