Murrumbidgee River at smoko
Saturday 12 September 2026: True left of the Murrumbidgee River from under Mt McDonald to Uriarra Crossing West * – M/M,X.Starting from Brindabella Rd under Mt McDonald (at Cotter Pines), we enter the Cotter Pines area and skirt the Nerreman property via the edge of the Stoney Creek Nature Reserve. This part of the walk is off-track, high above the Murrumbidgee River bluffs. There may be opportunity to check out the river, but I have only done a map and Google Earth recce. Fire trails take us further down river to the northern extent of Cotter Pines. It’s then a leg beside the river to Uriarra Crossing. Around 12km and 400vm. A mixture of off-track and fire trail walking. Car shuttle required.
Distance: 12.57km
Ascent: 390vm
Grade: M/M; M(10)
Time: 3:40 moving + 1:20 stopped = 5:00
Recording device: Garmin H1i+ handheld GPS
Download the gpx file: Here
View the photos: Here.
Track map:
Track Cotter Pines to Uriarra Crossing West
Trip Report
This route began on 23 Nov 25. We started further back along Brindabella Rd (Nearer Cotter) and endured 4km of very slow and shrubby walking (do it if you want and find my lost walking pole). Sick of it, we exited via the Grass trees and up to the road, the way we came in today.
We put in a car shuttle to Uriarra Crossing West and set off at 8.50am. Initially easy walking along the boundary of the private property and Stoney Creek Nature Reserve. But the border fence took us down to a right-angled turn, with a scrubby climb back up out of a gully. We eventually reached the Grass trees where I’d previously pulled the plug. A 1.8km leg in 45mins.
The Grass trees are quite magnificent, on a par with the clump at Tidbinbilla.
Grass trees – flower spike with busy bees
There are a number of photos in the album.
Here’s one more.
Grass trees
No, two more.
Grass trees – how old?
The leg to smoko was high above the Murrumbidgee River. It would have been slow going down by the river’s edge.
Flowers about.
Early Nancys during the day
But also a lot of invasive Californian poppies down by the river.
Exotic Californian poppies along the river during the day
Grevillea in places.
Grevillea
Smoko was called before any mutiny eventuated. The leg 1.7km in 35mins.
Murrumbidgee River at smoko
The riverside bluffs looked substantial on the map, so we climbed a hill after smoko to get back above them.
View to the Murrumbidgee River whilst climbing the hill after smoko
Some pleasant and faster walking up there.
Pleasant walking high above the river
Fire trail took us down to the next major side gully.
Heading down to cross a major side gully
We were able to spy some open leads to get us up the other side.
We wanted to get to that orange blob
Back on the fire trail, we had a (too long for me) fire trail bash. 3.3km in 50mins. Some views to the river.
Looking downstream Murrumbidgee River
We finally came to a Stony Creek NR sign and a track leading down towards the river.
The river from near the start of the track-footpad
Lunch was called at 12.25pm.
Lolling about at lunch
It is said that fortune favours the brave – we found that the fire trail/fire trail in very bad nick/footpad took us from lunch all the way beside the river to our destination. 2.8km in 50mins.
Some shallow rapids after lunch.
Shallow rapids
And, joy oh joy, under the steep bluffs (and blackberries) we’d seen from a distance back.
The footpad takes us under the bluffs and blackberries
A fisher(person) appeared on our side of the river and, soon on, bathers and lollers picnicking at Uriarra Crossing East.
In summary, some pleasant views, a beautiful Spring day, a bit too much fire trail. And none of us had previously been down this side of the river. Thanks for your company folks.
The AllTrails map is here, where you can pan and zoom.
Party
8 walkers – Jo B, Priya C, Peter C, Mel C, Linda G, John McC, Trevor W, me.