Black Mountain is home to Telstra Tower, the decorative communications tower which locals use to get their bearings from anywhere across the city. There are plenty of running trails between the Black Mountain Reserve and neighboring Aranda Bushland Nature Reserve, but locals say the nicest way to come up the mountain is via the Australian National Botanic Gardens (sometimes known as the “Flower to Tower” route). From the starting point on Clunies Ross Street, it’s about 3km (2 miles) up to the tower, where you can stop and visit the lookout and the cafe. However, you might want to save the part for last, looping out the west side towards Aranda before swinging back to tackle the steep hill. All in all, the two for one parks route can covers about 15 miles, but even the short version comes complete with stunning views of the city below.
Wikimedia Commons
Features:
Scroll Down For Route Maps
Essentials
- 6.9km (4.3 miles)
- 277 meters (908 feet)
- Clunies Ross Street
- Bus stop at John XXIII College
Current Weather & Forecast
Canberra, AU
4:33 pm,
Jun 3, 2026
light rain
9°C
L: 8°
H: 11°
Daily ForecastHourly Forecast
Tomorrow
7:00 am
8° / 11°°C
0.6 mm
60%
6 mph
89 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Friday
7:00 am
12° / 22°°C
0.21 mm
21%
7 mph
91 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Saturday
7:00 am
13° / 20°°C
0 mm
0%
11 mph
87 %
1014 mb
0 mm/h
Sunday
7:00 am
11° / 18°°C
1 mm
100%
11 mph
98 %
1018 mb
0 mm/h
Monday
7:00 am
10° / 18°°C
0 mm
0%
9 mph
97 %
1019 mb
0 mm/h
Today
7:00 pm
19° / 20°°C
0 mm
0%
4 mph
65 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Today
10:00 pm
19° / 19°°C
0 mm
0%
6 mph
68 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Tomorrow
1:00 am
19° / 19°°C
0.6 mm
60%
6 mph
76 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Tomorrow
4:00 am
19° / 19°°C
0.6 mm
60%
3 mph
83 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Tomorrow
7:00 am
15° / 15°°C
0 mm
0%
5 mph
89 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Tomorrow
10:00 am
12° / 12°°C
0 mm
0%
7 mph
91 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Tomorrow
1:00 pm
14° / 14°°C
0 mm
0%
6 mph
84 %
1013 mb
0 mm/h
Other Routes in Canberra, Australia
A 16k 'runseeing' tour features the highlights of this compact, planned city: National University, Botanical Gardens, National Museum, Library, National Rose Garden, Magna Carta Place, Parliament House, High Court Anzac Park, War Memorial.
Without a doubt, the highlight of all running in Canberra is this route around Lake Burley Griffin, which hugs the coast through Commonwealth Park and traverses over the water via two bridges.
If too much pavement pounding is jostling your joints, take your run to the Stromlo Forest Park in western Canberra, where the maintenance team has turfed a specialized 2.5k running loop with cushy Santa Ana Couch grass.
Mount Ainslie is an 843 meter hill which serves as the focal point for the Canberra Nature Park in the northeastern corner of the city. While it’s possible to run the drive up to the lookout for a hill training run, a popular 12k route is the loop around the base of the hill.
For an introduction to the Australian bush without the risk, the National Arboretum Canberra is a great spot to learn about flora on foot. It’s not a spot for a lengthy run, but there are two decent 2k circuits that make for a nice quick tour of the trees.
The Runners Club at the Canberra YMCA is particularly fond of the park’s Canberra Centenary Trail, which can form the base of either a 5k or 12k route.
Canberra is not only a running-friendly city, it caters to bike enthusiasts as well. Luckily, cyclists don’t mind sharing the miles upon miles of paved paths in Canberra’s southern suburbs.
For a panoramic view of the city of Canberra, it doesn’t get any better than Mount Taylor, an easy climb conveniently located just outside the suburbs of Torrens (Woden) and Kambah (Tuggeranong).
Canberra hosts a free weekly 5k at Lake Tuggeranong. The entire lake has a loop around it that makes a nice longer run, but an out and back on the bike path in southern section of the lake is the designated 5000 meter course.
Looking for some fun and friendly competition? Canberra hosts a selection of Parkruns throughout the city.
User Ratings
Leave A Review or Comment
Review or Comment on This Route/Share a Photo!
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!