A little way down and under Square Rock

Saturday 5 March 2022: A circuitous route to Square Rock – M/E. Meet at Kambah Village shops at 8:20 for an 8:30 departure. Drive to Square Rock car park and follow fire trails to Smoker’s Trail. Leave Smoker’s Trail and follow path beside Smoker’s Flat to join Square Rock track. Lunch at Square Rock enjoying the views over Brindabellas. Depending on party may visit lookout over Orroral Valley. Return via Square Rock track to cars. About 4-and-a-half to 5 hours of walking.

Summary

Distance: 15.1km | Climb: 453m | Time: 3hrs 55mins moving time, plus 50mins of stops | Grading: M/E; E(7).

Photographs

Photographs are available here.

gpx File

Download the gpx file recorded via AllTrails here (in AllTrails, activate …, Download Route, Select the file format GPX Track, OK).

Track Notes

AllTrails trip report.

After most of us meeting in town, we gathered at the (new) Square Rock car park, called Corin Hub. You can see from the map segment below that there was a Square Rock Walk Car Park a few hundred metres further along Corin Road. It held about 6 vehicles, so Corin Hub is a vast improvement.

I’d done this walk on 8 Feb 22, but this was an opportunity to take my great family friend Rudy and swan along with Tim W leading. But there was something new for me – always is. Last time I’d gone around anticlockwise and returned from the old Smokers Trail car park via fire trails. This time we followed the Smokers Trail Loop from the start and it’s a lovely little footpad through the bush.

Walking Smokers Trail Loop up from Corin Hub

It got most of the day’s up over with, so there was a bit of lagging and a lot of puffing from me. We regrouped where we popped out on Smokers Management Trail and headed south. Some late flowers to admire and one of the many headwaters of Booroomba Creek (which also drains Smokers Flat and flows down to join the Orroral River) was flowing nicely.

Orchid beside Smokers Management Trail

Very pleasant to swan along tib,min and chatting to others. A stop for morning tea at the turnoff of the Smokers Link Trail.

More late flowers along the Link Track.

Daisies beside Smokers Link Track

An uneventful walk to Square Rock, where we took in the usual wonderful view across Corin Road and up to High Range.

View to High Range from Square Rock

When I was here on 3 Aug 19, Linda took us for an explore right under Square Rock. I had a bit of a look down the western side of the area, but couldn’t find the way today.

Lunching on Square Rock

A local was out and about.

A local at Square Rock

On the return, Rudy and I left the main party (with the leader’s nod) and trundled in to the Orroral Valley Lookout. The view is not great, but Rudy had not been in this area before. The usual down to the top of the Orroral Valley and ‘Dutchies Peak’ on the McKeahnie Ridge a little to the right. If you want to know about that name, search for Dutchies Peak in my Local Names page.

‘Dutchies Peak’ from Orroral Valley Lookout

I was nearly running to keep up with Rudy on our trip out – he’s young and fit.

Crossing Smokers Flat on the way back from Square Rock

Caught the rest of the party in the car park. So well organised by Tim as not a drop of forecast rain until we were all back in town. Quite a downpour in North Cooma (aka Gordon).

Track Map

The best track map is available via AllTrails, where you can pan and zoom.

Here it is, too.

Track Smokers Trail and Square Rock

Party

Leader Tim W. 14 walkers.