Piles Creek Loop
Download & Print Map and Notes2 hrs
306 m
Moderate track
Girrakool Picnic Area
(0km) Girrakool picnic area car park → Int of Picnic Area and Girrakool Loop tracks
230 m
5 mins
0m
-27m
Easy track
(0.23km) Int of Picnic Area and Girrakool Loop tracks → Broula Lookout
30 m
1 mins
0m
-2m
Easy track
Broula Lookout
(0.23km) Int of Picnic Area and Girrakool Loop tracks → Illoura Lookout
40 m
1 mins
0m
-6m
Easy track
Illoura Lookout
(0.27km) Illoura Lookout → Int of Bundilla Lookout and Piles Creek tracks
140 m
4 mins
7m
-10m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Piles Creek Loop’ sign down the rocky steps (keeping the valley to the right). The track soon crosses Leask Creek on a narrow concrete footbridge. The track continues to wind gently through the bush, soon coming to an intersection with a track which heads down to Bundilla Lookout (on the left).
(0.41km) Int of Bundilla Lookout and Piles Creek tracks → Bundilla Lookout
10 m
0m
-1m
Moderate track
Bundilla Lookout
(0.41km) Int of Bundilla Lookout and Piles Creek tracks → Western Piles Creek Caves
240 m
5 mins
9m
-17m
Moderate track
Western Piles Creek Caves
(0.65km) Western Piles Creek Caves → Phil Houghton Bridge
1.3 km
33 mins
65m
-138m
Moderate track
Phil Houghton Bridge
(1.96km) Phil Houghton Bridge → Int of Patonga Ferry and Girrakool tracks
220 m
9 mins
47m
-17m
Moderate track
(2.18km) Int of Patonga Ferry and Girrakool tracks → Rat Gully Lookout
290 m
8 mins
33m
-14m
Moderate track
(2.47km) Rat Gully Lookout → Monolith Cave
220 m
7 mins
29m
-13m
Moderate track
Monolith Cave
(2.69km) Monolith Cave → Int of Girrakool and Piles Ck lookout tracks
80 m
2 mins
0m
-16m
Moderate track
(2.78km) Int of Girrakool and Piles Ck lookout tracks → Piles Ck Lookout
20 m
1 mins
0m
-8m
Moderate track
Piles Creek Lookout
(2.78km) Int of Girrakool and Piles Ck lookout tracks → Girrakool picnic area car park
1.4 km
33 mins
116m
-47m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Girrakool’ sign along the bush track. After a short time the track passes under four sandstone caves (overhangs) and then crosses a few small tributaries. The caves provide good shelter and a great spot to rest. The track continues through the thick scrub and soon opens up on an unfenced rock platform at the top of Piles Creek Waterfall.
Veer right: From the top of the waterfall, the walk crosses the creek using the concrete stepping stones (the creek may be impassable after rain) and heads up the wooden steps to soon come to Illoura Lookout.
Turn right: From Illoura Lookout, this walk follows ‘Girrakool Loop’ sign up the stone steps directly away from the lookout. The walk follows the footpath up the stone steps to soon come to the intersection with the Broula Lookout track and another ‘Girrakool Loop’ sign pointing back down the hill.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘car park’ arrow up the few steps and along the stone footpath. The path heads through the bush, up some more steps to come to the lower Girrakool picnic area. The walk then heads through the picnic tables and past the BBQ up the straight path to the large car park passing the toilet block (on the right).
Maps for the Piles Creek Loop walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Gosford | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91312S GOSFORD | NSW-91312S |
Gosford | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9131 GOSFORD | 9131 |
Cross sectional view of the Piles Creek Loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Piles Creek Loop
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 4.2 km | ||
Time | 2 hrs | ||
. | |||
Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
Experience Required | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 2.2km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 2km has short steep hills.
Quality of track
Around 3.4km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 700m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 3.2km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 930m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 3km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.2km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 3.2km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 970m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 2.7km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 1.5km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Piles Creek Loop walk starts and ends at the Girrakool picnic area car park (gps: -33.43168, 151.2766)Your main transport option to Girrakool picnic area car park is by;
Car. Parking fees apply in the area.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/pcl
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
Comments