Dargans Arch – A Storybook Sandstone Arch
Dargans Arch – A Storybook Sandstone Arch
(And a side trip to the Old Lithgow Waterworks)
If you're looking for a short, easy hike with a big payoff, Dargans Arch is a hidden gem worth checking out. Tucked away near the regional city of Lithgow, this natural sandstone arch feels like something straight out of a storybook — and it's surprisingly easy to get to. We combined this walk with a second short walk in the area — the Old Lithgow Waterworks — and the two together made for a great day out.
Quick Details - Old Lithgow Waterworks
Length: 2km
Elevation: Minimal — mostly flat with some uneven surfaces
Grade: Easy
Best Season: Year-round
Suitable for kids: Yes
Before we Reached the Trail Head
We had planned to hike a different track this week that was a little further away. Unfortunately, plans changed at the last minute. We had invited Logan to come with us again, and he suggested a couple of short tracks around Lithgow — Dargans Arch and the Old Lithgow Waterworks. We decided to head to the Waterworks first.
Lithgow Waterworks
If you have a four-wheel drive and can get all the way down the dirt road to the trailhead, this hike is only about 2km long. If you have to walk along the road first, it will extend the hike by around 1.5km each way. We parked as best we could at the end of the road, slung on our packs, and headed off up a slight hill towards a short concrete dam wall overlooking the creek. From there, we walked down to the creek and wandered upstream, keeping the creek on our right the whole way.
Logan knew the way, having been here many times before — and he told us stories of camping here with family as a kid, and returning as a ratbag teenager with friends. Honestly, it kind of added to the experience. As we reached the creek, we wandered through a beautiful area with short grass and thin trees that provided a canopy above us, with sandstone walls rising to either side.
The trail is a little overgrown in places, but all in all fairly easy to follow beside the creek. Along the way, we found relics from the time this place was first used to supply water to Lithgow — large metal pipes, abandoned tools and machinery, and lettering neatly engraved into the sandstone walls. We stopped briefly about halfway along so Jess and Logan could take a few photographs, which is when I found a cluster of spitfires (caterpillars) in a tree.
As the large dam wall comes into view, the path veers slightly uphill to our left — which we somehow missed and had to backtrack to find. An old staircase carved into the rock leads up to the top of the wall. There are a couple of signs about restricted access — we presumed they were for the top of the dam wall itself, since its entry was blocked at either end by locked gates.
Now that I think about it, maybe it was actually a restriction for everything beyond the stairs… although we found a couple of beer cans by the water, so I’m not really sure. It was beautiful up there though. We only stayed long enough for a quick look before turning around and heading back to the car.
Dargans Arch
Since it was only about lunchtime by the time we finished the Waterworks track, we decided to do another quick walk in the area — and Dargans Arch seemed like a great choice. We drove back through Lithgow and out onto Chifley Road, turning off at the Clarence Colliery, and soon found our way to the trailhead for Dargans Arch.
Quick Details - Dargan Arch
Length: 2km
Elevation: 80m
Grade: Easy
Best Season: Year-round, but especially nice in Spring and Autumn
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
We headed off on a wide track from the parking area that gently wound its way through the trees, heading slightly downhill. Logan got a lesson in the names of wildflowers and plants as we wandered — Banksia, Wattle, Grevillea, Waratahs, Broad-Leafed Drumsticks. The hill got a bit steeper, but the track was still wide and easy to follow.
As we got closer, the bush opened up to a mostly treeless area and we found ourselves walking over rock instead of dirt. The track is a little less obvious over the rock, but just keep walking in the same general direction and you’ll soon find yourself looking down onto Dargans Arch.
The arch was formed by a cave falling in, and from this angle it doesn’t actually look that big. Of course, most of the appeal is getting to walk over it like it’s a bridge. The open space in between feels a lot bigger when you're standing on the arch. “It’s like you’re on some sort of nature catwalk,” called out Logan as I was walking across. We decided to head down to the base — bringing a swift end to my nature-catwalk-modelling career.
The Base of Dargans Arch
Facing the arch, we headed down the rock to our left. A little careful navigation over the rock is needed to safely make it to the ground, but it’s manageable. A small creek runs past us, and the area is filled with ferns — a stark contrast to the drier bushland we’d just walked through. Standing under the arch, looking up at the sky through the space above, really gives you perspective on how large Dargans Arch is.
Jess and Logan set up their cameras and tripods and discussed the best ways to photograph the arch — I swear at one point they started speaking in a code of random letters and numbers. I left them to it and wandered off on a faint track leading further along the creek.
Next to the arch are two more caves that will likely turn into arches themselves one day — eventually forming a sort of natural stone viaduct shape. The caves aren’t particularly large, but the area around their base is pretty with the ferns and trees. The ledge from the last cave looks out over the valley and another creek — a tributary of the Wollangambe River. It’s a really beautiful area, and only a short side trip that shouldn’t be missed on your visit.
I turned around and headed back to the arch as Jess and Logan were finishing up with their photos. We took a few final photos before heading back up to the track and returning to the car. This would be a great track for a short family outing. With the Zig Zag Railway so close by, combining Dargans Arch with a trip on the steam train would make for a great family day out.
Photo by Logan Spice Photography
Getting There
The Lithgow Waterworks trail can be found at the end of Bell Road in Lithgow. You will need a four-wheel drive to get to the trailhead, but it’s only around 1.5km long, so if you need to walk from Bell Road it won’t add too much to the hike.
To reach Dargans Arch, from Chifley Road/Bells Line of Road, turn onto Clarence Colliery Road, then right onto Clarence Colliery Loop Road/Sandham Road. Continue to follow the signs for Sandham Road for around 3km. The road takes you past the colliery before turning to dirt, following the railway line.
Turn left at the tree with a yellow spray-painted “DA” and an arrow. There’s a large clearing to park, and the trail leaves right from the car park area.
Tips and Tricks
Dargans Arch isn’t far from Zig Zag railway. Consider timing your visit when the steam train is running for a great family day out.
Keep an eye out for old relics along the Waterworks track.
Be sure to follow Logan on Instagram.