Walk 63 Glenbrook Circuit via Red Hands Cave and Euroka At A Glance
Route Summary:- After a short section along Glenbrook streets and fire trail, this walk takes a rough unconstructed walking pad for 0.75 km. to Blue Pool in Glenbrook Creek, then for about 3.3 km along good constructed walking tracks to Red Hands Cave, then on for 1.8 km still on constructed tracks via Red Hands car park and Link Track to Campfire Creek, then uphill on a good but unmade track for 0.7 km The Oaks fire trail and down on fire trail branch to Euroka Camping Grounds, through Euroka on made roads and tracks for 1.3 km to overlook the Nepean River and back to Euroka on another walking track, then for 2.25 km on constructed Euroka Track to Glenbrook Creek causeway and downstream for 250 m. on rough track to Jellybean Pool and up to the Park entrance on constructed track with the final 1.3 km along public roads.
RQI:- 78
Highlights:- Almost off track to Blue Pool; most of walk is on good constructed walking track through pristine bush; Red Hands Cave; Euroka; Jellybean Pool
Negatives :- Nil
Length:- 16.2
Grade:- Medium
Weather:_All weather except when Glenbrook Creek in flood
Cont. walking time with 25 min. lunch and a few 3-4 min. stops:- 5 hrs. 15
Train Time from Central to Start :-1 hr 1 min.;Blue Mountains Line; every hour
Train Time from finish to Central:-. As above
Total Climb :- 425 m.
Total Descent :- 425 m.
Water:- Glenbrook
Toilets:- Red Hands car park; Euroka; may be locked at Glenbrook station
Café/Kiosk :- Glenbrook
Published 1:25,000 Map :- Penrith
Walk 63 Track Notes
Glenbrook Circuit via Blue Pool, Red Hands Cave, Euroka and Jellybean Pool Exit
08/11/2016
Km./Hrs.min. Kilometers in bold are shown on map
0.00/0.00 Glenbrook Station; go left along Burfitt Parade , at T junction turn left and go over rail lines on bridge, then turn right into Station Street and go to its end.
0.47/0.06 End of Station Street; go left past gate along fire trail.
0.76/0.10 Fire trail Y junction at big tree with blue metal triangle; go left
0.96/0.12 Track junction; go left downhill at large tree with blue triangle on poorly defined walking track following bunting and small yellow shields.
1.35/0.22 In gully; turn right and walk downstream in bed of gully or along left bank for about 60 meters; take care on wet slippery rocks.
1.41/0.25 Cross to the right bank at rocky ledge for about 20 m., then cross gully at right angles in small gorge; note bunting of several colours.
1.43/0.27 Crossing gully; then follow faint overgrown track as it veers away from gully to continue along the base of a cliff for the next 200 m. or so.
1.54/0.31 Track turns right and goes steeply down to Glenbrook Creek.
1.58/0.34 At Glenbrook Creek (Blue Pool); turn left and follow track along Creek for about 20 m.; track then veers left for another 20 m. to cross a pristine gully at right angles
1.60/0.36 At pristine gully with ephemeral waterfall; cross at right angles, then veer right; note remnants of old constructed track from Glenbrook; track goes along low cliff, then down to Creek
1.71/0.41 At metal post with warning sign next to Blue Pool; track improves from here; goes downstream, then up to a road on constructed steps.
1.88/0.45 At sealed road; follow this down to Glenbrook Creek causeway.
2.14/0.49 Middle of causeway with signage ahead on right:- ‘Red Hand cave’ and ‘ Campfire Creek’ both on right, then after about 10 m. another track junction with signage:- ‘ Eureka Track’ uphill on left; continue straight along the Red Hands Cave Track along the left bank of Campfire Creek; proceed along this track for about 1.85km. to the next signaged track junction, ignoring all other tracks on the right
3.40/1.07 Prominent track on right goes to view point; ignore this
3.99/1.16 At major signaged track junction; ‘Link Track’ on left and ‘ Red Hands Cave’ on right; go right and almost immediately cross Campfire Creek
5.09/1.34 At Red Hand Cave; drink stop; continue up to car park on wide track.
5.48/1.47 At Red Hands car park; veer left and go up a few steps, then with toilet and signage on right ‘Link Track to Campfire Creek’; continue straight along Link Track.
6.83/2.08 Cross Campfire Creek to signage on the other side ‘ Glenbrook Causeway’ to the left; go left, now along the right bank of Campfire Creek.
7.10/2.13 Track goes under cliff overhang.
7.29/2.15 Track crosses substantial tributary gully, then after about 10 m. to a track junction with metal signboard on left ‘ Aboriginal Sandstone Workshop’ ; take the clear walking track up on right, leaving the Link Track at right angles, then within a few meters, re-cross the tributary gully and continue up.
7.98/2.29 Track X junction with bike track; cross this at right angles and continue along walking track for about 90 m. to a T junction with a wide fire trail.
8.06/2.32 At fire trail; turn right and follow this for about 150 m. to a large clearing and picnic area signaged :-‘ Ironbarks Picnic Area’ ant a T junction with a gated fire trail on left.
8.22/2.34 Go left to gate, step over it and follow this fire trail down to Euroka Camping Grounds.
9.27/2.48 At Euroka; toilet on left and boom gate ahead
9.34/2.49 At boom gate; signage:- ‘ Nioka’ campsite on right; public gravel vehicular roads from here, with car parking area on left and road T junction about 20 m. ahead; go to T junction and turn right; follow this public road for the next 1.1 km. to a gate, where it becomes the Bennetts Ridge Fire Trail and then follow this for another …. Km to a track junction; walk past signage:- Bennetts Ridge Campsite’ and ‘Apple Tree Flat Campsite’ on left and non-potable water tap on right; at 9.44 km., cross prominent gully on concrete culvert; at 9.51 km. note signage:- ‘Apple Tree Campsite’ and toilet, both on left; at 9.78 km. at limit of Euroka, walk past boom gate and continue along Bennets Ridge Fire Trail and signage:- Woodford oaks Fire Trail 4.5 km’ and Nepaen River 1 hour return’
10.37/3.04 Track junction with signage:- ‘ Bennetts Ridge Fire Trail’ on right and ‘ Nepean River’ on left; go left on good wide walking track that then goes down on timber fronted steps; note several signboards along track.
10.62/3.10 major track junction with signage:- Nepean River’ down on right and Euroka via Bennetts Ridge’ back track; clear but unsignaged walking track straight on; take this track back to Euroka along the valley of Euroka Creek
Option to go down to Nepean River:- At this track junction, go right steeply down on steps. The Nepean River here is in a gorge and only has a muddy bank with nowhere else to sit down, but it is possible to have a swim. Then re-trace your steps up to the first track junction as above and continue to Euroka. This option will add about 0.4 km. and about 20 minutes to the total walk, without spending time at the River.
11.21/3.20 Track junction at wide grassy area ahead and narrow walking track up on left; boundary of Euroka Camping Area; continue straight, through the grassy area parallel to the creek to a closed off dangerous gated bridge ahead; cross the gully on track beside the bridge to an open camping area with toilet on right and gate ahead; go to gate
11.45/3.24 At gate; signage on right ‘Darug’ campsite; turning circle and small parking area and track junction; take the walking track that goes uphill on right, away from the road; this is the Euroka Track.
12.06/3.36 Track Y junction with signage:- ‘Portal Water Hole’ off to the right at an angle; continue straight for about 100 m. to a public vehicular road T junction.
12.18/3.40 At T junction with signage on posts ‘Glenbrook Park Entrance 2.5 km’; cross the joining vehicular road at right angles and continue along the Euroka Track.
13.77/4.02 Euroka Track exits at sharp bend in sealed vehicular road; follow this road down to Glenbrook causeway.
13.99/4.10 At Glenbrook Creek causeway; go right after crossing over a now closed concrete parking apron, then follow a faint walking track along Glenbrook creek to Jellybean Pool; the track peters out over sandstone boulders before the pool; cross boulders and outcrop well up from Creek.
14.22/4.21 At wide sandy beach next to Jellybean Pool; lunch
14.22/4.46 Resume walking; go to metal railing on left and take steps up to a car parking area.
14.49/4.48 At car parking area; cross this at right angles to a concrete footpath and follow this to its end at a pedestrian crossing; cross road here and resume up on stepped track.
14.56/4.50 Track at another (sealed) parking area; cross this at about 70 degrees and continue on track.
14.74/4.54 Cross sealed road almost at right angles.
14.84/4.57 Track at Park Entrance with major sealed parking area and admin. Building on right and boom gate ahead; signage:- ‘Jellybean Pool 15 minutes one way’ back track; walk past boom gate and continue gently up along sealed road (Bruce Road)
15.11/5.04 Bruce Road crosses rail line via bridge.
15.44/5.08 Take the sealed footpath on left of Bruce Road and walk along this all the way to Glenbrook Station.
15.85/5.13 Bruce Road becomes Burfitt Parade
16.15/5.15 At Glenbrook Station
Route Quality Index
On public vehicular roads:- 2.26 km./ 14 %
On fire trail:- 2.80 km./ 17%
On walking track:- 11.09 km./69 %
Route Quality Index:- 69+9= 78
Sydneydaywalksbytrain 