General Information
Distance: 17.5 kilometers
Total climb: 625 meters
Time taken: 4 hours 30 minutes
Map: Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000
Guide: none available
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO: 24 kilometers
Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 76471 89026
Destination map grid reference: 55H FA 78819 85130
End point: same as start
Route
http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/
Description
This was a repeat of the walk I completed on 18 August 2016, but with a few adjustments to the route. Readers can also refer to the commentary and pictures for that walk.
To avoid the ankle-deep crossing of Paddy's River near the start of the previous walk, we started this time at the Cotter Bend carpark and walked down to the Cotter campsite where there is a bridge over the Cotter River. From there a walking trail links up with the Bullen Range Road which we followed up and along the ridge to Bullen Hill. On reaching Bullen Hill we continued around east of the summit so that we could climb it from the south; a much less taxing ascent than from the north. Leaving Bullen Hill to the west, we continued down that trail towards Murray's Corner but it was very indistinct and difficult to follow. It was also very steep and treacherous going down the side of the hill.
Walking back through the pine forest we took a detour to have a look at the dam at map grid reference 55H FA 76464 86972. The track we followed to get to the dam really no longer exists after about 100 meters, so we had to bash through the bush to get to the dam (which itself is nothing special). It would have been better if we had approached the dam via Gravel Pit Road at map grid reference 55H FA 76441 86584. Continuing back towards our starting point, we headed to the road that starts at map grid reference 55H FA 76473 87524 and followed it north. This was a mistake. After a few hundred meters there was a locked gate, beyond which the former road had been dug up and huge erosion mounds put across it. This made walking very uncomfortable, and when we had to descend a steep slope down towards Paddys River, very treacherous. I would advise against using this route.
To avoid the ankle-deep crossing of Paddy's River near the start of the previous walk, we started this time at the Cotter Bend carpark and walked down to the Cotter campsite where there is a bridge over the Cotter River. From there a walking trail links up with the Bullen Range Road which we followed up and along the ridge to Bullen Hill. On reaching Bullen Hill we continued around east of the summit so that we could climb it from the south; a much less taxing ascent than from the north. Leaving Bullen Hill to the west, we continued down that trail towards Murray's Corner but it was very indistinct and difficult to follow. It was also very steep and treacherous going down the side of the hill.
Walking back through the pine forest we took a detour to have a look at the dam at map grid reference 55H FA 76464 86972. The track we followed to get to the dam really no longer exists after about 100 meters, so we had to bash through the bush to get to the dam (which itself is nothing special). It would have been better if we had approached the dam via Gravel Pit Road at map grid reference 55H FA 76441 86584. Continuing back towards our starting point, we headed to the road that starts at map grid reference 55H FA 76473 87524 and followed it north. This was a mistake. After a few hundred meters there was a locked gate, beyond which the former road had been dug up and huge erosion mounds put across it. This made walking very uncomfortable, and when we had to descend a steep slope down towards Paddys River, very treacherous. I would advise against using this route.
Gave this a shot, as we had been so pleasantly surprised with the northern end of Bullen Range. Unfortunately, on a QBH weekend Tidbinbilla Rd was never free of revheads screaming up and down the road, joined with the frenzied sound of a chainsaw somewhere in the distance. And this northern section of the track that tops Bullen Range is open to 4WDers so we were often passed by friendly drivers who would leave a cloud of dust.
ReplyDeleteWe crossed the Cotter at Cotter Bend, using the footbridge on the western side. There's a good marked path that took us to a forestry road and thence to the Paddy's River ford, which has some chunky rocks so we could keep our boots dry. With only two hours to spend, we did a quick there (777873) and back again. We returned using the old path at 769885 (opposite the kurrajongs - how they survived the fires is beyond me), an incredibly quick and precarious descent.
Highlight was the view of the expanded Cotter Dam shining in the western winter sun. And it was interesting to see how much had grown back in 17 years since to 2003 fires, esp. the xanthorrheas which looked quite bonny!
Thanks for the feedback Andrew. Sorry the tranquility was marred by all that machine noise - I'm in the fortunate position of being able to do most of my bushwalking on weekdays when all things are much quieter and no 4WD enthusiasts have been encountered. The view of Cotter Dam is indeed the highlight of the walk. There are also good views of Cotter Dam from Condor Hill and Mt McDonald (both are also covered on my blog).
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