Lake Ginninderra Loop Trail

Lake Ginninderra Loop Trail is a flat, paved circuit of about 7 km around the lake in Belconnen, and it is one of the easiest long walks in Canberra to do with a dog on lead. Most of the route stays leashed, but the Diddams Close end has a designated off-leash beach and grass area for a swim or a proper run.

The walk

The full loop is about 7 km, paved and flat the entire way, so it suits prams and wheelchairs as much as dogs. Most walkers take around 1.5 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace, passing through John Knight Memorial Park, patches of eucalypt forest and open lakeside parkland. Shorter options exist too, including the 2.3 km western foreshore stretch if time is short.

Leash status

Dogs must stay on lead on the shared path and in the lakeside park, as set by the ACT Government. The exception is the designated off-leash zone at the Diddams Close peninsula, including the off-leash beach where dogs can swim. Wherever leashed rules apply, keep dogs at least 10 metres from playgrounds, barbecues and fireplaces.

Max: check the signage at Diddams Close before letting your dog off. The off-leash boundary is specific to that peninsula and beach, not the whole park.

Water

Bubblers are spaced along the trail for people, but the real drawcard for dogs is the lake itself. The off-leash beach at Diddams Close is the spot for a proper swim rather than the leashed sections of shoreline. Carry your own waste bags even though bins are provided at intervals.

Getting there

Parking sits at Diddams Close, John Knight Memorial Park and along the western foreshore. The Diddams Close car park fills fast on weekends, so the foreshore or John Knight Park are safer bets then. ACTION buses run to Belconnen Town Centre, a short walk from the lake.

Close by with the dogs

For a dedicated fenced session, the Lake Ginninderra Dog Park sits right at Diddams Close with separate large and small dog areas. Afterwards, Cafe2617 is a handy coffee stop and the Lighthouse Pub does something more substantial with lake views.

When to go

Weekday mornings and early afternoons are quietest. Weekends and sunny days bring joggers, families and cyclists in numbers, especially near Diddams Close. Good for senior dogs and anyone wanting a calm flat walk, with the off-leash run available for the bigger movers at the western end.

More options are on the ACT dog walks guide and the Belconnen destination page.