Howes trail
Yengo National Park
Overview
Drive through open forests along Howes trail, a must-do 4WD touring route in Yengo National Park.
- Distance
- 30km one-way
- Time suggested
- 2hrs 30min
- Grade
- Hard
- Opening times
Howes trail is open at all times, but may have to close due to bad weather or fire danger.
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- This park is in a remote location, so please ensure you’re well prepared, bring appropriate clothing and equipment and advise a family member or friend of your travel plans.
- There's limited mobile reception in this park
Whether you’re keen to hit the road on a 4WD tour or explore nature at its best, scenic Howes trail offers an exhilarating day trip. Part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property, this beautiful car touring route traces the northern reaches of Yengo National Park, near Windsor.
The 30km driving route is also popular with motorbike and mountain bike riders. Howes trail is an easy 2.5 hour drive through open ironbark forests and for those interested in birdwatching. More than 200 species of birds call Yengo home, including raucous glossy black and gang gang cockatoos and the distinct call of the lyrebird.
Be sure to pack a picnic lunch and pull up along the road to enjoy the remote wilderness. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of wombats or wallaroos darting through the bush.
Map
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/4wd-touring-routes/howes-trail/local-alerts
Park info
- in Yengo National Park in the Sydney and surrounds and North Coast regions
Yengo National Park is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
The Big Yango precinct of the park is within locked gates and requires a permit to enter.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Howes trail .
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Howes trail is in the northern area of Yengo National Park. To get there:
- Travel south 25km along Putty Road from Bulga, where you’ll find the start of the trail just south of Howes Valley.
- The start of the trail is not clearly marked, so watch out for the red farm gate with the words 'fire trail' marked on it.
- You can also access the trail from the eastern side of the reserve from Laguna and Wollombi via Yango Creek Road, then Finchley track.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Yengo National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Try mountain bike-riding around the Mount Yengo loop trail.
Spring
Set up camp at either Blue Gums or Mountain Arm campground and enjoy the stunning spring wildflower display.
Summer
Great for 4WD touring, experience those amazing sunsets and spectacular views from Finchley lookout.
Winter
Make Big Yango House your base to explore the park, enjoy warm days on the veranda and chilly nights by the fireplace.
Maps and downloads
Permitted
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
You’re encouraged to bring gas or fuel stoves, especially in summer during the fire season.
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
If you're travelling through a national park or reserve on a public road you can have pets inside your vehicle. However, you must keep them inside your vehicle while driving through national parks or reserves. You must also comply with any conditions in the park’s plan of management, and you cannot stop to visit the park or use park facilities (unless for safety reasons, or to use publicly accessible toilets).
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Howes trail is in Yengo National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Amazing animal and birdlife
Yengo is home to a great diversity of wildlife, including around 50 species of mammals such as wombats, wallaroos, koalas and gliding possums, and over 200 species of birds. Watch out for the gang gang, yellow-tailed and glossy black cockatoos gliding between the treetops, or see if you can spot a lyrebird darting across bush tracks. Look closely at the steep rugged cliff faces found in the park as you might catch a glimpse of the endangered brush-tailed rock-wallaby.
- Yango walking track Yango walking track in Yengo National Park takes hikers through pristine wilderness, including rainforest, and offers outstanding views.
Ancient Aboriginal culture
Yengo National Park and the surrounding areas have been an important spiritual and cultural place for the Darkinjung and Wonnarua People for thousands of years. No wonder there are over 640 recorded Aboriginal cultural sites in the park and nearby areas. Creation stories recount that Biamie, the ancestral being, stepped off the flat top of Mount Yengo into the sky when he finished his creation. Today, Aboriginal stories and rock engravings connect us with the rich culture of this ancient land and its people.
- Finchley cultural walk An astonishing wealth of ancient Aboriginal rock art, as well as great insights into Aboriginal history, draws visitors to the Finchley cultural walk.
- Finchley lookout Finchley lookout offers spectacular views over this remote wilderness area and an insight into the Aboriginal cultural heritage of Yengo National Park.
- Wollombi Aboriginal culture tours and camps Immerse yourself in the world’s oldest living culture and visit important spiritual and cultural sites in and around Yengo National Park on tours with Wollombi Aboriginal Cultural Experiences and Consultancy.
Remote wilderness to discover
Yengo offers a range of activities and options for all ages. Unsealed tracks through remote valleys provide opportunities to explore the park on mountain bike or by 4WD. For bushwalkers, there are many options to experience the rugged beauty of the park on foot, with both short walks and overnight walks. In the Big Yango precinct, there are even opportunities for horse riding adventures.
- Big Yango loop trail Big Yango loop trail is a great activity for 4WD touring and mountain biking when staying at Blue Gums campground, Mountain Arm campground or Big Yango House in Yengo National Park.
- Howes trail Drive through open forests along Howes trail, a must-do 4WD touring route in Yengo National Park.
World Heritage wonders
Yengo National Park is one of the eight conservation areas that make up the massive Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property. Covering one million hectares, it was included in the World Heritage list in December 2000 for its remarkable geographic, botanic and cultural values. There are more than 90 different eucalypt species found here - some 13 per cent of all eucalypt species in the world.
- Howes trail Drive through open forests along Howes trail, a must-do 4WD touring route in Yengo National Park.
- Shepherds Gully circuit Step back in time on Shepherds Gully circuit. A short loop, it's ideal for bushwalkers looking for a quick adventure in Yengo National Park.