General Information
Distance: 9.8 kilometers
Total climb: 570 meters
Time taken: 4 hours 45 minutes
Maps: Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO: 56 kilometers
Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 59838 86629
Destination map grid reference: exploratory hike - no specific destination
End point: same as start
Distance: 9.8 kilometers
Route
Description
Our starting point for this exploratory walk was originally going to be the camping area at Flea Creek near its confluence with the Goodradigbee River. This campground is accessed by Gentle Annie Trail off Brindabella Road. Gentle Annie Trail is a very steep and bumpy gravel road, and about halfway down it I had had enough and decided to walk the rest of the way to the campground, and while this added some distance to the walk we were in no particular hurry.
Following Gentle Annie Trail past the Flea Creek campground we continued on to the Goodradigbee River with the intention of following it for some distance if possible. The river at this point is very clear and peaceful, good for swimming and (apparently) fishing.
We first attempted to walk upstream, but were soon thwarted by rocks that we would have had to climb around. Then heading downstream we found it quite scrubby and difficult to negotiate and soon turned back from there too. It became clear that in order to follow the river on the Brindabella National Park side we would have had to move further up the slope, away from the river itself, where it looked like there would be some clearer terrain. Alternatively, the other side of the river seemed to be relatively flat and clear.
Returning to the campground, we started up the Webbs Ridge Trail to Webbs Ridge. This trail is also very steep, gaining 200 meters in the first kilometre of winding road. We had views of the western side of the Brindabella Range, with the cliffs on the southwestern side of Mount Coree prominent.
Eventually climbing above 700 meters elevation, the trail flattens out a bit as it follows Webbs Ridge.
At this stage we decided to head back: a steep descent back down Webbs Ridge Trail and another steep ascent up Gentle Annie Trail back to the car.
Following Gentle Annie Trail past the Flea Creek campground we continued on to the Goodradigbee River with the intention of following it for some distance if possible. The river at this point is very clear and peaceful, good for swimming and (apparently) fishing.
We first attempted to walk upstream, but were soon thwarted by rocks that we would have had to climb around. Then heading downstream we found it quite scrubby and difficult to negotiate and soon turned back from there too. It became clear that in order to follow the river on the Brindabella National Park side we would have had to move further up the slope, away from the river itself, where it looked like there would be some clearer terrain. Alternatively, the other side of the river seemed to be relatively flat and clear.
Returning to the campground, we started up the Webbs Ridge Trail to Webbs Ridge. This trail is also very steep, gaining 200 meters in the first kilometre of winding road. We had views of the western side of the Brindabella Range, with the cliffs on the southwestern side of Mount Coree prominent.
Eventually climbing above 700 meters elevation, the trail flattens out a bit as it follows Webbs Ridge.
At this stage we decided to head back: a steep descent back down Webbs Ridge Trail and another steep ascent up Gentle Annie Trail back to the car.
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