Cattlewater Pass - what's the track like??

John,

If you don't get an answer from "those around Alice Springs area", do a search on Cattlewater. There have been at least 4 threads on this subject in the last few months.

From my point of view you should have no problems with that rig [roviding you're careful and drive to the conditions. There's only one steep rocky section going north but it's not impossible.

John T,

Last Dec we towed a camper trailer (Jayco Dove Outback) from Ross river to Gemtree via Pinnacle track instead of Cattlewater Pass track. Took about 4 hours.Pinnacle Track isn't particularly hard just slow going. I was told the Cattlewater Pass is harder or slower going than Pinacle track.

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Gday,
A mate went out there about 4 weeks ago and said is was pretty good. But we just had rain from at least Alice to Finke over the weekend and heard it bucked down around Aileron last Friday.
The forcast is for more rain over the next week or so.
Id see what the weather does between now and then. Unless we get heaps you shouldnt have a drama.

Cheers

Been down both in the last week and i would not take a high van down cattlewater due to fact that on the plenty hwy side there are deep wash outs that the track trys to go around. But are on a steep slope that a van could easily slip into but if your very experienced and not on your own you could give it a go the track gets heaps better about 30ks down where a grader has been doing work. After you go up the pinnicle and onto the plenty hwy you could go down about 4 ks to the gem fields (free camp) and leave the van there and go have a look down cattlewater theres a german guy there living in a bus he would look after your rig no worries and even show you how to fosick. (hes a good guy) The pinnicle track is heaps safer Cheers Tony ps dont waste $70 on gemtree gem tour buy a seive in alice and go yourself. PM me if your keen and i will explain how to do it in 2 min over the phone

As long as there isn't much rains, you should be right with that rig. The steeper stony section wont be a problem. It's not that steep. The more difficult bit will be a little closer to Gemtree where the track gets sort of narrow and a bit overgrown and kind of confused with a creek bed.. This section isn't very long and you will get through it OK as long as the creek bit hasn't risen too much. I have never done it after significant rain so don't know what it would do. There's a good overnight campspot at N 23. 08.085 E134.33.94. Just next to a big red rock face which looks nice in the photos. About halfway between Arltunga and Gemtree.

John


We dragged our Trak Shak thru there in 06, ( the other way ) ,, no probs at all.

One "slightly challenging", spot but rest is OK ,,but your Patrol will shyte it in ( especially if you drop your tyre pressures to 20 psi )

Make sure that it hasn't been raining before hand though, of it could be interesting !

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Cheers Mate

Bucky