Grade: M-XXX
Distance: 58km + 1900m climb. Add 120km to get from Canberra to Corin Dam and return
Road Conditions: The track up Stockyard Spur is not exactly rideable (but it's very well defined and walkable). The track on the top of the spur is fair going; once on the Mt Franklin Rd the surfaces are excellent.
Route: A 550m scramble from the dam wall to the top of Stockyard Spur, then a relatively easy ride on good firetrails back to the dam.
Maps: 1: 25 000 Cotter Dam, Rendezvous Creek.
Starting Point: Corin Dam.
Description:
This ride features a great walk up the side of the Stockyard Spur. Pryors Hut and the arboretum is an interesting spot. Walk to the top of Mt Gingera if you're feeling inspired (good views to the south west). Magic forest and gullies, great views to the east from the track. Some nice long descents.
Park at Corin Dam and start to go upward at the West end of the dam wall (662659) (the track start isn't too obvious but it is very clear once you're on it - don't give up, the first few hundred metres are by far the steepest!). Head West and up - the track becomes relatively flat and ok to ride at about 645659. From here follow the track in a more or less SW direction and meet the Mt Franklin Rd at 614636, turn S and find Pryors Hut and the arboretum at 611629. Proceeding S (you can stop off and climb Mt Gingera from 615619), you come across the turn-off to Leura Gap (624547) after about 12km. Stick to the main track and at the bottom of the hill (649539) turn left onto the Cotter Hut Rd and begin to head N.
The road crosses the Cotter River at 654544, but soon leaves the Cotter and takes you up De Salis Creek before dropping into the Orroral Valley. At 712588 turn left to cross the Orroral River (728612) and pick up Smokers Trail. Smokers Trail climbs up to Smokers Flat and after taking you through Gibraltar Creek Pine Forest it comes out on the Corin Rd near to the Ski Resort. Turn left and the Dam is an easy eight kilometres along the bitumen.
Note: It would not be advisable to do this ride in the reverse direction. It is difficult to find the start of the track from the top of Stockyard Spur to Corin Dam. You could be in big trouble if you had problems on the ride and were forced to find your way down Stockyard Spur in the dark.