Euroka to Red Hands Cave

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Warning
This journey requires significant bushwalking experience, specialised equipment and navigation skills.
Please ensure you and your group well prepared and equiped for this journey.

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-33.7997136,150.6163218)
Mode	Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions	From Great Western Highway, A32 Turn on to Ross Street then drive for 275 m Turn right onto Euroka Road and drive for another 2.5 km Turn left onto The Oaks Trail and drive for another 1.5 km Turn left onto Euroka Road and drive for another 1.6 km Turn right onto Bennetts Ridge Trail and drive for another 105 m Turn sharp right and drive for another 15 m
Finish	(-33.7835041,150.5903566)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the intersection below Nioka, this walk heads up the hill and around the locked gate. The track then passes the toilet and the 'no exit' sign. The walk then continues to follow this clear track as it heads uphill, away from the campsites. The management trail takes a few sharp bends and before long, the hill flattens out a little. As the track meanders up the hill, it widens into a clearer management trail. Just before the Oaks Fire Trail, this walk steps over the locked gate into the Ironbark Picnic Area.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. There is a toilet (about 60 m back from the start). There is a car park (about 55 m back from the start).
	After another 100 m continue straight, to head along Ironbarks Trail. After another 15 m head through/around the gate. After another 45 m come to the "Redgum Campsite" (15 m on your right). W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au There is a fee to use this campsite. After another 40 m pass the toilet (8 m on your right). After another 1.2 km head through/around the gate. After another 70 m find the "Ironbark Picnic Area" (15 m on your right). Ironbark Picnic Area Ironbark Picnic Area is a basic picnic area on the Oaks Fire Trail, about 450m south of Euroka Rd. The picnic area has a low bench that acts as both a table and seat, and there is also a wood-fired barbecue provided. The picnic area is at the top of a gated management trail, which leads down to campsites at Euroka. There are plenty of car parking spaces provided and it is a fairly popular starting point for people cycling the Oaks Cycleway.
	At the intersection of The Oaks Firetrail & Ironbarks Trail continue straight (a walking track). Then pass the car park (20 m on your right).
	After another 70 m turn right, to head along The Oaks Single Track.
	After another 175 m turn left.
	After another 730 m turn right, to head along Link Track. After another 15 m find the "Axe Grinding Grooves" (6 m on your left). Axe Grinding Grooves These well-defined axe grinding groves are found on the sandstone bed of Camp Fire Creek. The grooves were formed by Aboriginal people when sharpening axes (or forming axe blanks). Rubbing the axe blanks would sharpen the stone into a more useful tool, and the process would also wear the sandstone, leaving these markings. These sites are typically found near water, as the water was added to make the stone more abrasive. Sites like this will fade in time due to erosion of the sandstone - please help them last as long as possible by not walking on, or close to the grooves.
	After another 410 m (at the intersection of Campfire Creek Track & Link Track) turn left, to head along Campfire Creek Track. After another 60 m pass the sign (on your left). After another 1 km find the "Red Hands Cave" (on your left). Red Hands Cave Red Hands Cave, in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park, is found near the end of Red Hands Cave fire trail. The cave has quite a few hand stencils and prints of various colours (including red). The cave is well protected, with a perspex and steel cage. There are some information signs and some artifacts to help visitors learn more about the people who made these prints over 1600 years ago. In 1913, when searching for a lost child, this cave was found by Europeans and is now protected.
	After another 460 m (at the intersection of Red Hands Firetrail & Red Hands Cave Walking Track) continue straight, to head along Red Hands Firetrail (a vehicle track). After another 20 m come to "Red Hands Cave Picnic Area". Red Hands Cave Picnic Area Red Hands Cave Picnic Area is found at the end of the Red Hands Cave Fire Trail in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park. The small picnic area is next to the car park and has a couple of platforms (to act as both a table and seat) as well as a fire place and toilet. The toilet itself is wheelchair accessible, but access to the toilet is over moderately rough terrain. A good spot to rest when exploring Red Hands Cave. About 45 m past the end is a toilet.
	The end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Euroka to Red Hands Cave

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	4.3 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 3 h 30 min

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	No directional signs (5/6)
Infrastructure	No facilities provided (5/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There is one 110 m from the start.

Toilet: There are 3 on route, on average they are 1.1 km apart with the largest gap of 4.2 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-57 m	[toilet]
Camp site	110 m	Redgum Campsite
Toilet	150 m	[toilet]
Toilet	4.3 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Ironbark Picnic Area
Ironbark Picnic Area is a basic picnic area on the Oaks Fire Trail, about 450m south of Euroka Rd. The picnic area has a low bench that acts as both a table and seat, and there is also a wood-fired barbecue provided. The picnic area is at the top of a gated management trail, which leads down to campsites at Euroka. There are plenty of car parking spaces provided and it is a fairly popular starting point for people cycling the Oaks Cycleway.

Axe Grinding Grooves
These well-defined axe grinding groves are found on the sandstone bed of Camp Fire Creek. The grooves were formed by Aboriginal people when sharpening axes (or forming axe blanks). Rubbing the axe blanks would sharpen the stone into a more useful tool, and the process would also wear the sandstone, leaving these markings. These sites are typically found near water, as the water was added to make the stone more abrasive. Sites like this will fade in time due to erosion of the sandstone - please help them last as long as possible by not walking on, or close to the grooves.

Red Hands Cave
Red Hands Cave, in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park, is found near the end of Red Hands Cave fire trail. The cave has quite a few hand stencils and prints of various colours (including red). The cave is well protected, with a perspex and steel cage. There are some information signs and some artifacts to help visitors learn more about the people who made these prints over 1600 years ago. In 1913, when searching for a lost child, this cave was found by Europeans and is now protected.

Red Hands Cave Picnic Area
Red Hands Cave Picnic Area is found at the end of the Red Hands Cave Fire Trail in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park. The small picnic area is next to the car park and has a couple of platforms (to act as both a table and seat) as well as a fire place and toilet. The toilet itself is wheelchair accessible, but access to the toilet is over moderately rough terrain. A good spot to rest when exploring Red Hands Cave.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Penrith Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Thursday 31 October
  
  31°C
  Showers developing. Possible storm.
  80% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the late evening.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:00am to 4:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
  
  Friday 1 November
  
  15°C → 25°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light early in the morning then becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon.
  
  Saturday 2 November
  
  14°C → 22°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon.
  
  Sunday 3 November
  
  14°C → 35°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Monday 4 November
  
  19°C → 31°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.
  
  Tuesday 5 November
  
  17°C → 27°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely during the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Wednesday 6 November
  
  17°C → 30°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Blue Mountains National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Parts of Blue Mountains National Park closed
  Many roads, fire trails and walking tracks within Blue Mountains National Park are closed due to infrastructure upgrades or damage caused by wet weather including subsidence, rockfalls, landslides and fallen trees.
  The following areas are closed:
  Katoomba and Leura
  
  Honeymoon Bridge is closed due to rockfall risk.
  
  Prince Henry Cliff walk (part of Grand Cliff Top walk) is closed between Gordon Falls picnic area and Elysian Rock lookout, due to a landslide. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information. Detours will also be in place via Olympian Parade. Parts of Cliff Drive near Leura Cascades will also be closed. See Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
  
  Fern Bower track between Prince Henry Cliff walk and Amphitheatre track is closed due to multiple landslides. Access to Leura Forest and Jamison Valley is via Amphitheatre track.
  
  Ruined Castle, Golden Stairs, Solitary loop and Federal Pass, west of Scenic World are closed due to multiple landslides.
  
  The Kedumba and Cox's River Valleys are closed from 7am, Monday 14 October to 5pm, Friday 1 November 2024 for feral pest control (aerial shooting). This includes: all access points from McMahons Point, Mt Solitary and Ruined Castle, Kedumba River campground and all access points south of Sublime Point Ridge trail, Tarros Ladders and Mt Debert routes.
  
  Lone Lyrebird track is closed between Gordon Road and the War Memorial, due to subsidence. Detour is in place.
  
  Part of Lindeman Pass is closed due to a major landslide below Gladstone lookout. Roberts Pass is closed due to rockfall and landslide hazards.
  
  Six Foot track from Katoomba (Explorers Tree) to Alum Creek campground will be closed on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 November 2024 to allow for aerial pest works.
  
  Six Foot track is affected by closures at Jenolan Caves.
  
  Wentworth Falls and Woodford
  
  Charles Darwin walk (part of Grand Cliff Top walk) is closed between Fletcher Street and Weeping Rock. Detours are in place to provide directions to Wentworth Falls picnic area. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
  
  Part of National Pass (west of Wentworth Falls middle crossing) is closed due to a major landslide and ongoing risks.
  
  Wentworth Pass and Slack Stairs are closed due to multiple landslides. No access to Roberts Pass and Vera Falls.
  
  Andersons fire trail (and MTB route) between Kings Tableland Road and Bedford Creek trail will be closed on weekdays from Thursday 31 October until Friday 30 November 2024 for road repairs. Cyclists and walkers permitted on weekends.
  
  The Kedumba and Cox's River Valleys are closed from 7am, Monday 14 October to 5pm, Friday 1 November 2024 for feral animal control (shooting). This includes: All access points from McMahons Point, Mt Solitary and Ruined Castle, Kedumba River campground and all access points south of Sublime Point Ridge trail, Tarros Ladders and Mt Debert routes.
  
  Blackheath, Mount Victoria and Bells Line of Road
  
  Williams track (Govetts descent) and Rodriguez Pass are closed due to rockfalls and landslides. The Grose Valley can be accessed from Perrys Lookdown.
  
  Pulpit Rock Reserve, lookouts and walking track are closed. For more information visit the Blue Mountains City Council website. Pulpit Rock walking track from Popes Glen is open as far as the NPWS boundary (as shown on Google maps).
  
  Adventure recreation, canyons, abseiling and rock climbing
  Some adventure recreation areas and routes are specifically closed where the access or exit road/track is mentioned above.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.
  
  Closed areas: Red Hands Cave walking track - Partial closure
  Red Hands Cave walking track (also known as Campfire Creek walking track) is partially closed to allow for extensive flood damage repairs.
  Repairs are underway to the Link track section which runs through the gully. The rest of the walking track to Red Hands Cave is open. Pedestrian access is available all the way from the Red Hands Cave carpark through to the causeway.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Closed areas: Woodford - Oaks trail closed weekdays for flood repairs
  Woodford - Oaks trail will be closed on weekdays, from Monday 21 October to Friday 22 November 2024. Work is underway to repair flood damaged sections of the track.
  Pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access is not permitted during the closure period. Woodford - Oaks trail will be open on weekends during this period.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Closed areas: Areas closed for aerial pest shooting program
  The southern section of Blue Mountains National Park is closed from 7am, Monday 14 October to 5pm, Friday 1 November 2024.
  The closed area is bounded by the Kowmung River downstream of the junction with Dennis Ridge trail to the Coxs River junction, east of Kelpie Point trail and Mitchells Creek trail, Narrow Neck Plateau south of the Carlon Head track junction, Kedumba Valley south of Sublime Point trail, McMahons Road south of junction with Erskine Range trail and the Green Wattle and Butchers Creek catchments.
  The closed areas include:
  
  Kedumba campground
  
  Mt Solitary walking track loop including all campsites
  
  Mt Derbert walking track including Tarros Ladders between Medlow Gap and Carlon Head track
  
  McMahons Point
  
  Lions Head Pass to Kedumba Valley
  
  Scotts Main Range
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office.
  
  Fire bans: Park fire ban
  A park fire ban is in place in this park and remains in effect unless otherwise extended or removed.
  However, the following campgrounds in Blue Mountains National Park are exempt:
  
  Galong Cabins
  
  Dunphys Campground
  
  Murphys Glen
  
  Kedumba River Campground
  
  Burralow Creek
  
  Euroka campgrounds
  
  During park fire ban periods, all campfire and solid fuel (wood, heat beads, charcoal, briquettes, hexamine) barbecues and stoves are prohibited. Gas and electric barbecues and cookers are permitted as long as:
  
  They're under direct control of an adult
  
  The ground within 2m of the barbecue is cleared of all flammable materials
  
  There's an adequate supply of water (minimum of a bucket)
  
  If a Total Fire Ban is in place, different rules apply. Contact the local park office before bringing a gas or electric barbecue or cooker.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire bans in parks and reserves including your responsibilities, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page.
  
  Fires - Not Applicable: Blue Pool Hazard Reduction
  There is a fire in this park called Blue Pool Hazard Reduction. Refer to the Rural Fire Service for latest information. Do not enter any closed area or area with fire. If you see an unattended fire call Triple Zero (000). Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire safety in parks and reserves, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Other planned events: Notice of ongoing 1080 baiting program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting ongoing ground baiting program from Thursday 2 May 2024 to Friday 1 November 2024 in the following areas:
  
  Abercrombie River National Park
  
  Abercrombie River State Conservation Area
  
  Kanangra-Boyd National Park
  
  Blue Mountains National Park (southern section)
  
  Wollemi National Park (Wolga)
  
  Gardens of Stone National Park
  
  Jenolan Karst Conservation Area
  
  Turon National Park
  
  Marrangaroo National Park
  
  The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes.
  The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  For more information, contact the NPWS Kanangra area office at Oberon on 02 6336 6200.
  
  Safety alerts: Remote walking track conditions
  Remote routes within the Kanangra Wilderness Area including Kanangra to Katoomba (K2K) trail have been impacted by heavy fire regrowth and flood damage.
  In some places, tracks are no longer visible and are not easy to navigate, taking longer to traverse than expected. Limited to zero water sources are currently available along routes.
  If you plan to walk in the area, please ensure you have an appropriate level of experience, navigation skills and equipment including Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
  Mobile reception is limited so alternative communication methods are strongly recommended.
  For more information, contact the NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.
  
  Closed areas: Waratah Native Gardens picnic area closed
  Waratah Native Gardens picnic area is closed until further notice. This includes Gorge walking track. No access to the area is permitted.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Hawkesbury-Nattai area office on 02 4720 6200.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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