Nightmare
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| | Difficulty:3B (v3a2) Raps:7+, max ↨105ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Oct-Mar
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-33.1643, 150.2731
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Introduction[edit]
Nightmare Canyon is located between Pipeline and Devils Pinch Canyons, on the north side of the Wolgan River. It is an enjoyable abseiling trip that is suitable for cooler weather and can be easily combined with Pipeline Canyon.
Approach[edit]
Driving[edit]
Drive to the Newnes Campground, at the very end of the Wolgan Road.
Walkign in[edit]
From the main campground at Newnes, on the northern side of the Wolgan River, follow the well-worn Pipeline Track downstream for about 2km. The track begins to climb up steadily, before turning left up a gully. Once up the steepest part a signpost points to a lookout which provides a stunning view.
Continue along the track to the watershed where it begins the downhill journey towards Glen Davis. Turn right here, passing a NPWS sign about Starlight Canyon. This track heads north, then north east, then east. Leave the track and head south over the highpoint at 455 278. Continue south along this ridge for about 600m. From the next highpoint, head south east down a spur until the ridge flattens out. From here you turn south west (right) and drip into the gully.
Brennan's / OzUltimate Wolgan Canyons map
Descent[edit]
Nightmare is very vertical with lots of diverse abseils. In total you will likely descend at least seven drops before reaching the most impressive and longest (32m) abseil at the end.
Moving carefully, it is possible to stay dry until the final drop where you finish in a pool that is generally about waist deep.
Exit[edit]
From the final abseil, follow the base of the cliffs west (right). After about 500m you will come to the end of Pipeline Canyon. Continue along the track at the base of the cliffs which eventually rejoins the Pipeline Track. Return along the track back to the campground.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
The below track notes are an excerpt from Canyons Near Sydney 5th edition guidebook by Rick Jamieson which is no longer in print.
Grade: 5 (difficult). Time: 1 day. Two 35 m ropes needed. Take some long slings for rigging anchors. Fairly dry. A great canyon, but most of the abseils are difficult.
Start as for Pipeline Canyon, continuing up the Glen Davis track to the watershed.
Now go along the ridge N then NE, then turn right off the main track to the top of a hill.
Now go ESE for 200 m, then SSE along the ridge for 400 m to a flat saddle (Devil's Pinch turns off to the left here). Continue on 200 m then walk left down into the gully at GR 457272 (Mt. Morgan map) (the right-hand gully of two).
At the first 10 m drop you can abseil or walk around to the right. Now walk right on a ledge to a big tree and abseil 33 m. The next abseil of 15 m is down a narrow cleft with some water at the bottom. Now walk down the rough creek. The next abseil is down two little drops., and the next 25 m abseil is done from a sling around a chockstone, down outside several chockstones quite tricky. The next abseil is 20 m from a long tape around a big log. The last spectacular abseil (35 m) is from a chockstone, or a tree back from the drop, straight down into a 1 m deep pool.
From here it is best to walk round underneath the cliff, past the bottom of Pipeline Canyon, back to the track.
Trip reports and media[edit]
- Sleep When We Are Dead :Twilight canyon. August 2017.
- Sleep When We Are Dead :Twilight canyon. August 2019.