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Salisbury Exit Mihi Back

Map of Salisbury exit Mihi


Description: Loop walk from Dangars Falls Car park down the formed tracks to meet Salisbury Waters. Rock-hop downstream to Mihi Creek, and head up it to ascend a steep ridge, and back to the carpark via NPWS tracks A good introduction to gorge walking.

Gradings

Maps: 1:25kArmidale (A)-; Gostwyck (G); Enmore9236-1-S1:25k.

Photo guide 1.

Photo guide 2.

Photo guide 3.


Dangars Falls NPWS walking tracks to Salisbury Waters, then Macleay to Blue Mountain Creek

Drive: Armidale Post Office- South on Faulkner Street- 1.3 km – left onto Kentucky Street- 0.9 (2.2 total)- right onto Kennedy St(=Dangarsleigh Road) -2.0 (4.2) km- left on Dangarsleigh Road- 5.7 (9.9) – left at War Memorial onto Dangars Falls Road- 12 (21.9)- Dangars Falls Parking area

The walk begins at Dangars Fall carpark, next to a signboard at AGD66 77700/05600 that says ←Salisbury Waters 7.2km . The track crosses Salisbury Waters almost immediately by a low-level steel bridge. If the water is close to the walkway, consider carefully before continuing down into the gorges- you will have to cross the stream many times once you hit the bottom, and it would quickly get impossibly dangerous.

Assuming all’s well, follow the track on through dry sclerophyll forest of Blakley’s Red Gum, Apple Box and Broadleaved Stringybark to the dingo fence gate. Have a look at the falls and across the gorge to the picnic area, then follow the main path, taking all right –hand junctions till you get to the sign that says ←Salisbury Waters 5.0 km (at 78730.04690). Take the left track, and again at another sign that says ←Salisbury Waters 3.9 km (at 79100.04200).

You now begin to follow the long ridge that passes the Sarum Hill turnoff

↑ Salisbury Waters 2.2 km at 80600.04300, from where you drop into a saddle and up a ‘Dragons Back’ of jumbled boulders before the ↑ Lookout 200 m sign.

Drop your packs here, and climb up for an excellent view down the length of Salisbury Waters and beyond to Long Point 25 kilometres away. Retrace your steps, and follow the sign

←Salisbury Waters 800m on down the steep, zigzagging track to the watercourse.

There’s a cleared level spot here, where you can put up a tent and fish or clamber around on the rocks- not deep enough to swim. A couple of lazy hours, and then (if you’re day-tripping) about 3 hours back to the carpark.

If you’re pushing on, the next bit involves a bit of careful rock-hopping directly across the river, or a bit of a scramble across big tors a hundred metres further down if you are to keep your boots dry. IF THE WATER is higher and running pretty rapidly, GO BACK! The whole valley bottom is covered in boulders from 50 cm to 5 metres thick, all jumbled up together, and care is needed to avoid turning an ankle over the next 200 metres even in dry times. At about 82514/04353 (Waypoint SALISHIGH+ ) , you need to scramble up to a ledge about 5 metres above normal river height on the north side of the stream, and edge around for about 20 metres on some sliding gravel to avoiding having to swim the pool. A bit more rock-hopping, and you reach Mihi Creek.

Head up the Mihi to MIHILEXIT , the junction of the Mihi and the largest tributary creek. Climb this junction ridge on the left (southern) side of the Mihi till you reach the cliffline. Pause a bit to take in the view back down, then sidle around to the left, gradually working your way up through breaks in the rocks to the open country above. Hug the edge to cross Mihi Creek (carefully!) and reach the NPWS tracks, and follow them back to the carpark.


 

Leg Description

Km

Bear-ing T

To Grid Reference

Ht Gain (m)

Ht. Loss (m)

Travel Time Hr.Min

Dangars Falls Carpark 37766/05590 Altitude 970 m.


 


 


 


 


 


 

On Salisbury Waters Track to Rock Wallaby LO junction

0.7

Track

78150

/05350

30

30

0.15

Rt. on Salisbury Track to Salisbury/Mihi Tracks Junction

1.5

Track

78730/ 04690

25

25

0.25

L. on Salisbury Track to Salisbury Waters

5.0

Track

82046/ 04520

50

510

1.20

Follow stream down to Mihi Creek Junction

0.7

Stream

38514/ 04353

0

35

0.30

Travel up Mihi Creek to MIHILEXIT

2.4

Stream

80217/ 03609

105

0

1.00

Climb ridge to cliffline

0.6

250

79675/ 03400

210

0

0.40

Sidle to left (South) around cliffline, gradually ascending to tops

0.7

260

79000/ 03235

195

0

1.00

Follow edge of escarpment to Mihi Creek

0.3

270

78800/ 03300

0

30

0.10

Cross creek, meet NPWS track

0.6

Cliff line

78600/ 03600

30

0

0.15

Follow track to Salisbury/Mihi Tracks Junction

1.0

Track

78730/ 04690

0

20

0.20

Return on track to Dangars Falls Carpark

2.2

Track

37766/05590

55

40

0.40


 

15.5


 


 

690

690

6.35