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Gutterball @ Oxford Falls


Rob's picture

By Rob - Posted on 20 August 2008

Recently someone posted a ride at Oxford Falls and I commented that riding Gutterball was illegal. This is the very steep chute at the East end of Morgan Road Firetrail if you don't know it, or know it by another name.

Well, since then I have found a proper overlay of the National Park boundaries and stand corrected. The Eastern edge of the National Park boundary ends before the marked firetrail and thus NPWS have no jurisdiction over the trail we know as Gutterball.

Now - I'm not here to comment on the legality of this - but what I am saying it's appears to be outside the National Park so NPWS rangers should have no control over what you do there - least it is according to the data from Geoscience Australia (which is a government body so should know what they are on about).

dreggsy's picture

ANY Singletrack in the Oxford falls area is illegal to ride on at the moment.
Please stay off these trails.
The only "legal" place to ride there is the DH / Freeride areas.

Rob's picture

It is true to say that any single track area within National Park is illegal (unless the Regional Manager has used his discretion to allow it as has happened in parts of Royal, The Oaks, etc), but my point is that Gutterball is not inside the park.

In the same way Nursery Rhymes, Power Lines, Lizard Rock and the DH area are also not inside the park.

Now as I said, I cannot comment on the legality of these, but as they are outside National Park so as far as I know NPWS have no right to fine you for being on them.

Of course the XC loop, Deep Creek, road to no-where, etc, etc. are in the park and you should stay away from them. NPWS have erected signs to point this out. As we've said before, please leave the signs alone - if they get trashed NPWS will just waste more of our tax payer $$$ installing new ones.

As is becoming my mantra - if you don't like what is happening here do something about it and tell your local member.

Nick R's picture

how anyone rides down Gutterball anyway given the gradient, trees and deep erosion. When I discovered it the other day trying to link Morgan Road firetrail with Wakehurst Parkway it was mostly hike-a-bike but then I was one a hardtail so long travel bikes and full body armour guys may have a different perspective. Would be good if there was a legal, easier way to connect Morgan Road with Wakehurst Pkway.

goatman's picture

It's fine, should try the track that runs off the right of it after the first little rock garden.

Rob glad to hear this out of the Nazi Parks juristiction!!

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