Escarpment walk
Guy Fawkes River National Park
Overview
Escarpment walk in Guy Fawkes River National Park is a forest walk that takes hikers past Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb, all the way to Spring Gully picnic area.
- Distance
- 13km loop
- Time suggested
- 5 - 7hrs
- Grade
- Grade 4
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, suitable clothing, sunscreen
- Please note
- From the start of Escarpment walk, Chaelundi Falls is 500m, Lucifers Thumb is 2km, and Spring Gully picnic area is 8km.
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
Follow the lovely Escarpment walk to Chaelundi Falls for amazing views of the falls tumbling down into the valley. A bit further along the track, you’ll come to Lucifer’s Thumb, a finger of rock that spreads out into the gorge. Take a seat and enjoy breathtaking 180-degrees views out over the park and Guy Fawkes River.
The walk to the waterfall is a fairly level, easy walk for young children, with a spectacular reward at its end. If you want to walk further, you can head all the way to the Spring Gully picnic area, 8km from the campground.
Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for endangered brush-tailed rock-wallabies and jacky lizards sunning themselves on the rocks, as well as the peregrine falcon, the fastest bird in the world.
Also see
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://uat.nswparks.cloud/things-to-do/walking-tracks/escarpment-walk/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Guy Fawkes River National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions
Guy Fawkes River National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Escarpment walk.
Maps and downloads
Learn more
Escarpment walk is in Guy Fawkes River National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Gold rush
Major Edward Parke named Guy Fawkes River after camping nearby on Guy Fawkes Day, November 5, 1845. Gold was discovered in the late 1800s at Ballards Flat and Dalmorton, with the latter once supporting a town of 3,000 people during a short gold rush. A couple of building ruins remain today and old stockmen huts and yards are still present throughout the valleys.
Routes of time
Archaeological sites suggest that Aboriginal people have occupied these valleys for over 10,000 years. The Guy Fawkes and Boyd rivers once served as important traffic and trade routes linking the tablelands to the coast. Ebor Falls was traditionally named 'Martiam', which means 'Great Falls' in Gumbaynggir language.
Unique geology
The north-south line of the Guy Fawkes River cuts through the Demon fault line, a 240-million-year-old crack in the landscape. In the south of the park the Ebor volcano spewed lava across the landscape. This created the Ebor Falls, with their unusual organ pipe-like rock formations.
- Ebor Falls A great stop-off between the coast and Armidale along Waterfall Way, Ebor Falls offers spectacular waterfall views and scenic lookouts.
- Escarpment walk Escarpment walk in Guy Fawkes River National Park is a forest walk that takes hikers past Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb, all the way to Spring Gully picnic area.
- Misty Creek lookout Enjoy scenic views from Misty Creek lookout over Guy Fawkes River Gorge, near Coffs Harbour, and Chaelundi campground.
- Muurlay Garriirlgundi track Muurlay Garriirlgundi track joins the Upper and Lower Ebor Falls in Guy Fawkes River National Park. This easy 2km return walk features 6 lookouts, offering different views of majestic waterfalls.
- Upper Falls loop walk With stunning waterfall views, the 360m accessible Upper Falls loop walk is ideal for walking with children. It’s a great way to explore the rugged landscapes of Guy Fawkes River National Park in Ebor.
Wild about species
The park is an incredible biodiversity hotspot. There are over 40 different plant communities and about 1000 plant species in the park, along with 28 threatened plant species, 24 threatened animal species, and significant areas of old growth forest. The endangered brush-tailed rock-wallaby can be seen in the rocky areas of the park, while glossy black cockatoos are often spotted throughout the park. The park is also one of the few remaining areas in Australia where purebred dingoes can still be found. The park is a conservation site for one of the most significant areas of wilderness in northern NSW, extending over 84,000ha of the 107,000ha park. This preserves the biodiversity of the park, allowing its natural ecosystems to be kept free from excessive human impact.
- Ebor Falls A great stop-off between the coast and Armidale along Waterfall Way, Ebor Falls offers spectacular waterfall views and scenic lookouts.
- Escarpment walk Escarpment walk in Guy Fawkes River National Park is a forest walk that takes hikers past Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb, all the way to Spring Gully picnic area.
- Misty Creek lookout Enjoy scenic views from Misty Creek lookout over Guy Fawkes River Gorge, near Coffs Harbour, and Chaelundi campground.
- Muurlay Garriirlgundi track Muurlay Garriirlgundi track joins the Upper and Lower Ebor Falls in Guy Fawkes River National Park. This easy 2km return walk features 6 lookouts, offering different views of majestic waterfalls.
- Upper Falls loop walk With stunning waterfall views, the 360m accessible Upper Falls loop walk is ideal for walking with children. It’s a great way to explore the rugged landscapes of Guy Fawkes River National Park in Ebor.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.
Education resources (1)
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Glen Innes office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6739 0700
- npws.ntab@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 68 Church Street, Glen Innes NSW 2370
Park info
- in Guy Fawkes River National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions
Guy Fawkes River National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.