Black Mountain Run Up & Power Walk

The Black Mountain Run Up & Power Walk is a free monthly climb in Canberra, held on the third Tuesday of each month. It is a short 2.6 km run or walk from Acton to the summit of Black Mountain, but the 236 metres of climbing make it more like a lunchtime hill test than a casual flat fun run. The Australian Mountain Running Association organises it, with both runners and walkers participating. The route starts at the car park entrance on Clunies Ross Street, beside the Botanic Gardens area, with a mostly flat 800 metres on a 4WD trail before the climbing begins. From there it turns onto Frith Road for about 400 metres uphill, follows the Centennial Trail through the Canberra Nature Park gate, and finishes with the last 150 metres on Summit Trail. Participants arrive before the midday briefing, start soon after it, and have their finish times recorded at the summit; photos are usually shared later on the association’s Facebook page.