The Chasm

Monday morning 2 October 2023: Red Rocks Gorge and ‘The Chasm’  – 2A/B/C/E. Starting from Tuggeranong Pool, walk along the Murrumbidgee from Tuggeranong Creek confluence to Red Rocks Gorge. We will be off-track, close to river for about 2 km to get spectacular views of the rapids. Not difficult but expect rock scrambling and some prickly bushes. Return via Centenary Trail. About 10 km with total climb of 200 m.

Summary

From Garmin Connect (MAP66i) – Distance: 8.03km | Climb: 150vm | Time: 2:11 moving + 1:32 of stops = 3:43 | Grading: S/M-R; M(8).

Photographs

View photographs here.

gpx file

Download the gpx file here.

Track Map

Here’s where we went.

Track Murrumbidgee River cameo

 
Trip Report

I was last here, on the other bank of the river, on 4 Feb 17. There’s a geocache here, GC5BFG6 Rocky Raceway. There’s some nice pics of the ‘Bidgee in flood if you follow that link.

I recently rejoined NPA(ACT) as a member and I reckon I got a year’s worth of subscription from this morning walk. An excellent little cameo!

We crossed Athllon Drive at the Tuggeranong Stone Wall.

Tuggeranong Stone Wall signage beside Athllon Drive

Crossed Tuggeranong Creek via the bridge and generally SW went down to the Murrumbidgee River.

Lovely wall of Kunzea

Mike turned us downstream, passing by brilliant grevillea.

Grevillea

A washed down tree trunk was perhaps once a scar tree.

Scar tree?

A small cascade promised of things to come.

Small cascade to whet our appetite

Further downstream we came to our objective, ‘The Chasm’.

The Chasm

Most impressive! And just a couple of kilometres from Tuggeranong, and a few hundred metres from the CCT.

There was a small bluff up behind us.

A small bluff above the Chasm

Quite impressive little cliffs too. One, just after smoko, caused us to double back from an impassable point.

A cliff caused us to double back from the top

There were calmer parts of the ‘Bidgee.

A calmer Murrumbidgee River pool

Quite a vege garden for a yam feast, bulbine lilies, at Red Rocks gorge.

Bulbine lilies

The red rocks of Red Rocks gorge (the cliff is closed atm for raptor breeding) looked impressive.

Red Rocks Gorge

We left the river here and walked back along the Canberra Centenary Trail. A detour to the Tuggeranong Stone Wall.

Crossing the Tuggeranong Stone Wall stile in style

We walked up the side of the wall, back to our cars.

A truly excellent walk – flowers, a little scrambling, the Chasm, good company. Many thanks Mike and all.

Party

9 walkers – Mike B (leader).

AllTrails

The AllTrails map is here, where you can pan and zoom.

Johnny Boy’s Walkabout Blog FaceBook Page

I’ve started up a FaceBook page. Each trip report posts to it. It’s another way to get some info to get out and breathe a bit of fresh air. Why not pop over and Follow the page, or give a post a Like.

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