Tiger Snake Canyon - track notes

Entry

See Newnes Plateau & South Wolgan Fire Trails for information on how to drive to the starting point. From the Old Coach Road car park, head along the fire trail to the east. After about 200m it turns roughly north and follows the ridge for about 3km. Near the end it turns into a foot track, and slides off the east side of the ridge down to the start of the creek at AMG438208 (Ben Bullen). Note that a faint track comes in from the right a couple of hundred metres down the hill - this is the exit track. Following the creek for about 200m brings you to the start of the canyon

Notes

The first abseil/downclimb is only 5m but is quite tricky due to the narrowness of the crack, and how quickly it descends. Abseiling by just sliding down in the crack is possible, but you are likely to grater yourself. Climbing is reasonably straightforward if you bridge out some way, as there are good footholds. Then there is a 2m climb down into a shallow pool - can be abseiled or handlined if you used a rope on the first drop. It is possible but risky to climb around the pool to the left to avoid getting your feet wet altogether..

The next drop is from dodgy looking logs across the canyon. The ring that used to be in the wall has been removed. It is an easy 5m drop into a pool. Alternatively this can be bridged fairly high, with a bit of scrambling.

A squeeze through a narrow crack follows, then a 3m abseil from a tree, or downclimb the roots. This brings you out on to a wide ledge with a 17m drop. The abseil is very easy from a sling around a tree - there is a 10m overhang.

A relatively easy walk downstream follows, for about 500m, to the bottom section of canyon.

There is a 6m abseil over a small chockstone from slings around a large rock. The chockstone has been worn away and the rope will almost certainly get stuck in the groove on the right in the pulldown. It is difficult for the last person to manoeuvre the rope over to the left on abseil - they may need to stop and use prussik loops to adjust. Alternatively you may be able to position a log so that the rope runs more to the left.

There are no more abseils, but a few easy scrambles in the dark to the end.

Rather than do the 6m abseil, the majority of parties go over the top on ledges above the left of the canyon, as the abseil from there is better. After a short distance you will see a bridge of rocks over the canyon. There is an obvious sling there, or cross over and follow the canyon further down on a narrow ledge to the right for about 10m to another set of slings. These both give about a 25m drop, and come down near the middle of the bottom section. You can then scramble upstream to see the top of this section.

Exit

Once the canyon opens up, continue down the creek over boulders and follow the cliff along to the right. Currently there is a large tree fallen making the first bit of the exit tricky.

It is an easy scramble up the first obvious spot to your right (about 200m from where the canyon ends). From here head up the hill and right along a track below the next line of cliffs. This crosses a few small gullies and then heads up through another small line of cliffs. At the top, climb a pagoda to the right and continue generally west and up until you reach the track you came in on at about AMG436207

Comments

No swims and the deepest water was about knee height. You can keep your feet dry, but it is somewhat risky. Both sections of the canyon are very good, although quite short. There are a number of abseils if desired, although apparently the entire top section (including the last big drop) can be scrambled. However, avoiding the big drop is probably more effort than it's worth (unless you don't have a rope!).

Tiger Snake is a good canyon in all weather as the creek is very small.  It is also a good canyon for novices as the walk in is relatively short and the canyon is not technically that difficult. The constrictions, particularly the lower one, are very good.

Rating: 4/5

Time

Left car at 1120, start of canyon about 1200, end of first section about 1300, beginning of second section about 1315, end of second section about 1415, about 1h15mins back to the car. Total time about 4h. Party of 2 (fit, 1 moderately experienced and 1 experienced), 1 60m rope.

Tom Brennan : website@ozultimate.com: updated 20041025