20 April 2016

What are your favourite Canberra walking trails?

| Lisa Martin
Join the conversation
21
mount taylor

Canberra is blessed with a multitude of walking trails – some only minutes from the city centre offering spectacular views.

I’m a big fan of hiking and I’ve spent many an afternoon after work or weekend morning hiking the trails of the mountains around Canberra. I love being able to enjoy the great outdoors while also getting in some exercise – especially when it’s a beautiful sunny day.

Most of the time there aren’t many people around on my hikes so you get to enjoy the fresh air, views and quiet to yourself. You might even spot some wildlife.

Being a northsider, Mt Ainslie is my “local”, and Mt Majura is also not far away, but I have started to branch out over the past few months to get further afield and see the different sides of Canberra.

One of my favourites is Gibraltrar Peak in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. I recently went up Mt Taylor (pictured) for the first time and really enjoyed the walk – spending a fair bit of time up there on a sunny Sunday morning going up a few of the trails. I went up there via the Waldock Street carpark but it looked like there was a lot of other trails from various locations on the southside. Looking at one of the information boards at the summit, I realised there’s a lot of mountains throughout the Canberra district that I have yet to try.

I’d like to know what is your favourite walking trail or hike in the Canberra district? What mountain should I hike next?

Join the conversation

21
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

ghutch said :

Gee whizz tuff one. Have alook at some of our walks
http://melbashed.com/?page_id=1924
Yes I like Mt Ainslie it gots heaps of options. If you can find the 2 quarries you know you made it walking around Mt Ainslie. For Mt Majura youve got to find the Majura Stone Wall. Black Mountain you have got to find its quarry. Red Hill youve got to find the Stone Circle

Found the Stone Circle!

[img]http://imgur.com/nhkDzYE[/img]

Holden Caulfield10:56 am 25 May 15

timesup said :

Through the Botanic Gardens and out the back gate onto Black Mountain is gorgeous, there is a trail that is easy to follow. You’d never know how close to the city you are!

I’m a big fan of Black Mountain too. It’s good on foot or on MTB and, yes, so close to the city.

When on foot I like to take the summit trail and then about 3/4s the way up there’s a loop trail that gives you a 360° view of Canberra.

It takes about 60-70 mins (starting from behind CSIRO, Firth Rd access) to do the climb to the top and the loop as well. Take about 25 mins off if you don’t want to do the loop.

Roksteddy said :

I consider Booroomba Rocks a must-do walk. Bang for your buck. So close to Canberra, not all that difficult and the views on a clear day are spectacular.

Apart from that, walk anywhere in Namadgi and you’ll find somewhere special. The Granite Tors walk (Lunar Laser Rocks) is a particular favourite of mine. I’ve rolled the sleeping bag out up there and woken to an amazing sunrise over Orroral Valley.

If you are heading up to Booroomba Rocks – Can I just issue a caution for the drive up? I was riding up to Apollo Road to Honeysuckle Campground last weekend when I heard a strange sound coming my way, it wasn’t a car, a motorbike or a bunch of other cyclists – I came around a blind corner when a bunch of 5 people were absolutely flying down on street luges, these guys were flat on their back and going pretty damn quick. I stuck to the edge of the road as much as I could in fear of them losing control and taking me out. So please take care when driving up this road, you never know what will be flying down the other way.

1967 said :

Get out there and enjoy those hills.Most other city folk in Australia would kill for something like this.
The tracks and roads on Waniassa hills are my local (and almost daily) outing.
I can be on the summit of Mt Waniassa and back home in an hour and forty, and get that sense of remoteness and spectacular views almost from the time I walk out the door.
Of course, just at the moment, it’s best not to be up on the hills between, say 5pm and 7am, and certainly not dressed in anything that could see you mistaken for a macropod……

But that’s another story.

My favourite also but I haven’t seen the eagles that were nesting on the Northern side for some tim.

I consider Booroomba Rocks a must-do walk. Bang for your buck. So close to Canberra, not all that difficult and the views on a clear day are spectacular.

Apart from that, walk anywhere in Namadgi and you’ll find somewhere special. The Granite Tors walk (Lunar Laser Rocks) is a particular favourite of mine. I’ve rolled the sleeping bag out up there and woken to an amazing sunrise over Orroral Valley.

Through the Botanic Gardens and out the back gate onto Black Mountain is gorgeous, there is a trail that is easy to follow. You’d never know how close to the city you are!

I’m surprised no one has mentioned Molonglo Gorge. Hard but scenic. Try to go when the steam train is running on the other side. I have yet to make it to Blue Tiles but maybe next time. Also get thick ice on the river on frosty mornings.

bikhet said :

I enjoy walking the streets, walking paths, and shared paths of the suburbs around where I live. Sort of like a flâneur. Gives a much better appreciation of the area than passing through in a car, or even on a bicycle. It’s particularly good in spring or autumn when you can appreciate what is going on in the gardens. Or after rain when you can smell the plants.

Not as adventurous as the trails around the hills and mountains, but it has it’s own attractions.

Great post, you made me smile and feel that I should slow down and appreciate stuff more.

I enjoy walking the streets, walking paths, and shared paths of the suburbs around where I live. Sort of like a flâneur. Gives a much better appreciation of the area than passing through in a car, or even on a bicycle. It’s particularly good in spring or autumn when you can appreciate what is going on in the gardens. Or after rain when you can smell the plants.

Not as adventurous as the trails around the hills and mountains, but it has it’s own attractions.

Aragornerama11:37 am 23 May 15

Camel’s Hump at Tidbinbilla. Not an easy walk, but spectacular scenery. There was a riotact story on it last year: http://the-riotact.com/camels-hump-almost-walk-review/122335.

wildturkeycanoe6:44 am 23 May 15

Long ago I was camping at the Cotter camping ground and discovered a trail on the other side of the river. I followed it, with it’s neat little bridges and things to make access easier, to eventually find it led to a cave. Although the cave has been barred to prevent entry, I was surprised to find it even existed and the information board explained the history of the site and the area nicely. Apparently there are more caves as well, not accessible, and even old tracks from the mines visible. It’s a decent walk and very picturesque.

Gee whizz tuff one. Have alook at some of our walks
http://melbashed.com/?page_id=1924
Yes I like Mt Ainslie it gots heaps of options. If you can find the 2 quarries you know you made it walking around Mt Ainslie. For Mt Majura youve got to find the Majura Stone Wall. Black Mountain you have got to find its quarry. Red Hill youve got to find the Stone Circle

1967 said :

Get out there and enjoy those hills.Most other city folk in Australia would kill for something like this.
The tracks and roads on Waniassa hills are my local (and almost daily) outing.
I can be on the summit of Mt Waniassa and back home in an hour and forty, and get that sense of remoteness and spectacular views almost from the time I walk out the door.
Of course, just at the moment, it’s best not to be up on the hills between, say 5pm and 7am, and certainly not dressed in anything that could see you mistaken for a macropod……

But that’s another story.

Ha! Part of the reason for my ride last weekend was to do a bit of a scout for possible mid week camp spots (leave home at 9pm, ride to camp spot, set up camp with a nice whisky, sleep, make some cooked oats + camp coffee and continue into work the next day), Wanniassa Hills was high on the list of potential spots… until I saw the sign that alerted me of the shooting going on.

The scouting continues.

Get out there and enjoy those hills.Most other city folk in Australia would kill for something like this.
The tracks and roads on Waniassa hills are my local (and almost daily) outing.
I can be on the summit of Mt Waniassa and back home in an hour and forty, and get that sense of remoteness and spectacular views almost from the time I walk out the door.
Of course, just at the moment, it’s best not to be up on the hills between, say 5pm and 7am, and certainly not dressed in anything that could see you mistaken for a macropod……

But that’s another story.

ChrisinTurner9:18 am 22 May 15

Yerrabi Track in Namadgi National Park is my favourite. Google for brochure.

If you want a challenge, Mt Rob Roy.

Also, so a search on this site, there was a link to a site called Johnny s walks or something similar. Quite a bit of detail on local walks.

I have written about the Mt Taylor walking trails on Wikipedia (uncredited): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Taylor_%28Australian_Capital_Territory%29

Last saturday I was dropped off at Stromlo for a quick MTB ride and then I had to ride back to where I am living at the moment in Gilmore, I would say 95% of that ride back was on dirt trails.

– Cooleman Ridge walking trail has a lot of options leading off the main firetrail. You can even hop on and do a section of the Canberra Centenary Trail. Great views out to the Brindabellas can be had here.
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/494958/Cooleman-Ridge-Nature-Trail.pdf

– Mt Taylor, as mentioned is a gold mine for walking trails. Obviously you can head up the hill, but there are a number of smaller tracks around the base. More so closer to the Parkway side.

– Farrer Ridge, quite a small pocket of trails – the section close to Yamba Drive has some beautiful native gum trees. After or before you can grab a nice coffee at Fox and Bow at the Farrer shops.

– Isaacs Ridge, quite steep if you are wanting to hike to the top. You will get views of the Woden Valley but also out towards the airport etc. Some dense pine forest in parts will make you forget how close to civilisation you are.

– Wanniassa Hills, I haven’t explored too much of this area, but from what I have seen so far it is quite nice. A lot of rabbits though.
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/390604/cnpmapwanniassahills.pdf

Kambah Pool to Pine Island or Tuggeranong is a point to point walk, you can even extend it to Point Hut Crossing.

We aren’t short of places to get away from it all. It is beautiful out there.

Dame Canberra9:50 am 21 May 15

Mount Taylor is a favourite of mine too.

I’m also a fan of the Gibraltar Peak trail, the Mount Painter track at the back of Cook (really great views of Canberra), the Cooleman Ridge fire trail along the top of Chapman and the trail from Kambah Pool to Pine Island (there’s a really nice point somewhere in the middle, Red Rocks Gorge, which is stunning).

I’ve been looking for some more walking trail inspiration recently, so hopefully this thread can provide a few new routes 🙂

I always enjoy the Square Rock walk in Namadgi NP (http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/404603/Square-Rock-accessible.pdf), but there’s so many many more.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.