Distance: 15.5 km
Time: 2 hours
Grade: Very Hard
Surface Type: 90% rough gravel tracks, 10% roads
Map reference: Canberra Cycleways Map
Route Map
Features: This is a very rough, very hard ride through some of the steepest country
outside the Brindabella Ranges. The tracks traverse through open grassy hills, which are
heavily timbered within the Nature Park boundaries and vary from smooth to extremely rough
and steep. The gravel makes riding and walking up the hills quite slippery. The effort is
rewarded by some of the best views in the area.
Note: Strongly recommend tyres with lots of tread, low gears, very good brakes and some practice climbing and descending very steep gravel tracks.
Route Description:
Rob Roy Range Nature Park is the most southerly Park, forming the peaks of the Rob Roy Range, which towers above the Tuggeranong suburbs of Conder and Banks. Access by bike to the start high on the Tuggeranong Hill ridge, which divides Theodore from Conder, is possible via the bike path network. Alternatively, take a car to the gate close to a large electricity transformer station at the top of Callister Crescent, Theodore.
The ride starts at a gate with a wooden "Dogs Prohibited" sign and a rough unformed track which heads steeply uphill and over a ridge to the east. The track ends at a gate on the right with a "Private" sign on it. Go through the gate and follow the track south across open paddocks before the first serious climb to the top of a spur (1.9km) overlooking the Monaro Highway and old Cooma rail line which marks the border with NSW.
The track continues until a gate and wooden sign is reached marking the entrance to the Rob Roy Range Nature Park (3.3km). Beyond the gate the character of the country changes to heavily timbered and rocky, with even steeper hills. After the gate take the track to the right for two kilometres until a rest spot with one of the best views is reached (5.2km). A short distance further the track descends to a junction (5.6km). Taking the right fork will cut about 5km from the ride but the rider will also miss reaching the peak of the Range. Heading straight ahead the track steepens until the summit is suddenly reached, marked by three concrete posts guarding the Rob Roy trig point (6.5km).
With the worst of the hills behind, the ride now starts to descend steeply until a high gate (with a "private" sign on it) on the southern edge of the Nature Park is reached (7.8km). Through the gate and 100m down the hill the track turns sharply right to follow the Nature Park fence line north west until the track divides (8.8km). Go right through the gate at a small dam, which leads back into the Nature Park for about 500m until it emerges at another gate and dam back onto open paddocks (9.3km).
The track now flattens out and fast riding is possible along the smooth formation. After 2km the track divides at a saddle overlooking the Tuggeranong suburbs (11.2km). Take the right fork which plunges steeply down a smooth track until a gate next to a huge water storeage tank, which leads back out into the suburb of Conder (13.0km).
The power lines leading to the electricity transformer station at the ride start can be seen on the horizon to the north east. Head towards them and turn right onto Templestowe Avenue and then right again onto Eaglemont Retreat. Follow the steep sealed maintenance track at the head end of the road for one last climb back to the start (15.5km).
The nearest refreshments can be found by descending about a kilometre along the bike paths through Theodore to the Theodore shops.