Planned Route

Cox River via Kelpie Point Trail is approx 26km with 900m of ascent

Satellite view of route to Kelpie Point Trail

Expected Timing

1. Leave Dunphys Car Park at 7AM
2. White Dog Trail by 8AM
3. Coxs River 8:45AM
4. 500m ascent to White Dog Ridge Firetrail by 9:45AM
5. 4.5km to Medlow Gap by 10:15AM
6. Return to Car Park 11:15PM

Actual Route

Carlons Farm has been bought by NPWS, and demolished (so the last 2 gates and the bridge as well as the farm and outbuildings have disappeared). And the road is temporarily closed at the farm site. This resulted is an extra 2km and 120m of ascent. So the plan to get all the way to the Coxs river was aborted, and a slightly shorter route adopted. It looks like NPWS will be constructing a new bridge and re-opening Dunphys campsite (by Q3 of 2020?).

This is a good recce run for anyone attempting the Katoomba to Mittagong epic. Particularly with a short extension after crossing the Coxs River and up the hill to Scotts Main Range trail.

Actual Timing

1. Leave Dunphys Car Park at 6:58AM
2. White Dog Trail by 8:05AM (due to extra 1km & +120m)
3. Almost to the end of White Dog Trail by 8:30 - the planned turn around time.
4. Returned to Medlow Gap by 9:05
5. Return to Car Park 10:10PM
6. There were brief photo stops along the way

Stats

Approx 24km return Approx 900m of ascent
All on good Fire Trail with easy navigation.