Atlas › Blue Mountains NP - Grose
Claustral Canyon
verified
ACA 3B
Low flood risk
Mount Wilson, NSW
One of the most iconic canyons in the Blue Mountains: waterfall abseils through a cave-like tunnel, swims, and scrambles in a deep slot off Mount Wilson.
Approach via Mt Wilson, Bell Range Fire Trail. Cold water all year, wetsuits standard even in summer. The underwater section at the keyhole is the canyon's signature hazard. Check current bolt condition with the ozultimate.com community before going.
Logistics
| Manager | NSW NPWS Blue Mountains NP |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. Trip Intention Form recommended for remote descents. |
| Distance | 1.9 mi |
| Elevation | ~689 ft loss |
| Time | 8-9 hr (45 min to 1 hr approach, 3.5 to 4 hr descent, 3.5 to 4 hr exit) |
| Technical | Iconic Blue Mountains tech canyon. 4 to 6 abseils, longest about 49 ft. Multiple linked abseils, jumps, downclimbs, and a long tunnel swim through the keyhole section. Australian v3a2 IV, often cited as v3a3 III in newer notation. |
| Season | Best Dec-Mar, shoulder Apr and Sep-Nov |
| Flood risk | Severe. The keyhole forms a siphon at sustained flow. Several fatalities including 1982 and 2007. Cancel on rain in the upper Mt Wilson catchment. |
| Vehicle access | 2WD car suitable to the Mt Wilson trailhead |
| Crowd | Heavy on weekends, often multiple parties |
| Coordinates | -33.549, 150.3964 |