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 |
|