Bicentennial National Trail; Munchow's Crossing to Teviot Brook Campsite

 

Guidebook 6 of the Bicentennial National Trail (now out of print and available only in draft form and, as an ‘e-guide’) covers the Blackbutt to Killarney section. According to the Guidebook, none of this sections ~357kms' are particularly difficult for the cyclist. The route mostly follows the foothills of the Great Dividing Range passing just to the east of Toowoomba however, the range must be climbed just south of Toowoomba and again near the border. The Trail passes through a mixture of rough bushland and settled grazing/agricultural areas and makes use of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail as it leaves Blackbutt. It is worth mentioning that significant sections of the Trail in this region were destroyed in the 2011 and 2013 floods. As a result, there has been some major re-routing of the trail to deal not only with flood damage but also land access issues. Thus, Guidebook 6 is available only in draft form at the present time. Despite this, the Guidebook is complete in that it provides maps and route notes for the entire section


Guidebook 6 Map 16; Munchow's Crossing to Teviot Brook Campsite (~21.40km)

This section of the Bicentennial Trail is quite spectacular and can be considered the viewing gallery of the scenic rim and Main Range National Park. The Trail generally heads in a southerly direction, along the eastern foothills of the Great Dividing Range before climbing steadily towards the pass over the Main Range National Park and on towards the headwaters of the Condamine River.

Commencing just a stones throw from Mt Greville, at Muchlows Crossing Campsite, beside Reynolds Creek, the trail crosses the creek the and follows the gravel along the delightful Croftby Lake Moogerah Road. This road is sandwiched between the imposing spectacle of the Great Dividing Range and the smaller, but still impressive Moogerah Peaks National Park. Familiar landmarks such as Cunninghams Gap, Mt Cordeuax, Mt Mathesion, Spicers Peak, Mt Roberts and Lizards Head envelope your western horizon as the Trail follows its undulating course towards Carney Creek Road. Here, the dirt ends and the bitumen starts however, on a week day, the traffic is generally light and courteous.

Approximately 5km later a right turn is taken onto The Head Road, a notoriously, steep, winding, narrow road that offers stunning views as it climbs over the Range, towards the Condamine Gorge and eventually the township of Killarney. The Head Road has been closed since January of this year due to flooding and the swathe of destruction the water has cut through the lower slopes of the valley is a testament to the amount of rain the area received during that period. The road is purported to be reopening next week however, the road over the lower slopes is still in poor repair.

This section of the Trail ends at Teviot Brook Campsite on the foothills of the Main Range immediately before the steep climb over the Range commences. I rode this section as an out and back ride but the options for longer loop rides or multi-day rides, incorporating Boonah, Moogerah, Killarney, Spring Creek, the Condamine Gorge and the Acacia Plateau are endless. The majority of the route is on bitumen, along roads that are quiet on a week day but carry increased tourist traffic on the weekends. In summary, a very scenic ride, particularly along the unpaved Croftby Lake Moogerah Road.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Tracklog; http://en.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=5042041