CORIN DAM FROM WESTON PARK

Grade: L-XXX

Distance: 105km or 125km return

Road Conditions: Bicycle paths through Canberra, then quiet rural roads out to Corin (more traffic at weekends). Lots of steep and challenging hills.

Route: There are two usual ways to get to Corin Dam - either via Point Hut Crossing or via the Cotter Reserve. From both of these points there is some pretty heavy climbing to get to and from the dam. You can make a round trip of it by going one way and returning the other.

Map: Canberra Cycleways Map and 1:100 000 Topographic Map of the Australian Capital Territory.

Starting Point:Weston Park, Yarralumla.

Description:

To get to Point Hut Crossing either follow the “Point Hut Crossing Ride”; if you're going via the Cotter Reserve follow the “Casuarina Sands and Cotter Reserve Ride”. From Point Hut Crossing continue west to the Tidbinbilla Rd and then turn right. The Corin Dam Rd, which is well signposted, is off to the left about six kilometres from here.

Alternatively, from the Cotter Reserve, take Paddys River Rd for about 16 km south to the Corin Dam turn-off - there are quite a few ups and downs to get to this point. There is a big climb from the turn-off to just before the dam.

The dam lies high in the mountains to the west of Canberra, and is the largest of the three dams on the Cotter River which provide Canberra with its water supply. The ride is a long and challenging one, and low gears are definitely needed. There are several cattle grids on the route and there is a possibility of black ice or snow on Corin Dam Rd. Energetic riders are compensated for their efforts by riding through beautiful wet sclerophyll forest teeming with wildlife and by glorious views. Points of interest include:

• Gibraltar Falls and Woods Reserve are both picnic areas on the Gibraltar Creek with barbecue and toilet facilities. Gibraltar Falls may be spectacular following recent rain in the catchment area.
• Corin Ski Resort is a very small ski run based on artificial snow making (winter only) and an interesting downhill slide which is open all year. The resort is near Smokers Gap and is the only spot on the ride past the Cotter where you can buy food.
• Smokers Gap is the highest point on the Corin Dam Road (1244 m above sea level), and represents the top of a 680 m climb from Point Hut Crossing. The open swampy flats in the area are definitely subalpine in character. In winter snow often lies on the ground here for several weeks.
• Corin Dam. The ubiquitous toilets and barbecues are located at the western end of the dam wall, Looking south from the dam wall Mount Bimberi and Mount Gingera (1911m and 1857 m) are visible, while to the north the river runs between Mount Franklin and the Tidbinbilla Range.

More information about the Murrumbidgee River in the ACT