Grade: S-X
Distance: 14km return to Gorge entrance
Road Conditions: Sealed roads to Gorge then gravel tracks.
Route: Ride from Queanbeyan town centre along Sutton Rd, cross the Molonglo River to Kowen Pine Forest, then to the Gorge and return.
Maps: Natmap 1: 100 000 Topographic Map of the Australian Capital Territory; Canberra 8727; Michelago 8726. Sketch map of area. For routes within the ACT see the Canberra Cycleways Map
Starting Point:Queanbeyan Olympic Pool. Add 20km each way if riding from central Canberra. A bicycle path runs from Lake Burley Griffin to Queanbeyan via Canberra Avenue.
Description:
From the Olympic pool proceed SE down Crawford St turning left into Monaro St. Continue along Monaro St, crossing the Queanbeyan River at a low level crossing. After negotiating two roundabouts take a left turn into Yass Rd which later becomes Sutton Rd after passing under the railway bridge and crossing the Molonglo River. After a few hundred metres turn right on to the road sign posted to Goulburn. A further kilometre there is a road to the right which is signed Kowen Pine Forest. This leads to the Gorge Reserve. The road is mostly sealed.
The Molonglo Gorge began to form about 400 million years ago when the land to the east of Queanbeyan was uplifted. WhiIe many of the rivers in the area were blocked in their westward paths by this movement, and collected in the basin which is now known as Lake George, the Molonglo was able to cut its way through the rising land to form a gorge.
The short ride to the outlet of the gorge may be followed by a six kilometre return walk through the gorge along a well defined path (not suitable for cycling). The area lies at the southern side of the Kowen Pine Forest, and if you are a more adventurous cyclist you may wish to explore the forest on the excellent network of quiet forestry roads. You can get drinking water and use the other picnic facilities at the western end of the gorge. The water in the Molonglo River has a heavy metal content from the old mines upstream at Captains Flat, and is unfit for human consumption.
The bottom of the gorge is one of the few places in the ACT where you can find the rare Bulloak. A member of the Casuarina family. It is remarkable for its seed cones, which although only a centimetre long are two to three centimetres across.
