Ivan Evans Walk

Ivan Evans Walk climbs through dense rainforest in the Ellen Close Reserve at Bayview Heights, about 3.5 km return with the ridge extension, and it is a genuine Cairns rainforest track that dogs are actually allowed on.

The walk. The track is narrow dirt, single file in places, well shaded and steep in parts as it works up to the ridge. BoiBoi's Viewpoint is the payoff, with views over Cairns and Trinity Bay, and you can push on toward Morris Road along the ridge top if the legs agree. Count on an hour and a bit return. At the Toogood Road end a small waterfall and creek make a good cool-down stop for the dog.

The rules. Cairns Regional Council allows dogs on lead only, and it polices the basics with $834 on-the-spot fines for off-lead dogs in restricted areas or for not picking up. The same rules keep dogs out of the national parks and conservation areas that hold most of Cairns' rainforest, which is exactly what makes this track the exception, and signage marks where those no-dog boundaries sit. The track is one person wide for long stretches, so keep the dog close when you meet other walkers.

Parking. A small free parking area sits at the Ellen Close entrance, with another option at the lower end of the track near Toogood Road if you would rather start beside the creek.

Make a day of it. The nearest fenced off-lead runs are Henleys Hill Park at Earlville and Irene Street DogPark at Mooroobool, both a few minutes away, and High Tide Coffee covers the post-climb flat white. Travelling with the dog, NRMA Cairns Holiday Park at Manunda is an easy base for the northern beaches and the city both.

When to go. Early morning, all year. The shade helps but the climb is sweaty work in the wet season, and the track gets slick after rain. Dry season mornings, May to October, are when this walk is at its best.

Sources

• Exercising and socialising your dog, Cairns Regional Council · cairns.qld.gov.au
• Ivan Evans Walk, AllTrails · alltrails.com

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