Creeks of Kowen Forest

Tuesday 28 June: Creeks of Kowen Forest – M/R/part X. This walk explores the natural areas of Kowen Forest, largely by following creek lines. It avoids the pine forest and is almost entirely off-track. Highlights include a semi-gorge area on one creek with several cascades including a 3 metre fall and a large pool. Slowish going along the creek lines, with some prickly scrub and occasional steep side slopes. Between the creeks, the ridges are more open, with tree-framed views.  7 to 10 km, elapsed time including breaks should be 5 to 6 hours. Lots of ups and downs in the 40-100 metre range. Car shuffle required. The meeting time will probably be 8 am or 8.30 am on the Sutton Road. Map: Canberra. Leader: Linda G. Transport: drive yourself but let me know if you need or can offer a lift. Limit: 12.

8 of us met by the locked gate on Kowen Road.

Summary

Distance: 8.5km | Climb: 305m | Time: 8.15am-2.05pm (5hrs 50mins), including 60 mins of breaks | Grading: S/R; M(9)

Photographs

Photographs are available, where you can start a large sized slideshow.

Waypoint and Track Files

Download the .gpx file. (Right click, Save Link As…, Save – if you want to use it.)
To use in Google Earth, do File, Open… and select Gps or All files as the File Type.

Track Notes

Kowen Pine Forest evokes pictures of pine trees, of course. But apart from the forest border trees, we only saw two or three wildlings on this lovely walk on the western edge of the KPF. Once again, hats off to Linda our leader; how she finds these areas is a mystery. But her walks always are in interesting places with great features.

We met at the locked gate on Kowen Rd (where you turn right to go onto Molonglo Gorge), then car shuttled 5km up the Sutton Rd.

The walk was through a series of creeks in natural forest on the western edge of the Forest and Sutton Rd. We were fortunate enough, after recent rain, to see waterfalls in action. I’d think that they would normally be dry. The second one provided a scramble up its side; whilst others in the party chose to make a wider berth.

Morning tea was taken in the second creek system in a feeble patch of sun. The day heated a little and lunch at Mt Reedy was relatively warm.

A lovely short trip with lots of ups and downs, creek walking and hopping and waterfall rubbernecking. My bung knee coped adequately.

Thanks Linda and all.

Track Maps

Track overview

Track 1

Track 2

Profile

Party

8 walkers – Eric G, Linda G (leader), Kim H, Annette M, Barrie R, Phillip S, David W, me.