Ewan Maddock Dam Main Track - Full Trail

Ewan Maddock Dam Main Track is a long gravel multi-use trail around Ewen Maddock Dam at Glenview, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The one fact that decides the day for dog owners: dogs are on leash at all times and are banned from the lake, the foreshore and the boat ramps, so this is a walking track only, never a swimming spot.

The walk

The full trail logs 15.3 km, graded moderate at 3 of 5, taking 4 to 4.5 hours. The land manager and regional tourism sources describe the main track as roughly 9 km one way, with smaller loops branching off it, so your total depends on which loops you add. The surface is wide, well-maintained gravel, shared with cyclists and horse riders, largely flat with a few short steeper pitches near the main car park. Expect a shaded canopy of tall eucalypts, palms and paperbarks, with stretches that run right along the lake edge. For shorter versions of the same country, the Yellow and Blue loop and the approach from the Gympie Street North entrance both work.

Leash status

Seqwater manages Ewen Maddock Dam and requires dogs to be leashed at all times, with a maximum of two dogs per handler. Dogs and other pets are not permitted to enter the lake under any circumstances, and they are prohibited from all foreshore areas and boat ramps. Assistance animals are exempt. Clean up and bin the waste, and keep dogs under control to protect the native birdlife and goannas along the track. The full conditions sit on Seqwater's dog leash page, and they are enforced at a working drinking water catchment, so the rules are not suggestions.

Pepsi: four hours of the best-smelling lake in Queensland and not one legal paddle. I have filed a complaint.

Water

There is no dog swimming here at all. The lake and its foreshore are closed to dogs, so treat the water as scenery and plan around it. Carry your own water for the dog, because Maddock Park has a wash-bay for horses but no dedicated dog water station.

Hazards

The trail is shared with mountain bikers and horse riders, so a short lead helps you react when one comes through at pace. After rain the track turns muddy and slippery in spots, boggiest near Mooloolah Road, so proper walking shoes are worth having. Goannas are part of the furniture here and a leashed dog is the difference between a sighting and a vet visit.

Getting there and parking

The main entry is Maddock Park, 221 Connection Road, Mooloolah Valley, with ample parking including space for horse floats. From Brisbane, take the Bruce Highway north to exit 163, then Steve Irwin Way to Mooloolah Valley Connection Road; from the Sunshine Coast, follow Steve Irwin Way directly. A second entry sits at Gympie Street North near Landsborough, the nearest train station but not connected to the trailhead, so you would need a taxi from the platform. Maddock Park itself has upgraded toilets, undercover picnic shelters, electric barbecues and a playground.

When to go

Weekday mornings and afternoons are usually quiet, while weekends get busy and Sunday mornings are the peak around the playground and picnic areas. Tuesday or Thursday are the days that miss both the mountain bikers and the crowds. The trail works year round, and spring brings red dragonflies along the lake-edge sections. Good for big runners who do not need a swim at the end.

Close by with the dogs

Landsborough is the natural stop afterwards, for coffee at Didi's Coffee Haus or a meal at the Landsborough Pub. If your dog has earned a proper off-lead run, Pioneer Park Fenced Dog Park is close by, and Landsborough Holiday Park makes a handy base for an overnight trip.

More dog-friendly walks are listed on our Queensland trails page, and the Glenview destination guide covers the local area.