River Walk (Blue Lake)

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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	(-33.8191096,150.0238181)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Great Western Highway, A32 Turn on to then drive for 105 m Turn slight left onto Jenolan Caves Road, 1 and drive for another 45.7 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the eastern side of the Grand Arch, the walk heads over the road to the right of the bridge and the lake behind. The walk then tends left around the lake for approximately 40m to an intersection marked by a 'No swimming fishing or throwing stones' sign.....

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

River Walk (Blue Lake)

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	2.7 km
Time	1 h 15 min to 1 h 30 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Blue Lake
Blue Lake, or Lake Jenolan, is a small lake on the eastern side of the Grand Arch. The lake is fed by the River Styx and the Jenolan River. Blue Lake's intense colour comes from the refraction of light through limestone sediments.

Jenolan Caves Hydroelectric Power Station
Jenolan Cave Hydroelectric Power Station was originally a Leffel Wheel, built in 1889 on the Jenolan River. The building has a glass front with a light switch to show the large machinery which was once used to power Jenolan. Near the hydroelectric building, there is a nice picnic area by the weir.

De Burghs Bridge
The bridge spanning out from the Grand Arch was designed by Mr Ernest M. De Burgh, and built by the Public Works Department in 1896. The bridge allowed greater access to the caves and was built from locally cut limestone.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Jenolan Caves Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
  
  Sunday 24 November
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower about the Blue Mountains, near zero chance elsewhere. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.
  
  Monday 25 November
  
  16°C → 30°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower about the Blue Mountains in the afternoon and early evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h early in the morning then tending northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 14 and 18 with daytime temperatures reaching 30 to 35.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:30am to 5:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 12 [Extreme]
  
  Tuesday 26 November
  
  17°C → 30°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the south, near zero chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the afternoon and evening. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h early in the morning then becoming light in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 15 and 19 with daytime temperatures reaching 29 to 35.
  
  Wednesday 27 November
  
  18°C → 31°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northerly 20 to 30 km/h tending northwesterly during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 16 and 20 with daytime temperatures reaching 29 to 36.
  
  Thursday 28 November
  
  18°C → 27°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 15mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to northwesterly during the morning then becoming light during the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 15 and 20 with daytime temperatures reaching 25 to 31.
  
  Friday 29 November
  
  16°C → 22°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 15mm
  
  Showers.
  
  Saturday 30 November
  
  16°C → 22°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 15mm
  
  Showers.
  
  Sunday 1 December
  
  15°C → 27°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 8mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve alerts
  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 Monday 5 May 2025 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.
  
  Fire bans: Kanangra Reserves
  A park fire ban is in place in this park and remains in effect unless otherwise extended or removed.
  However Wombeyan Caves campground in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is exempt.
  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.
  
  Closed parks: Park closed for major road repairs
  Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve is closed until 2026 while Transport for NSW repairs flood-damaged roads and landslips.
  There is no access to Six Foot track via Jenolan Caves.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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