Leg 5 - 42km Mountain Bike

Click on map to view full-size image. Please note that sections of this course have been amended in 2007, and again in 2008. New sections appear in bold type. The second mountain bike course starts from the grassy area adjacent to Acton Ferry Terminal, and heads west along the cycle path. Follow the "Sri Chinmoy 10 km Run" course signs, veering right at the fork to head through the tunnel under Lawson Cres, and over "Hospital Hill." Veer right again to cross over Sullivan's Creek, and proceed straight past Black Mountain Peninsula. At Acacia Inlet (after the rowing jetty), turn right onto the cycle path leading to Belconnen, across Lady Denman Dr (watch for traffic) and underneath Parkes Way, the Gungahlin Drive Extension and Caswell Dr.

Turn left off the cycle path onto the equestrian trail under William Hovell Dr, through the gate on the left with the sign, "Stock Grazing Within" (be sure to close this gate again!), and along the trail to the left, beside the former Cork Oak Plantation. After passing (and closing) a second "Stock Within" gate, turn immediately right, to head straight up Gunbarrel Hill.

The road turns to the left at the top of the climb.  Take the right hand option at the intersection here, avoiding all the new works associated with the Arboretum.  Dairy Farmers Hill is not included in the course this year.

Continue along this road, skirting around the outside of the new works, until you reach a stile, which you must climb.  Continue after the stile, then take the next right hand turn right after the next gate, under the power lines in front of a small water tank. Follow this road around all the way, ignoring all potential turns one way or the other. Turn right eventually just before arriving at the next gate (under the powerlines), following the fenceline along on your left to the next track where you turn to your right again, heading downhill. This track will lead you down onto Pipe Flat, following this road for about 3 kms alongside Molonglo River until the next gate, bringing you to Coppins Crossing Road, where you turn left (downhill). Coppins Crossing marks the lowest altitudinal point of the entire course. Turn right immediately after the causeway, through the car park, then straight past the boulders, onto the small dirt road leading around beside the river. After a few hundred metres, look for the stile on your left over the fence. Climb over the stile and go to your right on to main forest road, still following the direction of the river. Follow this road around, ignoring potential left hand turns. The track dips to a small causeway over a (usually dry) creek bed, then rises sharply to a T-junction. Go left here, heading uphill. Continue till you come to the 5-way intersection. Go straight ahead here, continuing up all the way.

Look for the gate straight ahead, and follow a rougher track which continues to climb steeply through dry eucalypts. After a brief descent, this track brings you around one gate and over another, to Uriarra Rd.

Cross over and go right for about 50 metres, then left through the gate on the other side. After the gate turn immediately right onto the track following the fenceline. After a few hundred metres, this track leads around to the left, again following the fenceline. After dipping, the track begins to climb. Take the left hand option at the fork, up a steepish climb til you reach the 4-way intersection. Go straight through this intersection, then turn immediately right, onto a more obscure track. This in turn begins to ascend, then contours around the western side of Mt Stromlo. At the next fork in the track, turn left to head up a very steep climb towards the summit.

At the top of this climb, continue following the dirt track around to your left (do not proceed onto the bitumen road!) After dipping, take the first right turn then almost immediately turn to your left onto a single track which winds uphill. Follow this track all the way along the CORC trunk route, easing down the side of Mt Stromlo with spectacular views. When you cross the downhill bridge, turn left onto the 'blue' track. After switching back several times downhill, take the next available 'green dot' track option to your right which will bring you around the 4X mound and alongside the main Stromlo Forest Park car park.

Turn right adjacent to the car park, taking the next left at the fork, following the beginners single track, skirting the bicycle criterium course before crossing a few wider dirt tracks. You will come close to Uriarra Rd before turning west again. Look for the left hand turn just past the ACT Bushfire Memorial which will bring you out around a small gate to Cotter Rd directly opposite Eucumbene Dr. Cross Cotter Rd with extreme caution, remembering you MUST GIVE WAY TO ALL TRAFFIC.

Cross to the right hand side of Eucumbene Dr and onto the small track alongside the road.

Look for a right hand turn through the stile to join the track heading to the left up Narrabundah Hill. Take the first fork to your right, pass through or climb the gate on the way up, then take the next fork to your left, heading up. After passing the trig point on your right, continue straight down a long hill, ignoring the potential turn-off to your right, but going straight over another gate. Turn left at the bottom of this hill, coming around beside the large water storage tank, through the stile gap, and right again adjacent to Eucumbene Dr. Follow this track through the large ditch opposite the end of Hindmarsh Dr, and up the other side. This track veers to the left, and you continue following the fenceline around to your right, then beside Kathner St. At the intersection of Kathner St and Percy Cres, go straight onto and up the steep track leading to Cooleman Ridge.

Go left at the top, and all the way along Cooleman Ridge, behind Chapman. Veer left at the end of Cooleman Ridge (the base of Mt Arawang, with a large gum tree at 11 o'clock), then turn right at the cycle path, and left off the cycle path to cross over Namatjira Dr. Follow the dirt track on the other side, turning left at the next cycle path, following this cycle path to the changeover point beside Badimara St.

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