Erskine Creek, Glenbrook: Swimming Holes on the Jack Evans Track

Erskine Creek is one of the lower Blue Mountains' quieter swims: long, deep, still pools sitting between huge sandstone boulders at the bottom of a steep gorge near Glenbrook. It's barely an hour from Sydney, but once you're down on the rocks with the gorge walls around you, the city feels a long way off.

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You earn it on the Jack Evans Track, a short but steep walk down from the end of the Nepean Lookout Fire Trail in the Glenbrook section of Blue Mountains National Park. It's one of the wilder swims in our guide Swim New South Wales, and a good pick for a hot summer day when the easier pools nearby are packed.

Swimming at Erskine Creek

Where the track meets the creek, the water slows into a run of long, wide pools. They hold enough depth for a proper swim even in drier spells, and the water stays clear and fresh. Big, smooth rock shelves line the edges, so there's room to spread out in the sun or tuck into the shade under the gorge walls, and there are small cascades along this stretch of creek.

The water is cool and the gorge is quiet, with the sound of moving water bouncing off the rock. NPWS notes you may even spot a platypus in the park's waterways if you sit still long enough.

A few things to keep in mind once you're in. Rocks below the surface are slippery, depth changes quickly and there are submerged objects in the pools, so ease in rather than diving or jumping. Summer is the time to go: on a warm day the climb back out is the hard part, so swim, rest and leave yourself plenty of daylight.

Importantly, the land on the far side of Erskine Creek is part of Sydney's protected water catchment. NPWS says the section of the old track across the creek is no longer open to walkers, so stay on the Glenbrook side.

How to Get to Erskine Creek

Drive west on the M4 to Glenbrook and follow the signs to the Bruce Road entrance of Blue Mountains National Park, where a vehicle entry fee applies (NPWS lists $8 per vehicle per day). Inside the park, follow the roads to the Nepean Lookout Fire Trail and park at the small dirt car park at its end, near the start of the Jack Evans Track.

NPWS lists the Jack Evans Track as 2.6 km return and grade 3, but it's steep: timber and dirt steps, switchbacks and rock clefts drop you down to the creek. Allow a couple of hours for the return walk and a swim, and more if you want a long rest on the rocks. The park gates are open 8:30am to 7pm from October to April and 8:30am to 6pm the rest of the year, so time your climb out accordingly.

Know Before You Go

• A national park vehicle entry fee applies at the Bruce Road entrance, Glenbrook. Check the gate closing time before you head down.
• Don't cross Erskine Creek: the far side is a protected water catchment area and closed to walkers.
• Never jump or dive. Depths vary and there are submerged objects in the pools.
• Stay out of the gorge after heavy rain or if storms are forecast. Creeks can rise fast, and wet sandstone is very slippery.
• The return is a steep climb. Carry plenty of water, wear grippy shoes and bring a hat and sunscreen for the walk (but rinse off before swimming if you can).
• No facilities at the creek. Leave no trace and carry out all rubbish so this spot stays as untouched as it is now.
• Check NPWS alerts before going: fire bans, park closures and works can change access in the Glenbrook area.

Erskine Creek FAQs

How long is the walk to Erskine Creek?

The Jack Evans Track is listed by NPWS as 2.6 km return. It's short but steep, so allow around two hours return plus swimming time.

Do you have to pay to visit Erskine Creek?

Yes. The track is reached through the Bruce Road entrance to the Glenbrook area of Blue Mountains National Park, where a per-vehicle day entry fee applies.

Is Erskine Creek good for kids?

It's better suited to fit, confident walkers. The descent is steep and uneven, the climb out is hard work on a hot day, and the pools are deep with slippery edges.

Can you cross Erskine Creek and keep walking?

No. NPWS says the track beyond the creek is closed to walkers because the land is part of Sydney's protected water catchment.

More Swimming Spots Nearby

• Grey Hat Falls & Crayfish Pool: a shaded waterfall pool in the same Glenbrook section of the park.
• Jellybean Pool: Glenbrook's easiest wild swim, a short walk from the car.
• Red Hands Cave, Glenbrook: ancient hand stencils in the same part of the national park.
• Blue Mountains Swimming Guide: our roundup of the best waterfalls and swimming holes across the mountains.