Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve

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1800 022 222

ACT State Emergency Service

Emergency help
during flood or storms

Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve is a 387-hectare protected area in the south-eastern part of the Woden Valley. It connects with Mount Mugga Mugga and Wanniassa Hills nature reserves. Isaacs Ridge itself offers great views of urban Canberra. Sections of the reserve's south-eastern section were added in 2012 and 2014.

The reserve is part of an extensive landscape of remnant wooded vegetation providing a wildlife movement corridor through to NSW in the east, the Murrumbidgee River in the west, and southern ACT through Tuggeranong Hill and Rob Roy Range nature reserves.

In Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve, cycling is only permitted on roads and management trails including the Centenary Trail. Adjoining the reserve is Isaacs Pines recreation area, where there are dedicated trails for mountain bike riding. To protect sensitive natural values, cycling on 'single' or walking tracks, or attempting to build or create mountain bike tracks, are prohibited activities in Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve.

Horse riding is permitted only on marked equestrian trails.

Dogs are permitted on-leash on a track or trail only.

Natural values

Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve protects:

part of one of the largest, best-connected and most diverse areas of critically endangered Yellow Box–Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland remaining in Australia
breeding and foraging habitat for woodland birds as well as recent plantings of Drooping She-oak (Allocasuarina verticillata) helping to restore foraging habitat for the vulnerable Glossy Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)
habitat (a small area) for the vulnerable Pink-tailed Worm-lizard (Aprasia parapulchella)
habitat for the semi-aquatic Small Knotweed (Polygonum plebeium) – one of 3 known ACT locations
Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) nest

Isaacs Ridge/Mount Mugga Mugga ParkCare group undertakes revegetation and weed control. Canberra Ornithologists Group has monitored birds in parts of the reserve since 1998.

Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve is protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Thank you for taking care of the natural environment.

Add a sighting to the NatureMapr or visit the Canberra Birds website.

Things to do

Activities

Features

Dogs on-leash
NO BINS – take your rubbish with you
Walking track/s

Restricted or prohibited

Aircraft landing/take-off prohibited
Camping prohibited
Chainsaw use prohibited
Domestic animals (other than dogs) prohibited
Off-road driving prohibited
Driving on management trails prohibited
Drone use prohibited
Fires prohibited
Wood and timber collection prohibited
Metal detector use prohibited
Trailbikes prohibited except on public roads

Dogs are permitted on-leash on a track or trail only
Cycling is permitted on management trails including the Centenary Trail only
Horse riding is permitted only on marked equestrian trails

Ngunnawal Country and People

Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve is located on Ngunnawal Country, an ancient and diverse landscape managed and cared for by Ngunnawal people for tens of thousands of years.

For time immemorial Ngunnawal people have maintained a tangible and intangible cultural, social, environmental, spiritual, and economic connection to these lands and waters.

The reserve protects one known Aboriginal heritage site, listed in the ACT Heritage Register. The reserve is likely to contain further, as-yet-unrecorded, Aboriginal heritage sites.

All Aboriginal places and objects in the ACT are protected under the Heritage Act 2004 and must not be disturbed. Aboriginal places and objects within reserves are additionally protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Anyone finding an (unregistered) Aboriginal object or place has an obligation to report it to the Heritage Council.

European heritage

The area was part of the 'Duntroon' land holdings of the Campbell family and also part of Mugga Mugga Station. During the 19th century the land was mostly used for stock grazing.

The reserve was established in 1993.

Before you go/How to get there

Before you go

Explore Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve with Google Trekker.

Prepare by understanding safety and checking alerts.

Respect Canberra Nature Park reserves by:

staying on the tracks to minimise your impact
taking your rubbish home with you
leaving what you find, including plants, animals, rocks and timber (dead and alive)
respecting our heritage - leave cultural sites undisturbed
riding safely and following trail etiquette as a horse rider
riding safely and following trail etiquette as a bicycle rider
collecting and responsibly disposing of your dog's droppings (where dogs are permitted)
cleaning your outdoor gear, including bicycles, to avoid spreading weeds and disease

Remember:

bring your own drinking water
carry a mobile phone, especially if you are on your own
let someone know where you are going and when you'll return
be bushfire alert - on total fire ban days some reserves may be closed

How to get there

Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve is accessible from numerous points in the suburb of Isaacs.

Boundary mapping is indicative only.

More information

If you notice any issues during your visit:

report maintenance issues to Access Canberra
report vandalism or other illegal activities to the police on 131 444
in an emergency, call 000

Find out about:

In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

triple zero 000

5124 0000

6201 6111

1800 629 354

6205 1065

13 11 26

5124 9977

(02) 6205 1700