Walk 7: Cotter Resevoir circuit

Walk name: Cotter Resevoir circuit
Start location: 18km W of Canberra
Description: A circuit from the Cotter Reserve anticlockwise around the full extent of the Cotter Resevoir, following forestry tracks, existing, lapsed and destroyed. Rugged terrain & walking surfaces; forded the Cotter River at Brack's Hole. Distance >15km
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 : Cotter Dam 8627-2N 2nd edition 2003
Start Grid ref: Footbridge at Cotter Reserve FA 764893
Start GPS: UTM Zone 55H E676467, N6089279
Locality map from Geoscience Australia MapConnect 250K topo base:

Walk 7: Cotter Resevoir circuit -
2008 satellite image from ACTMAPi:

Cotter Resevoir -
Waypoints and route:Starting at Cotter Reserve picnic area footbridge [A], head NE along track and up to the Brindabella Road. Follow road to Mt McDonald gate [B]. Head SW towards Cotter Dam north lookout [C]. Head generally NW along Crusher Road, contouring above the resevoir [D]. Continue past northern extemity of the resevoir to north point of walk [E]. Head SW skirting edge of new pine forest[F]. Head S to Brack's Hole Road [G]. Follow road SE to banks of the Cotter River and the ford at [H]. Climb up right bank of river towards Pierce's Creek settlement.[I]. Follow Padovan's Road NE along ridge towards Cotter Dam south lookout [J]. Follow zigzag path back down to the Cotter Reserve.
Walklog1: This walk was challenging and provided some surpises. From the footbridge the track headed along the small stream that constitutes the Cotter River. This track is the very first part of a 'Skyline walk' into the Stoney Creek Nature Reserve. Walk uphill along the Brindabella Road towards Mt McDonald which has been extensively revegetated. I can remember planting seedlings there quite a few years ago with Greening Australia.
Leaving the road at the Mt McDonald gate, follow well made forestry trails towards the north lookout. Turn W at the large catchment zone sign and follow Crusher Road for several km. After Prior's Road junction Crusher Road has been ripped up and planted with seedling trees, walking is slow & difficult. A small island can be seen in the middle of the resevoir, which looks full. New water levels will drown this island. Towards the northern part of the walk trails were variously decommissioned. All around the landscape was barren & empty, with relics of the 2003 fires. New and lush pine regrowth in small clumps was a green oasis. Stopped for lunch on a wobbly burnt log.
Brack's Hole Road rapidly became impassable as we approached the banks of the Cotter River. Spiky burnt pine trees obstucted progress. At the ford we realized that we would have to get our feet wet & cold!! Then came the biggest challenge of walking uphill along a stretch of trail blocked with massive tree trunks and rock/earth revetments. Once at the top we chose to walk along the crest [Padovan's road] then down the steep track to the Reserve. This track was officially closed, but seemed to be in use. Then across to the Cotter Campsite to boil the billy for a cup of tea.
Day & date: Wednesday 29 July 2009
Start time: 0930
Walking time: 5h
Weather: Cold, windy, fine
Sun: Rise 0700 ,transit 1210 , set 1720 .