Mount Taylor Reserve gate

Mount Taylor Reserve is a 300-hectare Canberra Nature Park reserve straddling Kambah in Tuggeranong and Torrens and Pearce in Woden, with a steep fire-trail climb to an 856-metre summit and 360-degree views over southern Canberra. Dogs are welcome on lead, and the defining fact for four-legged hikers is that this is a strenuous, almost entirely unshaded ascent best saved for cool days.

The walk

The main route from the Sulwood Drive side is a short, steady climb on well-defined management trails to the summit, with longer return routes from the Chifley side running to about 3.8km. The grade is unrelenting once it starts, and the reward at the top is one of the best vantage points in the city's south.

Leash status

Dogs on leash at all times on every track and trail, and no going off-trail into the bushland. ACT conservation rules protect the reserve's wildlife and rare plant species, and off-leash walking can attract fines.

Water

There is no water anywhere on the trail. Carry enough for yourself and your dog, more than you think you need given the exposure and climb.

Hazards

Heat is the big one: the track is steep and exposed with virtually no shade, and a working dog can overheat well before you feel it yourself. Skip hot days entirely, check the ground with your hand, and aim for early morning or late afternoon.

When to go

Sunrise and sunset give the coolest temperatures and the best light. Weekends and early mornings draw the heaviest foot traffic; weekday mid-morning is the quietest window if your dog prefers space.

Max: a steep, exposed climb means a fit dog can overheat before you notice. Hand-check the ground and carry extra water.

Getting there and parking

The unsealed car park sits off Sulwood Drive near the Manheim Street intersection in Kambah, about 1.8km from the Tuggeranong Parkway, with a 400-metre walk along an access road to the mountain base. ACTION buses run along Sulwood Drive and Athllon Drive for walking access, and basic picnic tables sit near the Waldock Street entrance on the Chifley side.

More walks nearby

For an off-lead run afterwards, the Greenway Dog Park is close by, and the flat Lake Tuggeranong Loop makes an easier recovery walk. Mannheim Cafe and Cafe Blanco in Kambah both do post-walk coffee.

More routes are in the ACT dog friendly trails guide and on the Tuggeranong destination page.