Bakers Creek Trail

Friday, 11 April 2014

Bakers Creek Trail

Wednesday 9th April 2014

Stony Point Trail

The goal of today's walk was to start on White Timber Trail, walk Stony Point Trail and Bakers Creek Trail to where it meets private property and then possibly walk to Fletchers Hill and return. The last part I had doubts about and as it turned out I did not make it to Fletchers Hill.
I drove up Judds Creek Road from Judbury and turned right at White Timber Trail and then drove 3 kms. to a convenient parking spot beside the road. The last couple of hundred metres was definitely 4WD territory, but up to this point could be negotiated by 2WD with care, although there some quite large exposed rocks on the crossing of Judds Creek.
I set off walking at 0735 and after 150 metres turned right into Stony Point Trail. The track went gradually downhill and was 4WD up to about 700 metres from the start where there was a large tree across the road. This made it impossible for any type of conventional vehicle to travel any further and for the next 700 metres there were several large trees across the road.

Stony Point Trail

The track went downhill at a gentle gradient for about 4.5 kms., crossed Crabtree Rivulet which was dry, and met the Bakers Creek Trail. It was easy walking and the track passed through some very nice forest, alternating between open forest and damp rainforest. It was extremely pleasant walking along and listening to all the bird life. At the track junction there was a forestry sign stating that the Stony Creek Trail was closed from here on and a makeshift private property sign as well. It used to be possible to walk to White Timber Mountain from Crabtree, up the Jefferys Track, on the White Timber Trail and back down the Stony Point Trail, but that has been closed for quite some time. I had prior knowledge of this, so I was not surprised by the sign.

Stony Point Trail and Bakers Creek Trail junction

Here I turned onto the Bakers Creek Trail and carried on. The track undulated somewhat but nothing drastic. I wanted to check out a small lake that was just to the west of the track and was hoping to find an easy path leading to it, but could not, so I decided to leave it until the return journey. I carried on and after some time reached the private property on the southern end of the track. Along here I was searching for a track that would lead off in the direction of Fletchers Hill, but could find nothing. I had not been that hopeful really, and not in favour of a 4.0 kms. return scrub bash, I opted to head back.
On the return trip I checked out the lake. This required a short scrub bash to get near the lake and a rather vigorous scrub bash to finally reach the lake as the cutting grass was about 3 metres tall and there was a thicket of tea trees around the waters edge.

Small Lake

I had intended to have lunch here, but there was nowhere to sit as the edges of the lake were quite wet and muddy, so I went back to the track and had a bite. The lake was a pretty sight out in the middle of nowhere and I had been hoping to see some birdlife, but alas, nothing. After lunch I kept walking back in the direction of the car and finally reached it at 1400.
This was quite a long walk, but not unduly taxing, and although there were no views to speak of, it was a very pleasant walk. I did not see anyone and the only sounds I heard were the birds.
Distance: 22.6 kms.
Time: 6'25"
Ascent: 570 metres
Click here to download GPX track.