Twister (mistakenly refered to as "Sheep dip by the guide book and some tour opperators) is a great fun little canyon. A good easy day trip invovles doing Twister and then continuing down the first half of Rocky Creek canyon (While the second half of Rocky Creek canyon is spectacularly beautiful the many long cold swims take a bit of the fun out of it, especially if your coming back up the canyon.
But while these are two relatively easy canyons in a very popular area the exit points can be tricky to spot and this has lead to various rescues and a recent fatality so care must be taken.
There are two main spots where people seem to get into trouble.
The first is where the Twister exit comes out onto the Rocky Creek track. As it comes out of the canyon it continues down the valley until it runs into another valley running left to right. After crossing the creek, either by ballancing across a log or by going down beside the log, there is an obvious track leading downstream to the right. This leads down into Rocky Creek.
The track also continues to the left but this is less obvious because a couple of big logs obscure the trail, by steping over the logs the exit track will become clear again. This is not a problem coming up out of Rocky creek as it is the most obvious way to go.
The second place people have trouble is at the bottom of the hill that lead back up to the car park. While parties coming down the Rocky Creek track normally have the sence to have a good look at this spot on the way down to remember it on the way back people coming in on the Twister track do not have this opertunity.
As you come up the creek the valley narrows in, the track is now on the left hand side of the creek and a steep hill dotted with fern tree runs down on the left almost to the creek. Due to the sparse undergrowth the track is a bit hard to pick but it follows the creek a bit father then swings up to the left, again it is obscured by fallen logs but if you look there is a divot in the half rotten log where the track crosses it. Once over the log the track swings back around left before turning up the steep hill.
Note that if you miss this exit the track continues up the creek and there is a second exit further upstream. Last I ventured up this way, about 3-4 years ago, the exit point was marked by arrow engraved on a tree and on the right hand cliff face.
This track is steep and scrambly as is twists up through the cliff line and will bring you up on the right hand side, looking up, of the ridge that leads back to the car park. Many luckless people have found their way up this track only to then turn right, away from the car park, and get themselves even more hopelessly lost.
So remember take care, no matter of experienced you are or how "easy" the trip seems this is a dangerous game we play.
Twister Canyon
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