Scribbly Gum Circuit

The Scribbly Gum Circuit is a 7.6 km loop through the Scribbly Gums Conservation Area, the Alexandra Hills end of Redland City Council's Redlands Track Park. Dogs are welcome and the lead stays on for all of it, because this is a conservation reserve and the rule is there to keep dogs off the wildlife living in it.

The walk. AllTrails puts the circuit at 7.6 km and grades it moderate, which at a sniffing pace works out around an hour and a half to two hours. Most of it runs on wide, well established fire trails with sandy or packed earth underfoot, so it is easier going than the distance suggests. The circuit sits inside a much larger network, 25 km of trails across 239 hectares, so you can cut it short or stretch it out without backtracking.

The rules. Redland City Council manages the reserve and requires dogs on lead at all times. Stick to the shared fire trails: the narrow single track is built for mountain bikes, and dogs and horses belong on the wider routes. The reserve is open 4am to 10pm daily. There are no bins on the trails, so whatever you bag comes back to the car with you.

Water. The trailhead shelters have troughs built to serve dogs and horses as well as people, along with a seat and a trail map. There is nothing along the circuit itself, so fill up before you start.

Getting there. The closest entry is the McDonald Road and Flinders Street trailhead at Alexandra Hills, reached off Finucane Road at the Alexandra Hills Hotel intersection, with gravel parking at the end of the road. Clarke Street at Cleveland, Brindabella Circuit and Congreve Crescent at Thornlands all open onto the same network. There are no public toilets inside the reserve.

Nearby with the dogs. If the circuit has not emptied the tank, both Windemere Road Park and George Street Park are fenced off lead runs a few minutes away.

When to go. Weekday mornings are the quiet window. Weekend mornings between seven and ten bring the bikes out in numbers, and the sandy trails hold heat by midday in summer. Good for big runners who need the distance more than the scenery.

Sources

• Redlands Track Park · redland.qld.gov.au
• Using dog parks and off-leash areas · redland.qld.gov.au
• Scribbly Gum Circuit · alltrails.com

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.