Nymboida Narrows Canyon
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| | Raps:2-3, max ↨98ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Basalt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Oct-Apr (avg for this region)
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-30.3104, 152.5266
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Introduction
Nymboida Narrows Canyon v4a3** (also known as Silent Pool Canyon) is a very short but spectacular constriction, approx 100m long, ending at the locally famous Silent Pool.
While the canyon is graded v4a3, it should not be undertaken lightly. The canyon's very large catchment (approximately 80 km2) and extreme narrowness in places (~1m) create aquatic hazards (boils, spillovers, potential syphon) and vertical hazards (high volume concentrated vertical flow, risk of whole body entrapment, near impossible rescue) that should be avoided.
The canyon has been rigged to avoid most hazards however the canyon is subject to floods. Anyone aiming to descend the canyon should carry bolting equipment.
Nymboida Narrows Canyon was established with the support of Canyoning Australia's Canyon Fund, please consider donating to support the sport and community.
Water levels
The canyon’s catchment lacks a river gauge. The Nymboida River gauge’s catchment encompasses Nymboida Narrows’s catchment but is unreliable due to its vast 1660 square kilometre area and considerable distance (~40 kilometres downstream) from the canyon.
The Guy Fawkes River @ Ebor river gauge may be used as a proxy gauge however a lack of longitudinal data means it can not be relied upon. Guy Fawkes River @ Ebor gauge's catchment neighbours Nymboida Narrows catchment but is smaller at 31 km2. 45 ML/d or less on the Guy Fawkes River gauge should be suitable for most parties.
It is strongly advised to check the exit of the canyon to confirm water levels. If the water reaches the bottom of the chockstones (which you normally swim under with a comfortable air gap) you should not proceed.
Approach
Nymboida Narrows Canyon is located in the Bagul Waajarr Nature Reserve. Unfortunately the nature reserve is surrounded by private land with no easement or right of way for the public. As a result the route in and out is not published publicly.
Anyone interested in visiting this canyon will need to arrange access via one of the surrounding land owners. Contact Canyoning Australia to engage with landowners for access.
The canyon starts at the intersection of Nymboida River and Deer Park Creek and finishes at the Silent Pool.
Descent
This canyon requires good technical and aquatic canyoning skills including:
- Rigging multi point traverse lines
- Use of redirect
- Hanging anchors
- Identifying and avoiding aquatic hazards
| Problem number | Type | Metres | Location | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abseil or Jump | 4m | RL | Bolts. Anchor easily accessed on RL ledge past the boiling water. Deep water. Climb out on the RL to access P2 anchor. Pitch can be bypassed on RL ledge to access P2 anchor directly - but why miss out on a jump. Jump from either RR or RL. Climb out on river left to reach ledge for P2. |
| 2 | Abseil | 20m | RL | Bolts. A short 4m drop but the anchor is ~5m back from the edge. You will need to cross the river and scramble up to the RR ledge to access P3. The extra rope is needed to reach the first traverse bolt for P3 on the RR. Do not attempt to follow the water (in the water) - the aquatic hazards are significant (i.e. spillover risk, highly aerated boiling water, no landing ledge, extremely narrow vertical shoot, foot or whole body entrapment risk, no escape, near impossible rescue). |
| 3 | Abseil | 30m | RR | Starts with a 15m multi-point traverse (4 single bolts) to reach the double bolt anchor. This abseil is out of the flow (which is a high-volume vertical flow in an extremely narrow shoot - high risk of entrapment and/or losing control) and lands you at the end of a significant boil located at the bottom of the waterfall. There are two redirects on this pitch (stainless carabiners attached to chain). A 30m rope should reach the water; however, there is a hanging anchor/redirect (P3a) approx. 5m above the water. |
| 3a | Abseil | 6m | RR | Optional. This is the second redirect for P3; however, it is also bolted as a hanging anchor. The last person may choose to pull the rope for P3 from here and re-rig to finish the drop. The current at the bottom of P3 is strong, and it will be difficult to pull the rope for P3 while in the water. |
| 4 | Log jam | 2m | RC | After the final abseil (P3) the canyon is a deep swim. A large stable log jam in the middle of the slot requires you to climb over it - low strainer risk but exercise caution. |
Photos
Exit
Exit will vary depending on how you accessed the canyon; however, if you need to return to the start of the canyon, you can do so via the gully on the river left of Silent Pool and traverse back to the start of the canyon.
Red tape
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
First known descent
Jamie V, James H, Jon, Srini G, Hayden B, Graci LDG, Alex M
Historical beta
Extract from University of Queensland Speleological Society's journal:
We eventually arrived at the Silent Pool, after a brief look we climbed up the right hand side which is almost certainly easier than the left hand side as recommended in the guide. The Silent Pool is not a Cave system but a fantastic slit canyon, sheer walls about 50 feet (~15 metres) high and 3 feet (~1 metre) apart with a mighty river coursing along the bottom. The canyon starts in a series of 4 waterfalls of about 10 - 20 feet (3 - 6 metres) each and the water really whirls. The final section appears to act as a syphon coming up under the Silent Pool. This would be a sight to see during flood and a really good through trip could be taken in a dry season. It would be good practice for a fierce river cave.
The system is not 1/4 mile (~400 metres) long but I would say closer to 100 yards (~91 metres). It occurs immediately downstream of the junction of the Nymboida and the Deer Park Rivers for those who wish to locate it.