General Description: This area lies in the Namadgi National Park in the southern part of the ACT. There are not a large number of tracks but the spectacular scenery makes this a good mountain biking area. In its lower reaches the Naas River flows through the Naas River Valley and is a steep, heavily treed gully enclosed by the Clear and Booth Ranges. Upstream in the Boboyan Valley, by comparison, it is flat and open with the tracks affording wonderful views of, and access to, some of the highest peaks in the ACT such as Mts Gudgenby and Kelly. There is a Namadgi National Park visitors information centre just south of Tharwa which is a good source of information on the Park, the wildlife and places of interest as well as conditions of roads, tracks, etc.
Maps: Williamsdale, Michelago, Colinton, Yaouk (1:25 000). The Environment ACT map of Namadgi National Park.
Getting There: Access is through the southern Canberra 'town' of Tuggeranong and the village of Tharwa. There is a very good quality bitumen road for about 30 km past Tharwa, after which it peters out into a very often poor quality dirt road to the NSW border and beyond. There is no public transport to this area.
Suggested Starting Points: Naas is a good starting point for rides in the northern part of the Naas Valley or for longer rides in the Valley. Glendale Crossing and the Boboyan Pine Forest are ideal places to start in the centre of the area while the Mt Clear Campground is the place to set off from in the south.
Road Conditions: For the most part this is not an area for fast mountain biking. The track up the lower part of the Naas Valley is often steep and rough and there are numerous river crossings. The tracks up to the top of the Clear Range are steep! Several of the tracks in the open part of the valley, while relatively flat, tend to be overgrown or boggy making it slow going.
Suggested Roads: Naas Valley and Sams Creek Fire Trails. Unnamed fire trails along the top of the Clear Range and through Brandy Flat. The Old Boboyan Rd.
Special Features: Aboriginal paintings (Yankee Hat). Ride/climb combinations such as Mt Gudgenby and Mt Kelly. Horse Gully Hut. Magnificent forest in the Naas Valley. Great views from the top the Clear Range.
Land Tenure: Most of the area is in the ACT Namadgi National Park. The land in the north of the Naas Valley is rural lease and on top of the Clear Range is privately owned.
Water Availability: There is generally water year-round in the Naas Creek.
Warnings: The road to the Mt Clear campground from the end of the bitumen gets very slippery in wet weather and can be difficult for some two-wheeled vehicles at any time of the year.
Places to Camp: Mt Clear campground is an official Namadgi National Park Campsite. Bush camping is allowed elsewhere. Horse Gully Hut is a favourite overnight spot. There is another good quality hut at Brandy Flat.