Atlas › Blue Mountains NP - Wollangambe
Wollangambe 1
verified
Ungraded
High flood risk
Mount Wilson, NSW
The classic introduction to Blue Mountains canyoning: float down a deep, mossy sandstone gorge on a lilo, no rope work, with serious cold water and siphon hazards under the surface.
Lilo or wetsuit, not optional. Hypothermia is the main casualty pattern, even in summer. Phone reception dies at the trailhead. The exit track is rough and unmarked in places; navigation failures cause overnighters every season.
Logistics
| Manager | NSW NPWS Blue Mountains NP |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. |
| Distance | 2.5 mi |
| Elevation | ~328 ft net change |
| Time | 5 to 5.5 hr (1 hr approach, 3 hr descent, 1.5 hr exit) |
| Technical | No abseils. Boulder hopping, scrambling, deep pools that demand swimming and a lilo or other flotation. Optional cliff jumps where depth allows. Exit climbs exposed tree roots and slippery rock. Australian v1a1 IV. |
| Season | Nov-Apr, summer preferred |
| Flood risk | High. A known siphon in the canyon caused fatalities in 2021 and 2023, and unprepared groups regularly need rescue. Cancel on any forecast rain in the upper Wollangambe catchment. |
| Vehicle access | 2WD car to the Mt Wilson fire station carpark, frequently overflowing |
| Crowd | Extremely popular in summer |
| Coordinates | -33.4889, 150.3588 |