Deep Pass
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| | Difficulty:2B (v1a2 II) Raps:0
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Oct-Apr (avg for this region)
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-33.3396, 150.3076
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Introduction
Deep Pass Canyon (Nayook Canyon) is an easy, beginner friendly canyon/creek walk located out on the Newnes Plateau, at Deep Pass.
Approach
This canyon can be done both ways, from Deep Pass and head upstream where you can either exit up to the car park, or, turn around and have twice the fun. Or, from the car park, follow the access track down to Nayook Creek and head downstream and exit via Deep Pass. This is the direction we are showing, downstream.
Descent
There are a number of wide, pretty canyon sections, with the odd narrow bits as well, some pool you can jump, or, used the fixed ropes and logs in places. As always, before jumping, check the depth.
It really is an easy, "Nanna" canyon, you can get as wet as you please.
Be prepared to dodge the instagrammers who tend to come up from downstream as far as the main falls, take their pictures, look beautiful for the gram, and leave.
Exit
Depends on which way you have done it, either take the upstream entry track back to the car park, or, follow the walking track out of the canyon, then, up the old fire trail back to the car park. Both are quite easy.
Red tape
Beta sites
The below track notes are an excerpt from Canyons Near Sydney 5th edition guidebook by Rick Jamieson which is no longer in print.
Grade: 1 (easy). Time: Half a day. No abseils but you do get wet feet, and wet everything if you fall in. It is good to take a 20 m rope as a safety line on one climb. Best in summer. Start off on the Mt. Cameron Fire Trail and follow the signs to Deep Pass North.
From the barrier at the end of the road at GR 488077 (Rock Hill map) walk down the old road to the cleared area at Deep Pass. This area is good for camping and rock climbing, and there are some great rock clefts to explore inside the big sandstone bluff, as well as some aboriginal paintings to the east. To reach the canyon, don't cross the creek at the bottom of the hill, but turn right up the creek. There are some short, steep sections in the canyon that you scramble up using fixed ropes. One climb needs a safety rope.
Towards the top of the canyon it opens out a bit and gets a bit scrubby. There is a hairy climb around on the right of a pool. Soon after this look for a track up on the right bank. Go left at a cliff - then the track leads back to the carpark.
Trip reports and media
YouTube.com : Deep Pass / Nayook Canyon - Newnes Plateau - Lithgow - Blue Mountains Canyoning