Arethusa Canyon
A high quality canyon with everything. Close to Leura this canyon includes two abseils of 26 & 30 metres on approach and a single abseil of ~15 metres in canyon actual.
This is a serious canyon despite the light traffic through it: a roughly 25 square kilometre catchment above Upper and Lower Cascade Creek dams means water can rise fast after rain, and RopeWiki is blunt about it, stay away without swift water and canyon rope training. The entrance alone is two dry abseils (26 and 30 metres) before you are even in the canyon proper, and the third rappel has had six documented near misses in its fall line, so think hard about where you stand. Getting out means three bolted rock climbs (grades 14, 12, and an optional 19), or the wetter Alpheus Canyon variation if that suits your party better.
Logistics
| Manager | NSW NPWS Blue Mountains NP |
|---|---|
| Permit | None required |
| Technical | 3-6 rappels, longest 30m |
| Season | Oct-May, BEST Nov-March |
| Vehicle access | Passenger |
| Coordinates | -33.6589, 150.3467 |