These are the Canberra cycling routes we would send a mate to first: the Lake Burley Griffin loop, the car-free Stromlo criterium circuit, Red Hill, Mount Ainslie, Black Mountain, the Cotter and Uriarra loop, and the long day out to Tidbinbilla. Each has checked distances and climbs, a map link and a coffee stop that is open when riders are. Pack a layer: even in late spring, Canberra dawns are cold.
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- 7coffee stops checked
- Oct to Aprbest months
Coffee stops confirmed open in October 2026. Distances and elevation are approximate. Plot a route before you rely on it.
Canberra cycling routes at a glance
| Route | Distance | Climbing | Level | Coffee stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Burley Griffin loop | ~29 km | Minimal | Easy | BEAN & TABLE |
| Stromlo Forest Park criterium circuit | 1.2 km laps | Small rises | Easy | The Handlebar |
| Red Hill | ~1.5 km climb | ~100 m | Moderate | Deakin & Me |
| Mount Ainslie and Mount Pleasant | ~3.2 km climb | ~230 m | Moderate | EightyTwenty Canberra | Dickson Cafe |
| Black Mountain | ~2.6 km climb | ~235 m | Hard | Močan & Green Grout |
| Cotter and Uriarra loop | ~38 to 51 km | ~540 to 780 m | Hard | Niugini Arabica |
| Tidbinbilla and Paddys River | ~75 to 90 km | ~1,000 m | Epic | Black & White Espresso In Lanyon |
Road cycling in Canberra is easy to get into. Separated paths link most suburbs, the lake loop is car free, and you can be on a quiet rural road 20 minutes from Civic. The catch is the weather: spring mornings often start in single digits and finish in the mid twenties, so most of this guide comes back to layers. Riding here in the cold months? Read our local guide to Canberra winter riding first.
Lake Burley Griffin loop
The full lap of the lake on sealed shared paths. Flat, social and the obvious first ride.
- Distance
- ~29 km loop
- Climbing
- Minimal
- Start
- Kingston foreshore
- Effort
The full Lake Burley Griffin loop is about 29 km and links three marked circuits: East Basin (about 9 km), Central Basin (about 5 km) and West Basin (about 16 km, the only one with any real undulation). It is almost all sealed shared path, so it suits a recovery spin, a new rider or a visitor who wants the national institutions in one go.
Two things changed in 2026. The northbound span of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, shared path included, is closed for renewal works, so cross on the southbound (east) side, reached from Flynn Drive under the bridge. And the northern foreshore from Rond Terrace to Kings Avenue Bridge is now pedestrian only, with a cyclist-only path alongside. Use it.
Go early. After 9am on a weekend the Central Basin fills with walkers, prams and tourists.
BEAN & TABLE
On the Kingston foreshore at the East Basin end of the loop, and the earliest weekend opener we found on the lake. Start and finish here.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: none on the paths, but expect road crossings near the bridges and around Acton.
- Surface: sealed shared path almost all the way. Watch for dogs on long leads.
- Bridge works: the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge northbound path is closed through 2026, and the southbound side is due to close in 2027. Follow the detour signs.
- Water: bubblers exist, but not all of them work. Carry a bottle.
- Bail-outs: the two central bridges split the lake into shorter loops.
Kit for this one: a light summer jersey and a full bidon.
Stromlo Forest Park criterium circuit
A car-free 1.2 km circuit for laps and drills, with the Mount Stromlo climb next door.
- Distance
- 1.2 km lap
- Climbing
- Small rises
- Start
- Stromlo Forest Park
- Effort
The Stephen Hodge Criterium Circuit at Stromlo Forest Park is 1.2 km of 8 to 11 metre wide bitumen with flat sections, small rises and a few technical corners. It is free to ride when not booked for an event, and there are no cars. For intervals, cornering practice or a nervous new rider, few Australian cities have anything like it.
Ride clockwise, give faster riders room and no sudden braking. People regularly top 40 km/h here, and kangaroos do cross.
Want some climbing? Mount Stromlo Road leaves Cotter Road just east of the park and rises to the observatory at about 770 m. It is roughly 4 km at around 4%, steady rather than steep.
The Handlebar
In the Stromlo Forest Park hub, a short roll from the circuit. It opens later than most, so do your laps first.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Bookings: the circuit closes to the public for booked events, including club racing. Check the park website before you drive out.
- Wildlife: kangaroos use the park, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Surface: smooth bitumen. Mount Stromlo Road is sealed to the top.
Kit for this one: bib shorts you trust for an hour of hard laps, and arm warmers to peel off once the sun is up.
Red Hill
A short, punchy southside climb with the best view over the Parliamentary Triangle.
- Distance
- ~1.5 km climb
- Climbing
- ~80 to 100 m
- Start
- Deakin
- Effort
Red Hill Drive leaves Gowrie Drive, about 700 metres past the Melbourne Avenue roundabout, and climbs to the lookout. Strava and local climb lists put it between 1.3 and 1.7 km at a little over 6%, so four to eight minutes depending on your legs.
It comes in ramps rather than a steady grade, which rewards riders who can change pace and punishes anyone who goes out too hard on the first pitch. Locals tack it onto a lake loop or do repeats before work.
Deakin & Me
At the Deakin shops, a couple of kilometres from the bottom of Red Hill Drive. Repeats first, breakfast after.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: Red Hill Drive serves a restaurant and lookout, so expect cars from mid-morning.
- Surface: sealed, with a narrow descent. Take the corners carefully the first time.
- Off-road: in the reserve, bikes are only allowed on management trails and the Centenary Trail.
Kit for this one: a light jersey for hard efforts and a Core Gilet for the descent on a cold morning.
Mount Ainslie and Mount Pleasant
The War Memorial view, earned. Two northside climbs off Fairbairn Avenue.
- Distance
- ~3.2 km main climb
- Climbing
- ~230 m on Ainslie
- Start
- Dickson
- Effort
Mount Ainslie Drive leaves Fairbairn Avenue near Campbell and climbs to the 843 m summit. Local climb data puts it at roughly 3.2 km at around 7%, and it gets steeper as it goes, passing 10% near the top. Pace it like a longer climb than it looks.
The reward is the postcard view straight down Anzac Parade to the War Memorial, the lake and Parliament House. On the way back along Fairbairn Avenue, add Mount Pleasant near Duntroon: a gentle 1.6 km at about 5% to another lookout.
EightyTwenty Canberra | Dickson Cafe
The earliest weekend start in this guide, at the Dickson shops a short ride north of Fairbairn Avenue.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: Mount Ainslie Drive carries tourist traffic, heaviest around sunset. Ride it early.
- Surface: sealed to the summit. The descent is twisty.
- Off-road: in the reserve, bikes are allowed on sealed roads, management trails and the Centenary Trail only.
Kit for this one: a race-fit jersey that does not flap on the descent, plus arm warmers for the dawn run back down.
Black Mountain
The steepest of the city climbs. Short, relentless and right next to the ANU.
- Distance
- ~2.6 km climb
- Climbing
- ~235 m
- Start
- Acton
- Effort
Black Mountain Drive branches off Clunies Ross Street in Acton and climbs to the tower near the 812 m summit. Local climb data puts it at about 2.6 km at close to 9% average, the hardest of the inner-city hills.
There is nowhere to recover. Pick a gear you can hold, stay seated and keep your breathing under control for the first kilometre. Descend the same way and you are back at the lake within ten minutes of the top.
Močan & Green Grout
In New Acton, a short spin from Clunies Ross Street and the lake path. Climb first, then sit in the sun.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: a public road with parking halfway and at the summit. Ride it early.
- Surface: sealed and in good condition. The descent is steep, so check your brakes.
- Bail-outs: turn around anywhere. You are always close to Acton.
Kit for this one: a lightweight summer jersey for the effort and a gilet for the cold run back down.
Cotter and Uriarra loop
The classic Canberra weekend loop, out past Stromlo into the Murrumbidgee valley.
- Distance
- ~38 to 51 km
- Climbing
- ~540 to 780 m
- Start
- Stromlo Forest Park
- Effort
This is the loop Canberra riders point visitors to first. From Stromlo Forest Park the common version is about 38 km with roughly 540 m of climbing, or about 51 km and close to 800 m with the out-and-back on Fairlight Road. Riding out from the city adds more.
The line runs west on Cotter Road to the Cotter, then Brindabella Road and Uriarra Road towards Uriarra Crossing on the Murrumbidgee. Mount McDonald is a long drag at around 3 to 4%, and Three Sisters near Uriarra Crossing is about 2.3 km at around 5 to 6%. Neither is steep. Together they add up.
Cotter Road between Swallowtail Road and Mount Stromlo Road was widened with on-road cycle lanes. Further out, the roads are narrow and rural.
Niugini Arabica
At the small Duffy shops just off Cotter Road, with bike parking and a water refill. They roast on site, and riders parked out the front after the loop are a regular sight.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: quiet early, busier on hot weekend afternoons when people head to the Cotter to swim.
- Surface: sealed, but narrow with little or no shoulder beyond the widened section.
- Water: almost nothing between Stromlo and Uriarra Crossing. Carry two bottles from October.
- Crossings: Uriarra and Coppins crossings are low-level and close after heavy rain or for works. Check ACT road closures first.
- Mobile coverage: patchy in the valleys.
Kit for this one: Core Bib Shorts, two bidons and a gilet for the valley chill at dawn.
Tidbinbilla and Paddys River
The big day out. Farmland, two Murrumbidgee crossings and the Tidbinbilla valley.
- Distance
- ~75 to 90 km
- Climbing
- ~1,000 m
- Start
- Lanyon, Tuggeranong
- Effort
From the southern suburbs, head out to Point Hut Crossing on the Murrumbidgee and on through farmland to Tidbinbilla Road, which becomes Paddys River Road at the turnoff to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Paddys River Road then rolls down a tight valley to the Cotter.
There is roughly 500 m of climbing between the Point Hut and Cotter crossings alone. Add the return via Stromlo and Weston Creek and most versions land around 75 to 90 km and about 1,000 m. Treat those numbers as a guide; your start point changes them.
The reserve is a worthwhile detour. Gates open at 7:30am, the listed entry fees are per vehicle, and it closes on Total Fire Ban days, which matters from November.
Black & White Espresso In Lanyon
In Lanyon Marketplace on the southern edge of Tuggeranong, the last proper coffee before the farmland. Fill your bottles here.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: light on weekdays, busier on weekends with visitors heading to Tidbinbilla and the Cotter.
- Surface: sealed, with rough patches and no shoulder on parts of Paddys River Road.
- Water: the Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre opens at 9am. Otherwise be self-sufficient between Lanyon and the Cotter.
- Bail-outs: limited. Past Point Hut, the quickest way home is usually to keep going.
Kit for this one: bib shorts you trust past four hours, sunnies for the glare off the paddocks and a gilet for the 7am valley floor.
What to wear cycling in Canberra
Canberra swings hard between dawn and lunch. Dress for the start, carry what you take off.
January highs average around 30°C and the sun is fierce. Ride early, carry two bottles and cover up.
The best riding months, but dawn can sit near freezing. Wear layers you can pocket.
July nights average about 0°C and frost is normal. Start later and cover hands, knees and ears.
Temperatures are Bureau of Meteorology long-term averages for Canberra Airport. The layering logic is the one in our guide to the 5am start. For the hot months, read what to wear cycling in an Australian summer, and if you are unsure about warmers, here is when arm warmers earn their place. For Canberra spring mornings, a gilet is the most useful layer you can own.
Pinnacle JerseySummer mornings, race fit
Core GiletCold dawns, warm finishes
Thermal Arm WarmersOff by the coffee stop
Core Bib ShortsLong Cotter days
Canberra bunch rides and clubs
- Canberra Cycling ClubOne of the oldest and largest clubs in Australia. Summer brings the Wednesday night criterium series at Stromlo Forest Park, plus track racing at Narrabundah Velodrome and a Monday morning social bunch.
- Vikings Cycling ClubWeekly bunch rides, including the 6am Wednesday Wasabi from ANU Union Court Bridge, the 6am Friday Norman, and the Sunday PROD and no-drop PLOD from 7am. An AusCycling licence is required.
- Pedal Power ACTThe territory's largest cycling organisation, running community rides and posting path changes such as the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge detours.
Frequently asked questions
Is Canberra good for road cycling?
Yes. Canberra has an extensive separated path network, a car-free criterium circuit at Stromlo Forest Park and quiet rural roads within 20 minutes of the city. Hills are short and steep in town, longer and steadier towards the Cotter and Tidbinbilla.
How long is the Lake Burley Griffin bike loop?
The full loop is about 29 km on sealed shared paths. It splits into the East Basin (about 9 km), Central Basin (about 5 km) and West Basin (about 16 km) circuits.
Can you ride across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in 2026?
Yes, on the southbound (east) side only. The northbound bridge and its shared path are closed for renewal works in 2026, and the southbound side is due to close in 2027. Reach the open path from Flynn Drive under the bridge.
What is the hardest climb in Canberra?
In the city, Black Mountain is the steepest regular climb at about 2.6 km at close to 9%. Mount Ainslie is a little longer and less steep on average but passes 10% near the top.
Can you ride a bike into Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve?
Yes. The gates open at 7:30am and the listed entry fees apply to vehicles, so check at the gate if you arrive by bike. The reserve closes on Total Fire Ban days.
What should I wear cycling in Canberra in spring?
Plan for a cold start and a warm finish. A short-sleeve jersey with arm warmers, a baselayer and a gilet covers most spring mornings, when temperatures can climb from low single digits to the mid twenties.
Cold at the start, hot by the coffee stop?
That is Canberra from October to April. Build a kit that handles both, and use our bib shorts buying guide for the long days.
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Route details checked October 2026. Roads, closures and cafe hours change. Spotted something out of date? Email us and we will fix it.
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