🚧 Blue Mountains Park: Updated Closures & Baiting Alerts

Visitors planning a trip to the Blue Mountains National Park are urged to review the latest updates on significant track and area closures, as well as crucial information regarding ongoing pest control programs. Many sections of the park continue to be impacted by infrastructure repairs, upgrades, and damage from recent wet weather, including subsidence, rockfalls, and landslides, necessitating a range of restrictions for public safety.

New and Updated Closures:

• The Paterson Range Trail is now confirmed to be closed until Friday, 22nd August 2025, due to persistent wet and slippery conditions, with alternative access to Burralow campers via Tabaraga Ridge.
• New weekday closures are in effect for Woodford Oaks and Saint Helena trails, from Monday, 26th May 2025, to Friday, 22nd August 2025, to allow for essential maintenance and repairs.
• Glenraphael Drive at Narrow Neck remains closed to all vehicles until further notice due to a landslide, though it is accessible for walkers and cyclists. Parking is available at Narrow Neck Lookout.
• The Fern Bower walking track is closed until further notice due to multiple landslides, impacting access to Leura Forest and Leura Cascades; an alternative route is available via Amphitheatre track.

Ongoing Restrictions Across the Park:

Other significant closures remain in place across popular areas. In Katoomba and Leura, Honeymoon Bridge is closed due to rockfall hazards, and the bottom section of Leura Cascades track is undergoing upgrades until the end of 2025. Leura Cascades parking area and toilets are also closed. Parts of Lindeman Pass and Roberts Pass are affected by landslides and rockfall hazards. The Six Foot track is also impacted by closures near Jenolan Caves.

Near Wentworth Falls and Woodford, sections of the Charles Darwin walk (between Fletcher Street and Weeping Rock) and National Pass (west of Wentworth Falls middle crossing) are closed due to major landslides. Wentworth Pass and Slack Stairs are closed for boardwalk repairs, affecting access to Roberts Pass, Hippocrene, and Vera Falls. The Valley of the Waters is also closed below Sylvia Falls.

Scheduled closures for Murphys Camping Area will occur from 11-14th and 18-21st August 2025 for road maintenance, with booked campers permitted after 2pm on Fridays for weekends. Access to Ingar Camping Area and the Andersons & Bedford Creek Trail may experience delays or closures from 4-8th August 2025 due to crossing repairs and roadworks.

In Blackheath, Mount Victoria, Megalong Valley, and along Bells Line of Road, parts of Popes Glen Track are subject to maintenance closures this week. Pulpit Rock Reserve, its lookouts, and part of the walking track are closed, as are Govetts descent and Rodriguez Pass due to rockfalls and landslides.

Furthermore, the Waratah Native Gardens picnic area and its Gorge walking track are closed until further notice, along with the Link walking track, which is temporarily closed from Friday, 9th May 2025, for ongoing track works.

Remote routes within the Kanangra Wilderness Area, including the Kanangra to Katoomba (K2K) trail, are significantly impacted by fire regrowth and flood damage, making them difficult to navigate with limited water sources. Visitors attempting these remote trails must possess appropriate experience, navigation skills, and essential equipment, including a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

1080 Baiting Programs Underway:

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) continues its efforts to control wild dogs and foxes within the park. An aerial baiting program is scheduled for Blue Mountains National Park from Monday, 25th August, to Sunday, 7th September 2025. This complements an ongoing ground baiting program, active from Friday, 2nd May 2025, to Friday, 1st May 2026, in the park's southern section and adjacent national parks.

These operations utilise 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison, aimed at protecting threatened species and minimising impacts on neighbouring livestock. Signs will be prominently displayed at baiting locations. It is crucial to remember that domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands, as 1080 is lethal to cats and dogs. Pet owners in the vicinity must ensure their animals are restrained or muzzled and do not enter baiting areas. In the unfortunate event of accidental poisoning, immediate veterinary assistance is paramount.

All visitors are strongly advised to check the latest park conditions and adhere to signage before planning any trip to the Blue Mountains National Park. Penalties apply for non-compliance with park closures and directions from NPWS staff. For more information, contact the local NPWS area offices.