Ivan Evans Walk

Ivan Evans Walk climbs through dense rainforest in the Ellen Close Reserve at Bayview Heights, roughly 3.5 km return with the ridge extension, and it is a genuine Cairns rainforest track that dogs are actually allowed on. The payoff is BoiBoi's Viewpoint over Cairns and Trinity Bay, reached through well-shaded bush that feels far older than a suburban reserve.

The walk

The track is narrow dirt, single file in places, and it earns the lookout with some steep sections on the way to the ridge. From the top you can push on toward Morris Road along the ridgeline if the legs agree, and count on about an hour and a bit return overall. At the Toogood Road end a small waterfall and creek give the dog a proper cool-down stop.

Leash status

Dogs are welcome on lead only, per Cairns Regional Council, with on-the-spot fines for off-lead dogs in restricted areas and for uncollected waste. Those same rules keep dogs out of the national parks and conservation areas that hold most of Cairns' rainforest, which is what makes this track the exception, and signage marks where the no-dog boundaries sit.

Water

The creek at the Toogood end is the reliable refill point, but carry water for the climb itself because there is none on the ridge. Cairns humidity does not care how fit your dog is; treat heavy panting at the lookout as the turnaround bell.

Hazards

The trail is one person wide for long stretches, so rein the dog in when meeting other walkers. It turns slick after rain, the climb is sweaty work through the wet season, and the drop-offs beside parts of the track warrant a short lead.

When to go

Early morning, all year. Dry season mornings from May to October are when this walk is at its best, and weekdays are noticeably quieter than the weekend foot traffic.

Getting there

A small free parking area sits at the Ellen Close entrance, with another option at the lower end 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.

More options are in the Queensland dog friendly trails guide, and the rest of the suburb is on the Bayview Heights destination page.