The Coxs River is one of the most celebrated trout streams in central New South Wales, winding more than 100 kilometres from Ben Bullen State Forest north of Lithgow down to Lake Burragorang in the Blue Mountains National Park south of Katoomba. Named after surveyor William Cox — who famously fell from his horse while crossing it on his first day of work in November 1814 — this perennial river is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment and draws anglers from Sydney and beyond, sitting within roughly two hours' drive of the city. The river passes through a diverse landscape of bushy granite gorges, open sandy pools adjacent to farming land, and deep wilderness sections accessible only on foot. Near Lithgow, willow and blackberry infestations can make casting challenging in places, though anglers can generally work around these obstacles. In the lower reaches, she-oaks dominate the riparian zone, providing better access to the water's edge. The Kowmung River and Jenolan River both flow into the lower Coxs River within the boundaries of Blue Mountains National Park, adding to the system's richness and complexity.