Red Hands Cave and Axe Grinding Tour

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	At the intersection of Red Hands Firetrail & Red Hands Cave Walking Track (-33.7835041,150.5903566)
Mode	Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions	From Great Western Highway, A32 Turn on to Ross Street then drive for 275 m Turn right onto Euroka Road and drive for another 2.5 km Turn left onto The Oaks Trail and drive for another 6.8 km Turn sharp right onto Red Hands Firetrail and drive for another 5.1 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From Red Hands Cave car park, the walk follows the sign for the 'Link Track' past the bench and fireplace and into the bush. The track winds down the hill via many steps, winding for quite some time, then comes near a creek, which it loosely follows. The walk then crosses this creek to the signposts on the other side.
From the creek intersection, the walk follows the 'Glenbrook Causeway' sign, keeping the water on the left. The track continues up to a rock overhang from where it heads down the hill, coming near the creek again. The track follows the creek to a junction with another creek. To the left is a large sandstone area and approximately 10m along the track is a sign explaining the grooves in the sandstone.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Red Hands Firetrail & Red Hands Cave Walking Track Start heading along Link Track (a walking track). After 55 m pass the toilet (45 m on your right).
	After another 1.5 km turn left, to head along Link Track. After another 50 m pass the sign (15 m on your left).
	After another 380 m continue straight, to head along Link Track. After another 65 m find the "Axe Grinding Grooves" (5 m on your right). Axe Grinding Grooves These well-defined axe grinding groves are found on the sandstone bed of Camp Fire Creek. The grooves were formed by Aboriginal people when sharpening axes (or forming axe blanks). Rubbing the axe blanks would sharpen the stone into a more useful tool, and the process would also wear the sandstone, leaving these markings. These sites are typically found near water, as the water was added to make the stone more abrasive. Sites like this will fade in time due to erosion of the sandstone - please help them last as long as possible by not walking on, or close to the grooves.
	After another 360 m (at the intersection of Campfire Creek Track & Link Track) turn left, to head along Campfire Creek Track. After another 60 m pass the sign (on your left). After another 1 km find the "Red Hands Cave" (on your left). Red Hands Cave Red Hands Cave, in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park, is found near the end of Red Hands Cave fire trail. The cave has quite a few hand stencils and prints of various colours (including red). The cave is well protected, with a perspex and steel cage. There are some information signs and some artifacts to help visitors learn more about the people who made these prints over 1600 years ago. In 1913, when searching for a lost child, this cave was found by Europeans and is now protected.
	After another 460 m (at the intersection of Red Hands Firetrail & Red Hands Cave Walking Track) continue straight, to head along Red Hands Firetrail (a vehicle track).
	After another 9 m come to the end. About 15 m past the end is "Red Hands Cave Picnic Area". Red Hands Cave Picnic Area Red Hands Cave Picnic Area is found at the end of the Red Hands Cave Fire Trail in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park. The small picnic area is next to the car park and has a couple of platforms (to act as both a table and seat) as well as a fire place and toilet. The toilet itself is wheelchair accessible, but access to the toilet is over moderately rough terrain. A good spot to rest when exploring Red Hands Cave.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Red Hands Cave and Axe Grinding Tour

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	4 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 2 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 55 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	55 m	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Red Hands Cave Picnic Area
Red Hands Cave Picnic Area is found at the end of the Red Hands Cave Fire Trail in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park. The small picnic area is next to the car park and has a couple of platforms (to act as both a table and seat) as well as a fire place and toilet. The toilet itself is wheelchair accessible, but access to the toilet is over moderately rough terrain. A good spot to rest when exploring Red Hands Cave.

Axe Grinding Grooves
These well-defined axe grinding groves are found on the sandstone bed of Camp Fire Creek. The grooves were formed by Aboriginal people when sharpening axes (or forming axe blanks). Rubbing the axe blanks would sharpen the stone into a more useful tool, and the process would also wear the sandstone, leaving these markings. These sites are typically found near water, as the water was added to make the stone more abrasive. Sites like this will fade in time due to erosion of the sandstone - please help them last as long as possible by not walking on, or close to the grooves.

Red Hands Cave
Red Hands Cave, in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park, is found near the end of Red Hands Cave fire trail. The cave has quite a few hand stencils and prints of various colours (including red). The cave is well protected, with a perspex and steel cage. There are some information signs and some artifacts to help visitors learn more about the people who made these prints over 1600 years ago. In 1913, when searching for a lost child, this cave was found by Europeans and is now protected.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Springwood Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Thursday 19 September
  
  Clear.
  
  Clear. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h.
  
  Friday 20 September
  
  8°C → 22°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of frost in the west in the early morning. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 13 and 21.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:00am to 2:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 7 [High]
  
  Saturday 21 September
  
  7°C → 21°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Patches of frost in the north in the early morning. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 13 and 20.
  
  Sunday 22 September
  
  7°C → 22°C
  Partly cloudy.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 21.
  
  Monday 23 September
  
  7°C → 26°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Patches of morning frost in the west. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 25.
  
  Tuesday 24 September
  
  9°C → 27°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Wednesday 25 September
  
  14°C → 27°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 7mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Thursday 26 September
  
  9°C → 17°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 15mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Blue Mountains National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Parts of Blue Mountains National Park closed
  Many roads, fire trails and walking tracks within Blue Mountains National Park are closed due to infrastructure upgrades or damage caused by wet weather including subsidence, rockfalls, landslides and fallen trees.
  The following areas are closed:
  Katoomba and Leura
  
  Giant Stairway is closed between Lady Game lookout and Dardanelles Pass until the end of September 2024. Access out of the valley is via Furber Steps or Amphitheatre track.
  
  Honeymoon Bridge is closed due to rockfall risk.
  
  Prince Henry Cliff walk (part of Grand Cliff Top walk) is closed between Gordon Falls picnic area and Elysian Rock lookout, due to a landslide. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information. Additionally, this route will be closed from Gordon Falls to Leura Cascades Picnic Area on 25th September for a helicopter operation. Detours via Olympian Parade will be in place. Parts of Cliff Drive near Leura Cascades will also be closed. See Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
  
  Fern Bower track between Prince Henry Cliff walk (Grand Cliff Top walk) and the Amphitheatre track is closed due to multiple landslides. Access to Leura Forest and Jamison Valley is via Amphitheatre Track.
  
  Ruined Castle, Golden Stairs, Solitary loop and Federal Pass, west of Scenic World are closed due to multiple landslides.
  
  Lone Lyrebird track is closed between Gordon Road and the War Memorial, due to subsidence. Detour is in place.
  
  Part of Lindeman Pass is closed due to a major landslide below Gladstone lookout. Roberts Pass is closed due to rockfall and landslide hazards.
  
  Six Foot track is affected by closures at Jenolan Caves.
  
  Wentworth Falls and Woodford
  
  Valley of the Waters track is closed below Nature track junction due to trackwork. There is no access to Empress Canyon, Empress Falls, Sylvia Falls, Roberts Pass, Vera Falls, Hippocrene Falls or Wentworth Falls from Valley of the Waters.
  
  Charles Darwin walk (part of Grand Cliff Top walk) is closed between Fletcher Street and Weeping Rock. Detours are in place to provide directions to Wentworth Falls picnic area. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information.
  
  Part of National Pass (west of Wentworth Falls middle crossing) is closed due to a major landslide and ongoing risks.
  
  Wentworth Pass and Slack Stairs are closed due to multiple landslides.
  
  Bedford Creek and Andersons fire trail will be closed Monday to Friday until Friday 27 September 2024 to allow for roadworks. There is no access to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from Anderson fire trail or Murphys Road to Ingar campground. There is also no exit to Woodford from Andersons fire trail. Trails and campgrounds will be open on Saturday and Sunday. Ingar campground is open on Saturday night only.
  
  Blackheath, Mount Victoria and Bells Line of Road
  
  Mount Banks Road will be closed to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists until Monday 30th of September for fire trail maintenance. No access to Mount Banks Summit walk will be permitted during this period. The pincic area and walking track will be open during weekends.
  
  Williams track (Govetts descent) and Rodriguez Pass are closed due to rockfalls and landslides. Grose Valley can be accessed from Evans Lookout via the Horse Track.
  
  Pulpit Rock Reserve, lookouts and walking track are closed. Visit the Blue Mountains City Council website for information. Pulpit Rock walking track from Popes Glen is open as far as the NPWS boundary (as shown on Google maps).
  
  Adventure recreation, canyons, abseiling and rock climbing
  Some adventure recreation areas and routes are specifically closed where the access or exit road/track is mentioned above.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 47878877.
  
  Fire bans: Total Fire Ban
  A total fire ban has been declared by the NSW Rural Fire Service. The total fire ban applies for the entire 24-hour period. Total fire ban rules apply. This ban may be extended. Please continue to check this website. To find out where and when total fire bans are currently in effect, please visit the NSW Rural Fire Service.
  
  Fires - Not Applicable: Blue Pool Hazard Reduction
  There is a fire in this park called Blue Pool Hazard Reduction. Refer to the Rural Fire Service for latest information. Do not enter any closed area or area with fire. If you see an unattended fire call Triple Zero (000). Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about fire safety in parks and reserves, visit the NSW National Parks fire safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  Closed areas: Southern section of park closed for aerial pest control operation
  The southern section of Blue Mountains National Park is closed from 7am, Monday 9 September to 5pm, Friday 13 September 2024 and from 7am, Monday 23 September to 5pm, Friday 27 September 2024 for an aerial pest control operation.
  The Oberon-Colong Stock Route and Yerranderie Regional Park remain open.
  The closed areas include:
  
  Mt Werong campground
  
  Ruby Creek walking track and Ruby Creek mine area
  
  All areas north and south of the Oberon-Colong Stock Route
  
  Scotts Main Range
  
  Cox's River Corridor
  
  Kedumba Valley - Schedule 1 WaterNSW lands.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office.
  
  Closed areas: Six Foot track closed for fire trail maintenance works
  A section of Six Foot track in the Blue Mountains National Park is closed from Monday 9 September to Monday 23 September 2024, for fire trail maintenance works.
  The closed area is on Nellies Glen Road, between the Katoomba track head and Mitchells Creek trail.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office at Blackheath on 02 4787 8877.
  
  Closed areas: Giant Stairway
  Giant Stairway is closed between Lady Game lookout and Dardanelles Pass from Thursday 29 August 2024 to the end of September 2024.
  Access out of the valley is via Furber Steps or Amphitheatre track.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the local office.
  
  Closed areas: Valley of the Waters and Empress Canyon
  Valley of the Waters is closed below Nature track junction until the end of September 2024 for track repairs. There is no access to Empress Canyon and Sylvia Falls.
  
  Other planned events: Notice of 1080 aerial baiting program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting an aerial baiting program in Blue Mountains National Park from Monday 26 August 2024 to Sunday 8 September 2024.
  The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes.
  The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise the impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  Please contact the local NPWS area office for more information:
  Blackheath 02 4787 8877
  Oberon 02 6336 6200
  Glenbrook 02 4720 6200
  
  Other planned events: Notice of ongoing 1080 baiting program
  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is conducting ongoing ground baiting program from Thursday 2 May 2024 to Friday 1 November 2024 in the following areas:
  
  Abercrombie River National Park
  
  Abercrombie River State Conservation Area
  
  Kanangra-Boyd National Park
  
  Blue Mountains National Park (southern section)
  
  Wollemi National Park (Wolga)
  
  Gardens of Stone National Park
  
  Jenolan Karst Conservation Area
  
  Turon National Park
  
  Marrangaroo National Park
  
  The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs and foxes.
  The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.
  Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Pets and working dogs may be affected (1080 is lethal to cats and dogs). Pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled in the vicinity and must not enter the baiting location. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.
  For more information, contact the NPWS Kanangra area office at Oberon on 02 6336 6200.
  
  Closed areas: Woodford-Oaks trail closure
  Woodford-Oaks trail is closed on weekdays to all cyclists and pedestrians due to heavy machinery in operation.
  The Oaks and Single tracks will be open to cyclists on weekends, and will fully reopen as soon as works are complete.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office on 02 4720 6200.
  
  Safety alerts: Remote walking track conditions
  Remote routes within the Kanangra Wilderness Area including Kanangra to Katoomba (K2K) trail have been impacted by heavy fire regrowth and flood damage.
  In some places, tracks are no longer visible and are not easy to navigate, taking longer to traverse than expected. Limited to zero water sources are currently available along routes.
  If you plan to walk in the area, please ensure you have an appropriate level of experience, navigation skills and equipment including Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
  Mobile reception is limited so alternative communication methods are strongly recommended.
  For more information, contact the NPWS Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on 02 4787 8877.
  
  Closed areas: Glenbrook precinct closure
  The Glenbrook precinct will be closed on weekdays for major roadworks, from Monday 29 April to Tuesday 15 October 2024.
  Heavy machinery and vehicles will be in operation from Mondays to Fridays during this period. Access beyond the entry gate will be closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
  The closed areas (Mondays to Fridays) include:
  
  Woodford - The Oaks trail
  
  The Single track
  
  Euroka campground
  
  Red Hands Cave
  
  Red Hands Cave walking track
  
  Jack Evans track
  
  Nepean lookout
  
  Nepean River walking track
  
  Pisgah Rock
  
  Mount Portal lookout
  
  Tunnel View lookout
  
  Jellybean Pool
  
  Blue Pool
  
  Glenbrook Gorge walking track
  
  The precinct will open on weekends, with most areas accessible.
  The following areas will be open on weekends:
  
  Euroka picnic area
  
  Woodford - The Oaks trail
  
  The Single track
  
  Mt Portal and Tunnel View lookouts
  
  Jellybean Pool
  
  Blue Pool
  
  Glenbrook Gorge walking track
  
  Other sections, including Red Hands Cave and Euroka campground, will remain closed over the weekend. The precinct will fully reopen as soon as works are complete.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office 02 4720 6200.
  
  Closed areas: Waratah Native Gardens picnic area closed
  Waratah Native Gardens picnic area is closed until further notice. This includes Gorge walking track. No access to the area is permitted.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Hawkesbury-Nattai area office on 02 4720 6200.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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