Update: Ruined Castle bush fire

Update (4pm on 17 January 2020)

IMPORTANT UPDATES Council RESERVES, CAMPGROUNDS, LOOKOUTS and WALKING TRACKS

Most Blue Mountains lookouts and reserves have now been reopened. 

This includes Council's bushland reserves along the south side of the Great Western Highway, east of Tablelands Road (Wentworth Falls) through to Lapstone, in response to the Erskine Creek Fire now classified as contained, and recent rainfall across the region.

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have also reopened many lookouts, picnic areas and walking tracks.

The following areas of Blue Mountains National Park are now open:

Govetts Leap lookout and the Heritage Centre Evans Leap lookout Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls walking tracks including Federal Pass between Scenic World and Fern Bower Conservation Hut Empress Falls and canyon Glenbrook precinct and the Euroka campground Faulconbridge Point Blue Gum Swamp Ingar and Murphys Glen campgrounds Woodford-Oaks trail Narrow Neck (Glenraphael Drive as far as the locked gate only – not safe beyond this point) Braeside fire trail (not walk) Victoria Falls Road fire trail Nellies Glen

CLOSED reserves Recent bush fires have left significant hazards and damaged infrastructure in Council reserves.  As a result, the following closures are still in place:

All Council bushland reserves at Bell, Mt Wilson and Mount Tomah remain CLOSED. Mt York Reserve (Mt Victoria), Pulpit Rock Reserve (Blackheath) and fire affected areas of Popes Glen Reserve (Blackheath) are CLOSED.

These areas will remain closed until they are safe for the public to re-enter. It's very important to stay out of burned bushland areas as there are a range of serious dangers and hazards. Trees damaged by fire may be dangerous and fall down or drop branches and limbs, and structures such as bridges, steps and safety railings may also be damaged and unsafe. 

Council is currently working on the assessment and ‘making-safe’ of roads and reserves, which must occur before these areas can be re-opened.

The following areas and locations in the Blue Mountains National Park also remain CLOSED due to bushfires:

Tracks and canyons in and around the Grose Valley including the Grand Canyon (northern escarpments) and Vale of Avoca There is no access permitted into the Jamison Valley, Kedumba Valley, Grose Valley or any other remote areas Glenbrook precinct is closed (except Euroka and sites listed above as open) Narrow Neck is closed past the locked gate There is no access to Ruined Castle, Golden Stairs or Mount Solitary

MORE info: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

For all information about Scenic World, go to the Scenic World website.