Lookout on Shepherds Walking Track

Saturday 1 January: Shepherds Walking Track to Molonglo River – M/E. Walk the new Shepherds Walking Track from The Link in Ginninderry to join the Shepherds Lookout Track. Then take the Molonglo Crossing Track to the Molonglo River footbridge. Return the same, taking any loop/side tracks available.

Summary

Distance: 11.5km | Climb: 325m | Time: Starting 7.15am 3hrs moving time | Grading: M/E; E(7)

Photographs

Photographs are available here

Waypoint and Track Files/gpx File

Download the gpx file for this trip recorded on a GPSr here.
Download the gpx file recorded via AllTrails here (activate …, Download Route, Select a file format, OK).

Track Notes

AllTrails trip report.

Faffed around a bit to find the start of the track as it currently has no signage – except for a sign saying it has no signage. Circumnavigated The Link building and was rewarded by a lovely pond on the route to Strathnairn.

Pond behind The Link

Completed the circumnavigation and found that the track started right beside where I parked my car. Through an open construction fence and along an old vehicle track to the start proper of the track.

Signage at the start of Shepherds Walking Track

A delightful track of 3.4km passing through a range of vegetation. Here’s a couple of photos – check out the rest here.

Eventually intersected with the familiar Shepherds Lookout Track. The usual spectacular Murrumbidgee River views.

Murrumbidgee River from Shepherds Lookout

From here, took the 3km return Molonglo Crossing Track down to the river. Poo-side views.

Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre

Stopped at the Molonglo River as it was getting warm and I knew I’d have to walk back up what I’d walked down.

Molonglo River footbridge

The return trip was back the same, except for a short detour along the Shepherds Lookout Loop and a couple of opportunities to visit lookouts off the Shepherds Walking Track.

The first provided solid seating and great views.

Rock seat at lookout

View from lookout

The next lookout was at a short detour to a magnificent eucalypt.

The grand old tree

A short parallel loop in the walking track provided more rock seats and views.

View from third lookout, Pig Hill in the distance

All in all, a great little track!

Track Map

The best track map is available via AllTrails.

From my GPSr recording on my old 2006 TopoView maps via OziExplorer you see:

Track map

Party

A recce, so just moi.