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Red Rocks 2 Day Hike
The Red Rocks 2 day hike is a spectacular and adventurous hike along the complex ridgeline that divides the Wolgan Valley and the Capertee Valley in the Wollemi National Park.
On this hike you will practise your navigation skills on a scenic guided hike in a lesser known part of the Greater Blue Mountains.
About The Red Rocks Walk
The "Red Rocks" is the name given to the long escarpment of cliffs that divide the Capertee Valley from the Wolgan Valley on the western edge of the Blue Mountains north of Lithgow, about 3 hours drive from Sydney. These two great valleys form a large part of the upper catchment of the Colo River, the main river draining the rugged wilderness of the southern and central Wollemi National Park and the Gardens of Stone. These cliffs are a rugged range of sandstone, the hinterland of which is a deeply dissected labyrinth of pagodas, ravines, heath and forest.
It is possible, if you know the way and are careful with navigation, to access the Red Rocks from Newnes, an abandoned oil shale mining site in the Wolgan Valley north of Lithgow. In the early 20th century Newnes was a thriving mining village but today it has largely been reclaimed by nature and has become a well known camping area in the Wollemi National Park, with only historic mining ruins remaining as evidence of its former mining history.
From Newnes it is possible to climb steeply into the Red Rocks and spend a weekend walking in what would have to be one of the most diverse, scenic and spectacular walks anywhere. With the spectacular Wolgan Valley to one side, and the vast Capertee Valley to the other, and features such as Pantoneys Crown, Airlie Plateau and other ranges and cliffs complementing the landscape, a walk in the Red Rocks is a feast of spectacular and expansive views.
The Red Rocks Walk is best done in late autumn, winter and early to mid spring. One of the reasons for this is that water needs to be carried as most of the hiking follows the crest of ranges and is therefore far from regular water sources, and the campsites do not have nearby water. Most walkers would commence their Red Rocks walk carrying up to 4 litres of water and would use this water sparingly throughout the 2 day hike, knowing that there are only one or two places on the walk where bottles may be refilled. Another reason for doing this walk in the cooler months is the clarity of the air, position of the sun, and the sheer beauty of the area when shone upon by a sun at a gentle angle in the sky. Sunrises and sunsets in the Red Rocks are special times, and it is in the cooler months when these sunsets and sunrises showcase the area at its best.
On MountainSphere's guided Red Rocks walk, we meet at Newnes camping area on the evening prior to the trip and camp by the cars. The following morning we have breakfast by the cars, pack up tents, fill our water bottles and set off. We climb steeply and head off trail. It is difficult and steep walking at first, but as the day goes on the walking gets easier. Our first huge views come around mid-morning and continue throughout the day. We camp in a quiet and little used patch close to the cliff tops from where we can admire a spectacular winter sunset. The following day we continue the spectacular Red Rocks traverse, then descend steeply down to Newnes. It isn't long after our lunch spot that we arrive back at our cars and that is where the trip concludes.
The Red Rocks as seen from Pantoneys Crown in the Capertee Valley
A Client's Perspective
Take a look at the below detailed trip report written by valued client Katrina Hemingway, who attended the Red Rocks trip on 4-6 June 2021. This trip report provides an insight into the trip from the perspective of a client visiting this area for the first time, stepping a little outside her comfort zone to take on the challenge, and reaping the rewards and achievements of her off-trail wilderness adventure.