Square Rock is one of my favourite walks in Namadgi National Park. Not for the walk itself, but for the incredible view from the top. Unlike some of the other peaks around Canberra, you won’t glimpse the city from here; instead it’s layers of mountains as far as the eye can see. It’s also a really fun summit, with plenty of giant boulders to explore.
We’d previously only headed up to Square Rock during the daytime, but most recently we went for sunset and it was truly spectacular. If you don’t mind walking down in the dark, then it’s a magical time to be up there.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Square Rock walk.
The Square Rock Walk
The stats
Distance: 9.2km return
Elevation gain: 262m
Difficulty: Easy but not flat
The walk up to the top of Square Rock does have some uphill sections, but the majority of the track is flat and the climbs are short and gentle. The path is really well maintained, which makes the walk easy - even if you choose to come down in the dark as we did.
There is no scrambling required to take in the view now that a small ladder has been installed, but you can scramble over various boulders at the top if you want to!
You can make the walk a circuit using the Smokers Trail, which is a longer route. We chose to return the same way. The whole walk, there and back, took two hours.
Starting the trail
You’ll head straight from the car park and onto a narrow path through open grass, where you can often spot a kangaroo or two.
The first 150m of the path is almost all metal boardwalk, which is a relief when you spot what the ground is like underneath - we were hiking during La Nina and let’s just say it looked pretty boggy!
Once the boardwalk finishes, if there has been heavy rain, there will be a short section of track which is very muddy.
It’s easily passed through in hiking boots though and I don’t remember any mud at all on previous walks, so it’s probably just bad following really heavy rain.
After another 150m you will enter the bush and the path is in great condition.
Through the forest
Once in the forest you will begin climbing uphill, but at a fairly leisurely gradient. It’s not long before the path flattens again and then begins to undulate.
Whilst there are sections of stairs, for the most part, the track feels very flat and easy. Almost surprisingly so as you know you’re heading up to a viewpoint.
For that reason, though it’s considerably longer, I’d say it’s actually an easier walk than the more well known Booroomba Rocks.
Although the track is not overly exciting, it’s pleasant enough and the forest keeps it nice and shady.
After 2km (from the start of the track) you’ll start to notice some giant boulders dotted amongst the bush, this is an indicator of what’s to come at the top!
A couple of hundred metres later you will come to the only bit of the track which is not in such good shape, and that may purely be down to how wet it had been when we were walking.
There is a short section of very wet muddy path that you need to negotiate using rocks and logs as stepping stones.
It’s not difficult though and the logs mean you can cross with dry boots.
Reaching the top of Square Rock
Just beyond the logs you’ll reach a junction with the Smokers Trail and head straight on. It’s briefly uphill before flattening again.
Just under a kilometre later you’ll reach some picturesque stone stairs, but again they don’t last more than a few minutes. We saw a couple of wallabies here and heard plenty more crashing through the undergrowth.
As you continue through the bush you’ll reach a turnoff for the Orroral Valley Lookout, which is a 500m detour.
We’ve visited the lookout in the past and it’s an easy detour, but the view is slightly obscured and it’s definitely not a must do.
From the turnoff for the lookout you have just over 1km before you reach Square Rock. The track is mainly flat and winds through the forest before hitting a rocky section just before you reach the top.
Arriving at Square Rock
You’ll emerge from the bush and see a huge pile of boulders and a little ladder leading up onto the rocky platform.
It’s not an exposed scary ladder by any means and in a few steps you’re standing on top and able to see the view.
You can explore the rocky platform to the right and some interesting rock formations without any scrambling whatsoever.
After that, exploring further can be as adventurous as you want it to be. There are plenty of different vantage points and none are very hard to reach.
As long as you’re on the main platform, or to the left of it, you will have a magnificent sunset view.
We were the only ones up there and sat and watched as the sky turn golden and then pink, all to the soundtrack of the resident lyrebirds.
It was a magical scene with layers of thickly forested mountains - no burn to be seen here. The collection of giant boulders adds to the whole atmosphere and it really is a beautiful place to relax.
It would also make for a great picnic spot.
It was one of those places that was hard to tear ourselves away from and in the end it was only as darkness fell that we decided it was time to hike down under the stars.
Heading down
The walk down is easy, the trail is in such good condition and so leisurely that you very rarely need to worry about footing - there is the odd short rocky section, but few and far between.
The track is well defined and easy to follow, so even in the dark you don’t need to be worried about taking a wrong turn. It took us about 1 hour to get back to the car park and walking under the stars was a fabulous way to finish a great sunset hike.
Getting to the Square Rock Track
The Square Rock walk begins at the Square Rock Walk Car Park off Corin Road in Namadgi National Park, around a one hour drive from Canberra. It is fully paved until the car park.
There is plenty of parking spaces but no facilities, not even toilets.
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