Grade: M-XX
Distance: 35km + 1100m climb return.
Road Conditions: For the most part excellent fire trails. One steep short rough descent. One shallow creek crossing..
Route: A pleasant circuit within Lowden Forest Park
Maps: 1: 25 000 Bendoura, Bombay. Sketch map of approach route.
Starting Point: Lowden Forest Park
Description:
This ride is a little gem - it is a very good ride for fit cyclists who want to try their hand at mountain biking and is within easy reach of Canberra. Not too long, good surfaces, no demanding climbs, big variation in forest types and the start and finish at Lowden Forest Park which is a beautiful, but little known, picnic spot. (Lowden Forest Park is situated in the Tallaganda State Forest not far from Hoskinstown/Captains Flat.)
Lowden Forest Park is one of the best kept secrets around here (it's not marked on the 1:25 000 map)! It's an old logging camp hidden down in a beautifully green ferny gully - an old water wheel which was used to generate electricity for the loggers is particularly interesting. Some of the forest in the area is very special - magnificent rainforest - like gullies. Some nice gradual downhill runs on excellent road surfaces.
Park at Lowden Forest Park. This is not marked on the map but is situated at 359672 (Lowden Creek is marked in this area) and is very well signposted on entering the Tallaganda State Forest from Hoskinstown/Rossi. Head S out of the Park to meet Dead Cow Rd at 355664, turn W and after about 600m go S again at 349664. The vegetation in this area is not as marked on the map - radiata plantations have replaced eucalyptus in certain areas since the map was produced. Proceed S to 350643 and then head W past Bourkes Dam across Bourkes Creek and follow your nose to the SE comer of the pine plantation at 340634. From here go W along the S edge of the pines to 312640 and then turn N through the pines from about 1 km to 311649 before heading W once more to cross Harolds Cross Creek at 305651. Turn S yet again (bit like going through a maze!) for a couple of hundred metres and then go NW to follow Coxes Gully to Coxes Creek Rd. Proceed across the road to take the 'path' that lies to the N of the creek -- this is somewhat overgrown but is well graded and it is surprisingly easy to ride through all the bushes! At 289654 you meet up with a well defined fire trail again -- head E and follow the road around to the corner of the pine plantation at 301664 before going NW for a little way to a junction at 299665. From here take the downhill road (E) and pass through the Forestry HQ to meet the Lowden Forest Rd, turn left towards Rossi and proceed on the main road for about 800m until 298674.
At the track junction just off the Rossi Rd turn right to head up Lewis's Camp Fire Trail -- this is the first climb of the ride but it is not particularly steep or long. At the top of the hill (312687) turn left along Bald Hill Fire Trail and carry on to join the Jinglemoney Fire Trail at 311716. Turn right here, cross Mulloon Creek and carry on for about another 7 km until you meet the Bombay Fire Trail at 382717. The last section of the Jinglemoney is quite steep and rough and beginners may find it best to walk down this stretch. Once on Bombay it is more or less a straight journey back to the car (through some magnificent forest) -- when you reach Lowden Forest Rd again (365689) go straight across and follow the road; part of this is not marked on the map, but it takes you back to the Park.
