The best walks and hikes in Farrer Ridge Woodland Reserve

The Spine winds gradually uphill through Isaacs Pines, following a narrower line beneath the trees instead of the wider management roads nearby. It’s designed as a shared trail for walking, running and cross-country riding, with a gentler gradient than the steeper routes higher on the ridge. As you climb, gaps in the pines start opening towards Woden Valley and the Brindabella Ranges.

Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve climbs above Woden Valley through open eucalypt woodland, with broad views across Canberra appearing as you gain height. The reserve protects one of the ACT’s larger connected areas of endangered Yellow Box–Blakely’s Red Gum grassy woodland, so stick to the existing tracks as you explore. Dogs are allowed on lead, and the more open ridgeline sections can feel quite exposed on hot or windy days.

There’s informal roadside parking along Long Gully Road, giving you quick access to Isaacs Pines and the ridge tracks. Pull well off the road where possible and take extra care getting in and out, as traffic can move quickly along this stretch. If the roadside spots are full, Shepherdson Place is the better overflow option, with a small informal parking area.

Mount Taylor Nature Reserve covers 300 hectares in Canberra’s south, with a network of walking tracks winding through one of the ACT’s largest remaining areas of grassy woodland. Popular for bushwalking, trail running, birdwatching, and nature photography, it’s an easy place to escape the city without travelling far. The reserve is home to a wide variety of native wildlife, including colourful parrots, honeyeaters, and, in spring, beautiful displays of wildflowers that dot the landscape.

Mount Taylor rises 856 metres above sea level, with expansive views across Canberra, Black Mountain, the Brindabella Ranges, and the surrounding nature reserves. There is a trig point marking the summit, along with several benches and interpretive signs that help identify many of the landmarks visible from the top, inviting you to stay a while and enjoy the scenery.

Mount Taylor rises 856 metres above sea level, with expansive views across Canberra, Black Mountain, the Brindabella Ranges, and the surrounding nature reserves. There is a trig point marking the summit, along with several benches and interpretive signs that help identify many of the landmarks visible from the top, inviting you to stay a while and enjoy the scenery.

Mount Taylor rises 856 metres above sea level, with expansive views across Canberra, Black Mountain, the Brindabella Ranges, and the surrounding nature reserves. There is a trig point marking the summit, along with several benches and interpretive signs that help identify many of the landmarks visible from the top, inviting you to stay a while and enjoy the scenery.

Zig Zag Track is a well-formed, unsealed path that climbs steadily to the summit of Mount Taylor. Its series of switchbacks makes the ascent easier than the direct routes, with interpretive signs explaining the reserve’s natural and cultural history along the way. The track finishes at the summit trig point, with expansive views that stretch across Canberra and extend all the way to the Brindabella Ranges in the distance.