Cooleman Ridge Nature Track

Cooleman Ridge Nature Track runs through the 187-hectare Cooleman Ridge Nature Reserve at Chapman, on Canberra's western edge, where fire trails and single tracks climb open woodland slopes with views across Weston Creek to the Brindabellas. It is an on-lead reserve, and one of the better hill workouts in the Weston Creek pocket for a fit dog.

Leash status

Dogs are permitted on lead only, per ACT Parks' reserve page, and they must stay on the designated tracks and trails at all times. The reserve is home to kangaroos and ground-nesting birds, so off-track wandering is not on, and the leash rule is taken seriously by the rangers who patrol Canberra Nature Park.

Max: the kangaroos here are habituated and everywhere, especially at dawn and dusk. A dog on a lead can still lunge when a mob bounds across the track thirty metres ahead, so grip the lead properly rather than looping it loose over your fingers.

The walk

The standard ridge circuit is roughly 3.6 kilometres of undulating fire trail and single track, moderate rather than flat, with boulder outcrops and plenty of sniffing interest. Ambitious pairs can add the short, rocky climb toward Mount Arawang or extend along the Bicentennial National Trail section on the reserve's western side, where horse riders share the corridor, so keep your dog calm and close around riders.

Water and hazards

There is no water, no toilets and no bins anywhere on the reserve, so pack water for two, a collapsible bowl, and carry everything back out. Summer heat, snakes in the grass through the warm months, and the exposure on the ridge line are the main hazards. The views reward you most on clear winter and autumn mornings.

Getting there and parking

The main access for Chapman is the Kathner Street trailhead, with street-side parking, and further entries off Namatjira Drive and Lincoln Place on the Fisher side. There is no dedicated car park beyond the small trailhead areas, so arrive early on weekends.

When to go

Early morning is the best window in any season, and the only sensible one from late spring through summer. After rain the lower tracks can hold mud, and the ridge is exposed to westerly wind in winter.

More walks nearby

Weston Creek Dog Park in Duffy is the closest off-lead option for a release after the on-lead climb, and Pitch Black Cafe in Rivett handles the coffee on the drive back. Springbank Rise Dog Park covers the Gungahlin end of town if you are heading north instead.

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