Secret 4WD Only Waterfall - Exploring the Hampton State Forest - Low Range 4WDing Fun!

Chasing a real 4WD challenge with steep climbs, slippery descents, creek crossings, secret waterfalls — plus great places to camp and wet a line? Hampton State Forest delivers one of the most rewarding off-road adventures in the region. Just outside Hampton and not far from Oberon, Hampton State Forest is a maze of old logging trails and newer access roads, many of which are not beginner-friendly. Expect loose rock, deep ruts, clay climbs and constantly changing terrain that keeps you in low range for much of the day. That said, if you feel you’ve got the right level of off-road experience, get out there and have a go. Lower your tyre pressures, take your time, choose smart driving lines and enjoy the challenges these tracks offer. Just be aware that after rain, many of these hills become even more slippery and far more dangerous, so wet-weather attempts aren’t recommended. And keep in mind — if you do get into trouble out here, you may have a very difficult time getting out, or may need to be recovered, so always travel prepared. In this episode, we take on a 42km loop through the forest, starting high on the ridgelines before dropping sharply to the valley floor to meet the Fish River — one of the rare western-flowing rivers from the Blue Mountains. There are a handful of peaceful riverside clearings and calm edges where you can camp or cast a line, but unfortunately large sections on this side of the river are completely inaccessible due to heavy blackberry infestation, which is sad to see and makes exploring the banks difficult in places. We follow the river downstream before turning off into a small valley that shelters a beautiful 4WD-only waterfall. It’s not hidden far away — just tucked neatly between the hills — and it even has a fantastic campsite right beside it, making it a perfect spot for lunch, a swim, or an overnight stay. After a refreshing dip beneath the falls, we continue deeper into the trail network. From here, we explore a little further along the Fish River before returning the way we came back towards Bonfire Hill. While you can continue further along these tracks, one eventually ends at a massive locked gate, and the other climbs over huge rock steps that weren’t suitable for the BT-50 — so for this trek, we did not head up that way. We then ascend back towards Bonfire Hill, the same mountaintop where we filmed our 4WD-only camping trip overlooking the entire district. We swing around the back of the hill to the well-known four-way intersection, where tracks split to the summit of Bonfire Hill, back towards our starting point, or further into the forest — and today, we keep exploring. A steep rutted and loose descent drops us into a narrow valley where we cross a creek… and then cross that same creek seven more times as we wind our way up toward Mt Bindo (1363m), taking on a loose, rocky climb that demands careful tyre placement and good traction. The trek finishes with a relaxed run along easy forestry roads, rolling out to the Jenolan Caves Road / Oberon turn-off rest area, marking the end of a full day of low-range adventure, valley views, hidden gems, and plenty of spots to camp or throw in a line along the way. Before You Attempt a Trek Like This — Be Prepared Tracks like these in Hampton State Forest are no place for a lightly equipped vehicle. At an absolute minimum, you’ll want A/T (All Terrain) tyres — H/T (Highway Terrain) tyres simply won’t cut it out here. You’ll also need a way to air down to at least 24psi (and lower may be required depending on conditions), and just as importantly, a way to reinflate your tyres when you’re done. Carry essential recovery gear: soft shackles, a snatch strap, and recovery boards if it’s been raining. While a winch isn’t required, the golden rule applies — don’t drive down anything you don’t think you can get back up. These tracks can turn serious very quickly. And remember: you attempt any of the treks we show in our videos entirely at your own risk — so prepare well, drive smart, and enjoy the adventure safely. *Obviously the video thumbnails are an AI generation and not real. If you would like to read more about this weekend 4WD escape, see the route map, you can click here: https://bit.ly/4rBgQWR Don’t forget to like, subscribe and hit the bell to follow more of our adventures! Link to our website: https://www.roaming-oz.com Want to support the channel? Buy US a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/roaming.oz.a... INDEX 00:00 Introduction 02:23 Starting our exploring of Hampton State Forest 03:51 First side track exploration and Low Range fun 10:12 Back to the main track 15:30 Fish River 16:56 Secret Waterfall, Campsite & Lunch 17:56 Fish River Campsite 21:52 Driving around the back of Bonfire Hill for more exploring 26:23 Heading back into the Hampton State Forest - Lots of creek crossings 29:31 Starting our ascent up to the top of Mt Bindo - Low Range action 33:46 Summit of Mt Bindo 35:25 Finishing the trek