Birrabang Canyon - track notes

Entry

Driving west along Bells Line of Road, park 1.3km past the Mt Wilson turnoff, where a couple of green posts block the start of an old fire trail. The trail is clear and easy to follow down the ridge. It begins to descend steeply toward the creek, and near the bottom it splits in two. The left path is better trodden, although it is a short abseil down a slippery rock, or a scramble around the left to get into the creek at AMG517850 (Mt Wilson). The canyon begins less than 200m downstream from here. Apparently the right path is an easier route (http://www.geocities.com/wcieslik/canyon28.htm) although I have not tried it.

Notes

The trip is relatively dry - with scrambling you can avoid getting wet much past your knees at normal water levels.

The creek is quite enclosed early on, with many overhangs. There are quite a number of shallow pools to be waded through. Some deeper pools emerge and there are a few required scranbles to avoid getting wet - one easy one up to the right above a waist deep pool, one harder one along the left for about 10m above a chest deep pool. Then a scramble up the left to avoid a 3m abseil. The abseil goes into the most canyonlike section - it is worth checking it out from below although it involves a swim to enjoy fully.

The rest is relatively straightforward, although occasional scrambling may be required.

Exit

The exit gully on the right at AMG507841 is fairly obvious as you can clearly see the sky up it. There is a faint track which leads up to the ridge, and from there you can follow the ridge back to the road and it is about 800m back to the car.

Comments

Birrabang is a nice enough bushwalk, but a poor canyon. There are a few sections which are canyon-like, but maybe only 50m or so of canyon.

Rating: 1/5

Time

About 20min to the start of the canyon, about 1h30min down the canyon to the exit gully, and about 50min walk out along the ridge and back via the road to the car. Party of 5, 1 experienced, 2 intermediate and 2 beginners - all relatively fit. Took 30m rope and a couple of harnesses but didn't use them.

Tom Brennan : website@ozultimate.com: updated 2006-02-02