Summit Walk
Climb is steady, quite steep in some sections, with a flat section midway.
From the Australian National Botanic Gardens, follow signs to the side gate, then signs to Summit Trail. Or from Frith Road electricity substation, walk uphill and follow the sign to Summit Trail.
Admire dry forest and impressive views to the north and east.
Distance: 2.4km round trip, plus 300m each way from electricity substation on Frith Road or 5.4km round trip from Australian National Botanic Gardens visitor centre.
Time suggested: 1.5 hours
Woodland Walk
Follows management trails, mostly flat or undulating with some short steep sections. Moderate difficulty.
From the Caswell Drive car park, go through the gate and take the first right onto Lower Woodland Trail. About 100m further on you'll pass a walking track on your left – the one you'll return on. Your route ahead continues in an anticlockwise loop, taking left turns at each of 3 junctions, following Upper Woodland Trail before taking a final left turn onto a signposted walking track (near the junction with Black Mountain Trail) and descending via a right-left 'dogleg' back to the car park.
Enjoy views to the National Arboretum, and Tidbinbilla and Brindabella ranges, as well as plants and wildlife, especially spring flowers on the flat area of remnant woodland. Upper Woodland Trail passes through dry forest including Brittle Gum (Eucalyptus mannifera), Scribbly Gum (E. rossii) and Red Gum (E. blakelyi).
Distance: 2km return
Time suggested: 1 hour
Canberra Tracks
Canberra Tracks Heritage Trail Track 3 reveals the ambitions and frustrations of creating a national capital far from Australia's established cities, as well as a vast ongoing project of planning, landscape design and planting, construction and community building. This track takes you from Mt Ainslie to Parliament House, via Mt Pleasant, Regatta Point, Black Mountain and Red Hill Lookout.