Grade: M-XXX
Distance: 32km + 1200m climb return. Add about 120km to get from Canberra to Mt Clear campsite via Tharwa and return
Road Conditions: For the most part good quality fire trails. The descent from the top of Mt Clear is steep and badly eroded in parts so take it easy. If it's been raining some of the crossings of the Naas Creek can be a little deep and some of the mud patches on the track can be hiding large holes!
Route: A climb through great eucalypt country to the top of Mt Clear and return
Maps: 1: 25 000 Colinton, Bredbo. Environment ACT map of Namadgi National Park
Starting Point: Mt Clear campsite.
Description:
This is a beautiful ride on the S border of the ACT. It features some great open forest, idyllic alpine meadows, very special views from the top of Mt Clear and a bit of a look at the wonderful Naas Valley. The ride as described is an anti-clockwise circuit - this involves a few long gradual climbs and a fun steep (brakes on!) downhill stretch from the top of Mt Clear. Doing the ride in the opposite direction would also be good - the climb would be hard work but the downhills would be long and fast.
The ride features great variation of country - excellent forest in the Naas Valley, through alpine meadows to great open views from the top of Mt Clear. From the top you can look E across the Murrumbidgee Valley to the Tinderries (Bredbo is just below you) or W to the peaks on the Bimberi, Brindabella and Scabby Ranges (especially good views of Gudgenby). Horse Gully Hut is in a beautiful location and is in very good condition.
Heading out of the campground turn left (SE) down to Grassy Creek. Just over the Creek (816287) head S on the track which is signposted to Mt Clear (this track is not marked on the Colinton map but is on the Bredbo one). This takes you through some lovely open forest and a magnificent meadow called 'The Long Flat' to a track junction at 845231 which happens to be just about the southernmost point in the ACT. Head N from here; after climbing up the first small stretch you can turn left off the main track at the fence (852234) and keep to the ridge top without going through the gate (this way you avoid a bit of a climb). At 853244 the track meets up with the Mt Clear Range Fire Trail - take the road up from here sticking to the top of the ridge. The climb to the top is relatively easy - the views are good!
From the top it's a steep, rough descent for a couple of kilometres. At 882303 head left off the main track (this turn-off is a bit vague but is on top of the small ridge just before the frost hollow). This takes you alongside Left Hand Creek to 881327 to a track junction that isn't marked on the Colinton map. Head W down across Left Hand Creek and through some nice spur and gully country until you come out next to Horse Gully Hut at 865334. From here it's a straightforward ride of about eight kilometres back to the cars - through quite a few saddles and some wet crossings of Naas Creek.
Note: One vital link in the circuit is not shown on the 1:25 000 series map - this is about 1 to 2 km of track between Left Hand Creek and Horse Gully Hut. However, this is shown on the Environment ACT map of Namadgi National Park.