River Caves Canyon
River Caves Canyon, tucked away in the vast wilderness of Wollemi National Park, not far from the regional city of Lithgow (around three hours drive West of Sydney) is a stunning slot canyon that offers an enchanting adventure for hiking enthusiasts of all ages. Known for its serene beauty, the canyon is accessible via a relatively short and easy hike, making it a great spot for beginners or those looking for a few hours of relaxed exploration.
Quick Details
Distance: 4km (as an out and back trail)
Elevation: 170m
Grade: Easy to Moderate
Best Season: Spring, Summer, Autumn (Winter too if you can brave the cold water)
Suitable for kids: Yes
The Track
The trailhead can be found at the end of the Northern branch of Mount Cameron fire trail. There are two parking areas, the first is where you’ll likely want to park if you have a 2WD and walk to the second (don’t worry it’s a short walk). The second parking area is right next to the trailhead.
The Wollemi Wilderness Walkers Only sign marks the starting point. There used to be directions written on the fence but they’ve worn away a fair bit in the last twelve months or so as the paint has given way to rust. From here you walk down an unmaintained track for around 200 metres (according to the directions written on the fence). As you find yourself on flat ground again the track will be narrow and you’ll notice the track forks around a large burnt fallen tree. It’s a bit hard to see at the moment as the plant life in this area has experienced considerable growth in the last few months.
Turn left at the burnt fallen tree and you’ll see the foot track quite clearly winding its way down the hill. After just a few minutes you’ll find yourself walking between two pagodas and here the track gets a little rocky. As you make your way around the pagoda on your right, you’ll see a dry creek bed in front of you, and from here you’re basically following the creek bed. The path will take you through the creek bed in places, as well as next to it. Don’t worry you won’t be able to stray too far from it as either side of you are large stone walls.
The foot track leads up to an actual creek, and you’ll likely need to walk through it for a few metres as the path has eroded away in this section. The water is usually pretty low here. Keep an eye out on your left for the foot track, from here it leads back into the bush a bit, away from the creek. You’ll notice the shrubs and grasses to your right getting taller. This is one of our favourite places to visit in Spring because this whole gully is full of Waratahs and other wildflowers.
[Photo taken Spring 2024]
The last section of the track is through the tall plants. On our last visit they were well above our heads making it a bit difficult to navigate through, thankfully it’s only for a short section of the track. As you come out the other side, Budgary Creek will be in front of you. Turn left, and you’ll see the entrance to River Caves Canyon ahead.
The path continues on the left of the creek. As you enter the canyon you’ll need to cross the creek and on the opposite bank is a low overhang covering a sandy area. It’s a common area to leave shoes and bags while people explore the canyon.
From here you’ll be wading through water but it’s usually only about knee deep at best, unless you feel like going for a swim in the centre section. On our last trip we went through barefoot, it’s a bit rough over the stones in places but other than that it was fine.
There are two constrictions to the canyon that are separated by an area where the walls are much further apart. As you reach this part there’ll be a pool on the left, and a large boulder leaning against a sloping rock wall to your right. Your choice is to either swim through the water and climb up the rocks and cascade on the other side, or climb up the wall next to the boulder and walk around to the second constriction.
We normally choose to climb up next to the boulder. There is a bit of rock hopping to be done once you’re up there but it’s easy enough to do. It’s actually a really beautiful section of the canyon with water trickling down from the walls beside you and a few trees and ferns to walk through.
The second constriction is as beautiful as the first. On our last visit the water was cold but not unbearable, and you don’t walk through it for long.
As the walls open up and you come to the other side there’s a nice fern filled area that on sunny days makes for a nice place to dry off a bit. It also makes for some stunning photos!
If you stay relatively still and don’t make a lot of noise, you’re likely to see freshwater crayfish in the pools of water here (in Budgary Creek they’re blue and orange). As with all creatures in their natural habitat, look but don't touch.
We spent quite a bit of time here on our last visit. The kids loved looking for the crayfish in the water and were pretty excited when a skink ran right up to their feet. On bright sunny days you can see ripples of light dancing on the canyon walls as the sunlight is reflected off the water. If you continue upstream a short way there’s an exit track on your left to take you back to the first parking area if you want to complete the track as a circuit. Most people, however, do it as an out-and-back trail—and it’s certainly worth walking back through the canyon in the other direction.
No matter how many times we visit this place, we’re always left awestruck by its incredible beauty. The towering sandstone walls twist and curve, sculpted by water over millennia, while the light filters through cracks above, illuminating the canyon hidden between them. I think it would be nearly impossible for anyone to be disappointed by the experience of visiting River Caves Canyon.
Getting to River Caves
This section of the Newnes Plateau is littered with fire trails and a wrong turn may see you lost for hours. There’s little to no phone reception, so we would recommend having an offline and up to date map of the area. As at the time of writing this, all directions are 2WD accessible.
River Caves Canyon can be found at the end of the Northern branch of Mount Cameron fire trail on the Newnes Plateau. You likely won’t find Mount Cameron fire trail in your vehicle's navigation system, but you will find one of the roads you take to get to it. The first road you want to find is Glow Worm Tunnel Road.
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 11.3km and turn right on Deep Pass Trail (there’s a yellow signpost on the road). From here, you’ll drive up the hill and the area will open right out to pale sandy gravel, turn left (this is the second turn on the left, about 600m from Glow Worm Tunnel Road).
You're now on Mount Cameron fire trail (there are no signposts). The road was upgraded in mid to late 2023 and is accessible to 2WD (although if there’s been recent significant rainfall we wouldn’t recommend driving on it in a 2WD). It’s pale sandy gravel the whole way from here, so if you find yourself suddenly on a narrow vegetated bush track, you’ve taken a wrong turn!
There is one fork in the road, you want to take the road to the left (the road to the right takes you to Deep Pass). There's one small creek crossing, so avoid visiting after recent rain if you're in a 2WD.
The first parking area is just in front of a sign for Wollemi National Park. This is where the road upgrade ends and the last part of the track is rough in places and better suited to higher clearance vehicles.
Remember to take any rubbish with you when you go. National Parks belong to all of us, and we’re all responsible for looking after them!
Tips and Tricks
Avoid visiting after recent significant rain.
When wading through the water in the two constrictions stick to the lighter coloured sand, it’s easier to walk on.
If it’s particularly dark, shining a torch on the water really helps to show you where to walk.
Golden hour makes for some great photos of the canyon walls.
River Caves Canyon is a great place to find glow worms in the warmer months. Just be sure to pack a decent torch for the walk back!