Dry Canyon is one of the most accessible canyons in the Blue Mountains, yet few people even know of its existence! Getting in and out of the canyon doesn’t require any abseiling, and as the name suggests, there is no water in there, so you don’t require any special gear whatsoever. It’s basically a bushwalk with a twist.
You get to wander between the towering walls of the narrow slot canyon, which feels like entering another world. It’s the perfect introduction to the Blue Mountains canyons, and it will probably have you hooked. I know it did us.
The path is not easy to navigate following the bushfires of 2020, and there are no sign posts, but we have you covered there.
Here’s our step by step guide to finding Dry Canyon (also known as Wolgan View Canyon).
Dry Canyon
The stats
Distance: 1.7km each way (3.4km total)
Elevation: 60m
Difficulty: Easy
The Dry Canyon walk should only take 1.5 - 2 hours total…. if you know the way. This trail isn’t marked at all and the recently fires/floods/new growth means that finding and following the track isn’t obvious. You need to know the way before you set out and try to find/follow the worn path. We spent a good hour heading down wrong turns trying to find the way in!
Luckily we’ve put together a guide which should mean that you won’t have the same issues. They key is to keep heading west as this is the direction of the trail in general (there are several earlier turns that head north down wider canyons)!
Remember never to attempt entering a canyon if heavy rain has just occurred, or if rain is forecast due to the risk of flash flooding.
Starting the trail
From the parking area head over the metal barrier (it’s a low railing to stop you driving further in, you are allowed to walk in this area!) and begin heading along the beaten down path. It is marked as the Pagoda Track on Google Maps.
The parking area for Dry Canyon
At first, the narrow path through the bush is very obvious and in great condition.
Almost immediately you’ll be wandering in-between pagodas and despite some obvious charring to the trees, it’s a pretty forest with plenty of greenery already returned.
After 150m you’ll reach a clearing and a junction. Take the path on the right, it isn’t very obvious, but it’s marked by a small cairn (which we missed the first time).
Follow the path for another 250m when you will arrive at a huge pagoda, with a crevice in it which is filled with small rocks (you can’t miss them).
The path gets overgrown
From this big pagoda it gets trickier, or it did for us. Hopefully it won’t for you as we will take you to the canyon entrance turn by turn.
Head left past the pagoda on the obvious trail, walk for another 100m and then you will come to a fork in the path. This is the end of the marked trail on Google Maps and the part where we got lost!
Make sure you turn left - it has an orange ribbon tied to a tree, which again we missed the first time! There is now an additional pink ribbon marker on the left a few metres away too. It looks like the wrong direction as the path is very overgrown, but the other direction will take you on a completely different trail. The right hand turn had some logs covering it when we visited to signify that this was the incorrect path.
At time of writing, this path was a bit arduous as you had to fight your way through the ferns. There is a narrow path down there somewhere though!
It’s tempting to look ahead so you can part the foliage, don’t! Look down through the overgrown greenery to the path below, there are several logs which lie across the trail. They are a major trip hazard when covered with foliage.
The ferns showing how overgrown the trail is!
Continue following this path, always keeping the pagodas on your right (with none on your left). If you have pagodas on either side of you, you will have taken the wrong path at that second junction and need to turn back.
Continuing to keep the pagodas on your right, keep heading straight along the same path - you won’t need to make another turn until the 1km mark.
After you have been walking for 950m (from the car park) you will reach an area where it feels a bit more narrow and canyon like. There is a fallen tree across the path just before you’ll reach a junction.
The broken tree at the entrance
The narrow entrance
Into the canyon
From the narrow entrance, the path heads slightly downhill and you will come to a junction. There is a path that continues straight ahead, downhill, (which is now full of fallen trees) but you want to turn left and walk uphill onto the rocks until you see the view in the photo below.
You then need to climb down the boulders you can see in the photo below. There is no longer a fixed rope, but you don’t need it to get down, it’s easy enough without.
It’s about three or four steps down the rocks before you’re in.
It’s the only scramble in the whole walk, so if you’re fine with this one, you won’t have any trouble in the canyon itself. Continue along the path for 100m and then you’ll be at the opening of the first constriction.
The first constriction
And what an opening! There are so many huge tree ferns and damp moss along the walls giving it some real lost world vibes. Although there are even more to come when you enter the second constriction!
The path is sandy and the canyon walls are tall. At first it is a little more open, but it quickly narrows and at points is really quite dark.
At the narrowest point is where you’ll find the amazing swirly walls, don’t forget to look up any time there is an opening at the top. The rock formations are just beautiful.
The whole experience is fantastic and the only downside is that the first constriction is just 180m long. I wanted it to go on for so much longer!
You then have roughly another 100m to go before you reach the second constriction.
The path is fairly obvious, at one point it’s easy to mistake it for the sandy wash, but it doesn’t matter because that will take you there too.
The second constriction
There are even more tree ferns here and it’s another incredible start to the canyon. The walls soon narrow again and it’s a beautiful walk through the second constriction, which is longer at 300m.
It’s relatively dark as the walls are so high and it’s such an atmospheric stretch of the walk.
About 200m in you have to climb down a couple of rocks to get to the next section but it’s very easy, even when wet, as it was for us.
Just over 100m later you’ll sadly pop out of the canyon into a wide open area.
There is a little track which takes you to a view over Wolgan Valley after a couple of minutes - although the view is heavily obscured by foliage so it’s not a must do.
Then all that’s left is to walk back through the canyon the way you came and savour it one last time. The track back to the car park is so much easier than the way there because you know the turns to make and you’ll be back in no time.
As virtually the entire trail is flat, this is an easy adventure with a big pay off.
If you love Dry Canyon and want to try another easy walk-in canyon, then next on your list should be the spectacular River Caves Canyon.
Essential information about visiting Dry Canyon
Canyon safety
Although Dry Canyon generally lives up to its name, like other slot canyons, it can still flash flood. Never enter the canyon if it has just rained heavily, or if rain is forecast.
We recommend bringing a PLB as there is no phone signal once you begin the track. We carry a GME and you can check this one out and many more on Amazon.
Getting there
Dry Canyon is located in Wollemi National Park, near Newnes. It is very close to the Glow Worm Tunnel and combining the two makes for a fabulous day trip. It takes around 3 hours to get there from Sydney.
Put the “Pagoda Track Newnes” into Google Maps and it will take you to the start of the trail.
The access road
You have roughly 30km to drive along the Glow Worm Tunnel Road which is unsealed. The road at time of writing is in pretty good condition.
There are a few potholes, rocks and ruts to watch out for, but nothing that requires a 4WD.
Having said that, it is a dirt road so if there has been a lot of rain the conditions could change. If you’re worried it might be worth ringing the Lithgow Visitor Information Centre to see if they can give you an up to date road condition report.
Where to park
There is a small ‘car park’ just off the Glow Worm Tunnel Road, with room for a few cars - but as this canyon is not widely known, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Put the Pagoda Track into Google Maps and then look out for a small turning on the left side of the road. You can find the location by clicking here.
Facilities at the canyon
There are no facilities whatsoever here. Please carry out all rubbish. The nearest toilet is at the Glow Worm Tunnel car park, which is very close by.
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