Copyright © Athletesworld, 2001. All rights reserved
Individual 2nd Bike: (M) James Nicholson - 1:59:00, 1998 (F) Jody Purcell
- 2:26:24, 1998
Team 2nd Bike: (M) Richard Bontjer - 1:39:09, 1999 (F) Kelli Robinson - 2:00:36 1999
Grade: H-X X
Distance: 40km one way
Road Conditions: Bicycle paths and gravel tracks.
Route: Lake Burley Griffin to Greenhills Pine Plantation, Coppins Crossing Road, Mt Stromlo, Duffy Pines, Cooleman Ridge
Map: Canberra Cycleways Map , route map
Starting Point: Acton Ferry Terminal.
Description:
Acton Ferry Terminal to Greenhills Pine Plantation (Dairy
Farmers Hill)
The second mountain bike course starts from the grassy area adjacent to Acton Ferry Terminal, and heads west along the cycle path. Follow the "Sri Chinmoy 10 km Run" course signs, veering right at the fork to head through the tunnel under Lawson Cres, and over "Hospital Hill." Veer right again to cross over Sullivan's Creek, and proceed straight past Black Mountain Peninsula. At Acacia Inlet (after the rowing jetty), turn right onto the cycle path leading to Belconnen, across Lady Denman Dr (watch for traffic) and underneath both Parkes Way and Caswell Dr.
Turn left off the cycle path onto the equestrian trail under William Hovell Dr, through the gate on the left with the sign, "Stock Grazing Within" (be sure to close this gate again!), and along the trail to the left, beside the Cork Oak Plantation. After passing through (and closing) a second "Stock Within" gate, go straight ahead across the main forest raod where it bends, onto the signles track leading into the forest. Follow this track across two lesser forest roads, then turn right at the next major forest road, heading uphill.
Turn left at the next T-junction, where the sign points to Dairy Farmer's Hill. Ignore the potential left veer shortly after this, and continue to the next T-junction, turning left again. This takes you up Dairy Farmer's Hill.
At the top, turn left into the lookout area, then left again onto another singles track heading down into the forest. After 30 metres, take the left hand at the fork, following this track all the way downhill. After crossing a main forest road, the track flattens out. Ignore all side tracks. Cross another main forest road, continuing into dense pines. This track dips, rises and meanders for a few kilometres, crossing three lesser forest roads. You will pass through "The Labyrinth," "Kowalski" and "Son of Kowalski" before turning right onto a main forest road. This will bring you to a T-junction under some power lines, where you turn left.
Climb over the 2nd gate on your right leading down onto Pipe Flat, following this road for about 3 kms alongside the Molonglo River until the next gate, bringing you to Coppins Crossing Road, where you turn left (downhill). Coppins Crossing marks the lowest altitudinal point of the entire course.
Turn right immediately after the causeway, through the car park, then left past the boulders, and left again over the horse logs, immediately right onto a small track leading to the road, which you follow to the left (uphill).
About 30 metres before reaching the bitumen road, turn right through an open gate, then immediately left at a fork in the road. This will lead you alongside Coppins Crossing Rd, ascending gradually, eventually veering off into the forest. At the top of a long, gradual climb, there is a 4-way intersection in the forest - turn right here, into a brisk descent. After the road starts to climb again, there is a 5-way intersection, where you take the second road from the left, heading once again uphill. At the top of this climb, you depart the road to climb a fence, and follow a rougher track which continues to climb steeply through dry eucalypts. After a brief descent, this track brings you around one gate and over another, to Uriarra Rd.
Cross over and go right for about 50 metres, then left through the gate on the other side, onto the dirt road heading straight up towards Mt Stromlo. There is another gate to be climbed. Turn right at the next T-junction, amidst pine trees. Atop the next main crest, turn left at a 4-way intersection, then almost immediately right, onto a more obscure track. This in turn begins to ascend, then comes yet another gate to climb, on the western side of Mt Stromlo. At the next fork in the track, turn left to head up a very steep climb towards the summit. Near the top of this climb, turn left (downhill) at a T-junction, then veer right onto a barely-discernable track strewn with pine needles, which skirts the summit of Mt Stromlo, and offers some of the prettiest views of the entire course: elevated pine-tree-framed glimpses of the whole Canberra region. Beware some fallen pine trees which lie across the course, and have to be climbed over.
After a short, steep rise and before reaching the bitumen road, turn left off this trail over a wire fence onto a tiny foot-track into the forest, which brings you to another 4-wheel drive track, where you turn left, heading downhill. Partway down this long descent, there is a sharp right hand hairpin turn, then a gate which can be skirted or climbed. Go straight through the 4-way intersection at the dip just above the Blue Gums; go straight again at a potential uphill fork; then veer right into the pines almost immediately afterwards. This will bring you, via another skirtable fence, to the Mt Stromlo road, where you turn left (downhill), then cross over Cotter Rd, and turn left onto a dirt track. After 100 metres on the right there is a gate to climb, then turn sharp right onto a fairly obscure track, which veers into the bush.
After going up a way and swinging to the left, veer right before the gateless posts, then veer left at the next absent gate onto a foot-track which skirts around the left side of a small dam. Turn right onto the next main dirt track after the fence, and follow this large track all the way around the back of Duffy Pines (a few kilometres). Do not take any of the potential left hand turns leading back into the forest.
This track passes twice beneath large powerlines, and heads gradually uphill back towards Rivett. Keep following the fenceline on your right. At one point the main track veers to the left away from the fenceline, but stay on the smaller track with the fenceline. Eventually you come to a fence in front of you with a step-stile of vertical logs. Continue following the track along the fenceline on your right, then beside Kathner St. At the intersection of Kathner St and Percy Cres, go straight onto and up the steep track leading to Cooleman Ridge.
Go left at the top, and all the way along Cooleman Ridge, behind Chapman. Veer left at the end of Cooleman Ridge (the base of Mt Arawang, with a large gum tree at 11 o'clock), then turn right at the cycle path, and left off the cycle path to cross over Namatjira Dr. Follow the dirt track on the other side, turning left at the next cycle path, following this cycle path to the changeover point beside Badimara St.
