Grade: S-XX
Distance: 26 km return.
Road Conditions: Sealed all the way with light traffic.
Route: A ride from Queanbeyan town centre south along Cooma Rd to the dam and
return.
Maps: Natmap 1: 100 000 Topographic Map of the Australian Capital Territory; Canberra 8727; Michelago 8726. Route from Canberra to Googong. For routes within the ACT see the Canberra Cycleways Map. A useful map showing the main trail around Googong Dam can be found at the Environment ACT web site
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 ride into Crawford St, then right at Monaro St. Take the next left into Lowe St, which swings around to the right and becomes the Cooma Road. The turn-off to the dam is a further six kilometres from the edge of town. The Googong Dam was built on the Queanbeyan River in the late 1970s by the National Capital Development Commission to meet Canberra's projected water needs in the future. You can fish there. The dam and foreshores are managed by Environment ACT and information is available at the visitors centre there. You will experience a steady climb out of Queanbeyan on your outward journey, and then out of the dam site on the return trip.