Distance: 7 km approx
Time: 45 minutes
Grade: Easy/Medium
Surface Type: 20% bitumen, 80% gravel maintenance tracks, 0% unformed paths
Map reference: Canberra Cycleways Map (2nd
Edition) page 17
Route Map
Features: A pleasant ride along mostly well maintained trails along the flanks of
Mt Taylor, through open grassland, with extensive views over Central Canberra, Woden,
Tuggeranong and the Murrumbidgee Valley. Mostly easy going apart from one steep climbs.
Route Description:
The Ride starts where the major bike path crosses Waldock Street at the edge of Chifley, next to a small telecommunications tower. Head along the bike path towards Mt Taylor for 300 metres until it comes to the road, then go left along the road which heads u phill for a further half a kilometre until a gate and squeeze into the reserve is reached on the left (0.7 km).
Enter the reserve and follow the gravel track as it turns right towards the hill and a huge water reservoir (1.0km). A steep dirt track leads away from the left side of the reservoir, and quickly flattens out as it reaches the ridge. Continue to the first break in the trees (1.3 km) to catch the extensive views of Black Mountain and the Telstra Tower to the north, to Woden town centre, Woden Valley Hospital, the distant Mount Ainslie to the east and the suburbs of O’Malley and Isaacs below the pine forested Isaacs Ridge to the south east.
The smooth dirt track continues south east as it climbs above the houses up the flanks of Mt Taylor. A footpath with hundreds of carefully built steps to the summit is passed at 1.8 km and a smaller water tank at 2.6 km, until a gate on the right is reached (3.0 km) just before the track sweeps downhill to the left towards Athllon Drive and the Farrer Ridge Ride. Go through the squeeze next to the gate and climb 100 metres to the ridge crest. A concrete path to the summit leads off to the right, with views to the south across Tuggeranong, the Tuggeranong town centre next to Lake Tuggeranong, and the Namadgi National Park far to the south. To the west a treeless ridge can be seen to the north of the town centre and just beyond the houses. This is Urambi Hills Nature Park. The track descends steeply until a fork (3.3 km), which leads off to the right along the flanks of the hill and under some electricity lines. Follow this track as it undulates along the hill side and take the left fork at 4.2 km, where the track leaves the power lines and plunges down towards Sulwood Drive. Follow this track for 500 metres along the edge of a huge stormwater drain until the drain disappears through a steel grill into a tunnel (4.7 km). A path downhill to a gate next to Sulwood Drive will connect with the Cooleman Ridge Ride 2.7km across the valley. Our Ride turns right and follows the power lines back up the hill towards a high ridge in the distance. A 300 metre testing climb takes the rider to the ridge (5.3km), with views back towards Black Mountain and the Telstra Tower.
After a rest at the ridge, the track sweeps downhill along the power line easement until it swings sharply right (6.1 km) and ends at a gate and squeeze onto Waldock Street (6.3 km). A short return ride down Waldock Street and right onto the bike path brings the ride back to the start.