The Bridle Track is arguably the best place in NSW for dog friendly camping.
You can tackle the bridle track Starting from Bathurst of Hill End. Personally I like to end with a pub lunch in Sofala, for this video we started at Bathurst. You can see the full Bridle Track GPS Logged via the Explore Oz and Hema Maps below.
The start of the track is an easy 30 odd minutes out of Bathurst.
Is the Bridle Track open?
Yes, The Bridle Track is open. Not only is it open, but it was never closed.
There was a landslide at Monaghans Bluff in August 2010, the made it completely impassible for most vehicles. However you could always drive the accessible parts of the track and camp where you pleased. An alternate route to the Hill End side of the bluff was built via Root Hog Road, This contains a rocky river crossing that can become impassible after heavy rainfall.
In 2023 the Council built the Monaghans Bluff Bypass making it possible to drive the entire track from start to finish once again.
What kind of 4WD do you need for the Bridle Track?
To be perfectly honest you could easily drive the track in a high clearance 2WD. I drop my tyres to around that 25psi mark. While it could be driven at 40psi dropping the pressure makes for a far more comfortable drive and will take better care of the track.
Do I need a snorkel for The Bridle Track?
Certainly not. If you need a snorkel for this track odds are the water is flowing too fast to warrant taking a vehicle through. All the water crossings when sticking to the main track are well under 30cm deep.
If you opt to take the alternate route (from the days before the Monaghans Bluff Bypass was built) via Root Hog Road which will drop you approximately half way along the Bridle Track, the water can get a little deeper. Walk it first, but you'll probably be ok without a snorkel. If it's looking or feeling like the water might be a little higher, take the safe route unless you have a snorkel.
Do I have to pay or book to camp on The Bridle Track?
No, you don't need to pay or book. The Bridle Track is Crown Land and does not require any booking.
There are pre-determined camp grounds however there's nothing to stating that you must stay in them. There's a lot of private land around the Bridle Track, so be sure to keep off it. Most is fenced or signed.
How long does it take to drive the Bridle Track?
From start to finish you should be able to get from Bathurst to Hill End via the Bridle Track in 2-3 hours. If you'd really like to enjoy it and spend a few night's on the track i'd recommend 2-3 nights. Sofala is a cool town and you can easily spend a full day there alone, make this an addition to that 2-3 nights. The pub is Dog friendly and the Publican is always extremely welcoming of them.