Six Foot Track

Six Foot Track
MrActiniuM · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Six Foot Track
Location	New South Wales
Length	45 km
Use	Hiking, trail running, camping
Highest	Coxs River crossing
Difficulty	Moderate to hard

Six Foot Track Six Foot Track is a historic 45-kilometre wilderness route linking Katoomba and Jenolan Caves across the Blue Mountains (New South Wales) in Australia. The route traverses protected landscapes within Blue Mountains National Park and Kanangra-Boyd National Park, forming part of conservation, recreation and heritage networks associated with early New South Wales infrastructure and tourism. Popular with bushwalkers, endurance runners and heritage enthusiasts, the trail connects a sequence of natural features, historic sites and watercourses on the western escarpment of the Greater Blue Mountains Area.

Overview

The track begins near the historic Katoomba railway precinct and descends via the Megalong Valley to the karst country surrounding the Jenolan Caves. It is managed under policies of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales) and overlaps with corridors recognized by UNESCO within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The corridor links landscapes including the Blue Mountains National Park, Coxs River, Megalong Valley Road approaches, and remnants of 19th-century colonial infrastructure associated with expansion in New South Wales.

History

Constructed in the late 19th century to provide a bridle and coach route between Katoomba and Jenolan Caves, the track reflects tourism and transport developments tied to figures and institutions such as the Evans family entrepreneurs and the promotion of the Jenolan Caves as a tourist attraction. Legislative and administrative actions by colonial authorities in New South Wales shaped access patterns, while later conservation movements involving organisations like the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and the Australian Heritage Commission influenced preservation. The route has associations with early exploration parties, local Aboriginal histories linked to groups including the Dharug and Wiradjuri peoples, and 20th-century outdoor recreation cultures exemplified by clubs such as the Sydney Bushwalkers and the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.

Route and Features

The official trail typically starts at the finish of the Six Foot Track access near Katoomba and proceeds through the Megalong Valley, descending escarpments, crossing ridgelines and fording rivers including the Coxs River and tributaries that feed the Nepean River system. Key waypoints include the historic bridle paths, stonework remnants from coach construction, the Harrison's cutting sections, and the approach into the karst landscape that hosts the Jenolan Caves. Terrain varies from sandstone escarpments and heathland on the Blue Mountains plateau to eucalypt forest within the Megalong Valley and temperate rainforest pockets near creek lines. Hydrological features on the route influence seasonal access with creek crossings and fords subject to flood events affecting the Coxs River and tributaries.

Flora and Fauna

The track passes through vegetation communities representative of the Greater Blue Mountains, including sclerophyllous eucalypt assemblages dominated by species such as Eucalyptus radiata and Eucalyptus sieberi, pockets of temperate rainforest with species resembling Nothofagus associates, and heathland containing endemic proteaceous taxa related to the Banksia and Grevillea genera. Faunal records from park surveys note populations of macropods like the Red-necked wallaby and Eastern grey kangaroo, arboreal mammals including the Common brushtail possum and Greater glider, and predator species such as the Dingo (Canis lupus dingo). Avifauna along the corridor includes representatives like the Gang-gang cockatoo, Superb lyrebird, Yellow-tailed black cockatoo and raptors that use escarpment thermals. Reptile and amphibian assemblages are documented in the riparian zones and rock outcrops, with species comparable to those recorded across the Blue Mountains region.

Track Use and Tourism

The route forms a classic multi-day hike favoured by members of organisations including the Sydney Bushwalkers, Blue Mountains Walking Track Association and commercial guiding operations licensed by OEH frameworks. Seasonal visitor flows peak during cooler months and long-weekend periods connected to holiday calendars in New South Wales and interstate tourism from Victoria and Queensland. Accommodation along or near the track includes backcountry campsites regulated by park authorities, guesthouses in Katoomba and tourist facilities at Jenolan Caves House associated with tourism operators and heritage tourism programs. Events and guided walks often involve partnerships with groups such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and regional visitor bureaus.

Safety and Management

Park management by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales) implements risk mitigation through signage, track maintenance, permit systems and search-and-rescue coordination with agencies like the NSW Police Force and volunteer organisations such as the NSW State Emergency Service and bushwalking groups trained in navigation and first aid. Environmental management strategies respond to invasive species control, fire regimes overseen in consultation with the Rural Fire Service (NSW) and cultural heritage protocols that engage local Aboriginal land councils, including the Dharug Local Aboriginal Land Council where native title and cultural knowledge are relevant. Visitor safety emphasizes weather-awareness, creek crossing caution on the Coxs River, and compliance with park rules.

Events and Records

The track hosts an annual endurance event administered by event organisers affiliated with trail running bodies and athletics associations, with record performances logged by competitors from clubs such as the Blue Mountains Athletic Club and interstate running organisations. Notable fast-times and organised charity walks are recorded in event histories curated by the race directors and regional sporting media. Conservation events, volunteer track maintenance days and heritage walks are coordinated by the Blue Mountains Conservation Society, National Parks Association of NSW and local historical societies that document the route's cultural and sporting legacy.

Category:Trails in Australia Category:Blue Mountains