Parking
The route starts at the locked gate on Glenraphael Drive, about 2 km from the Cliff Drive turnoff. Parking is at the gate. The unsealed approach can become boggy and potholed after rain; a 4WD is recommended.
Overview
About Narrow Neck trail
Why go
- A dramatic ridge between Jamison and Megalong valleys
- Heathland, wildflowers and birdlife across the plateau
Heads up
- 19 km return and 5–6 hours on foot, before the access road
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Blue Mountains map
Full mapElevation907–1,067 m
TrailheadLocked gate at start of Narrow Neck Plateau trail, off Glenraphael Drive-33.74063, 150.28020
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Blue Mountains alerts
- ClosureRoads and tracks closed across Blue Mountains National ParkMany roads, fire trails and walking tracks across Blue Mountains National Park are closed; do not enter closed areas.Official details
- CautionPark-wide solid-fuel fire banA park fire ban is active across Blue Mountains National Park: campfires and solid-fuel barbecues and stoves are prohibited. - Gas and electric cookers are permitted, subject to safety rules.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Mountains Tour Guide
Your drive to Narrow Neck trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Mountains National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Blue Mountains audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Narrow Neck Gate and the Castle Head Walk0:00 / 0:26
“You're approaching the Narrow Neck gate, the starting point for the walk to Castle Head. The unsealed approach can be boggy and potholed, and four-wheel drive is recommended.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Blue Mountains Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Golden Stairs and the Walk to Ruined Castle
- Narrow Neck Lookout: Between Two Valleys
- Eagle Hawk Lookout
- Cahills Lookout over Megalong Valley
- 188 audio storiesacross Blue Mountains’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grey Kangaroo, Wombat, Red-necked Wallaby, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 110 trails, 84 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Narrow Neck trail
A long walk across the plateauNarrow Neck trail is a 19 km out-and-back from the locked gate across the high plateau to Clear…
Narrow Neck trail is a 19 km out-and-back from the locked gate across the high plateau to Clear Hill and back. Allow 5–6 hours on foot; it is graded medium, but this is still a long, remote walk for self-sufficient hikers. The 2 km unsealed access road from the Cliff Drive turnoff to the gate is extra. The route crosses a high peninsula within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
The ridge between two valleysThe unpaved track passes through open forest, heath and swampland.
The unpaved track passes through open forest, heath and swampland. At its narrowest, the plateau pinches between Jamison Valley and Megalong Valley, with cliffs dropping away on both sides. There are no safety fences, so keep children close here. Walkers have priority over cyclists on this shared track. A wide view that keeps the narrow ridge and both valley sides in frame shows the shape of the peninsula.
Clear Hill is the turnaroundAt the southern end, Clear Hill looks toward the Wild Dog Mountains, Kanangra Wilderness and…
At the southern end, Clear Hill looks toward the Wild Dog Mountains, Kanangra Wilderness and part of Lake Burragorang. You return along the same track, so leave enough time and energy for the walk back.
Heath and birdlifeBanksias and other nectar-producing plants grow through the shrub and heath, which attract…
Banksias and other nectar-producing plants grow through the shrub and heath, which attract eastern spinebills and New Holland honeyeaters. Yellow-faced honeyeaters migrate through in spring and autumn; wedge-tailed eagles may perform figure-eight courtship flights high over the valleys.
Access and preparationPark at the locked gate on Glenraphael Drive, around 2 km from the Cliff Drive turnoff.
Park at the locked gate on Glenraphael Drive, around 2 km from the Cliff Drive turnoff. The unsealed approach can become boggy and potholed after rain, and a 4WD is recommended. No water or toilets are reported along the track, so carry water and snacks. Toilets are near Narrow Neck fire tower or at Katoomba Falls Reserve, separate from the route. A free trip intention form and personal locator beacon are recommended. Pets are not allowed except certified assistance animals.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Blue Mountains
58 sightingsGrey KangarooMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
43 sightingsWombatMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
18 sightingsRed-necked WallabyMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
53 sightingsSwamp WallabyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
23 sightingsBrushtail PossumMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
30 sightingsRing-tailed PossumMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Mountains. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
