Ewan Maddock Dam Main Track, Yellow and Blue

The main track at Ewen Maddock Dam runs about 8.5 km of gravel through eucalypt forest and paperbark wetland on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, with the Glass House Mountains showing through the gaps in the trees. Seqwater runs this as a declared dog on-leash area, and the rule that catches people out is the water: dogs must not enter the lake at any time.

The walk

AllTrails logs 8.5 km at a moderate grade, around two and a half hours, undulating along the dam edge rather than climbing anything serious, with a few short steep pitches. The surface is gravel and natural multi-use trail with sandy stretches near Maddock Park, and the full main track runs about 9 km one way to the Gympie Street North entrance at Landsborough, so you can sample a section and turn back.

Leash status

Seqwater's terms are unambiguous: dogs on leash at Maddock Park and on all surrounding trails, maximum two dogs per person, and a hard prohibition on foreshore areas, boat ramps and the lake itself. If you were picturing a walk finished with a swim, that is the part that does not happen here.

Pepsi: no swimming means the water you carry is the only water there is. On a warm day, 8.5 km of gravel beside a dam your dog cannot use is a longer walk than it looks.

Hazards

Lace monitors and snakes are active in the warmer months, so keep the lead short through long grass. The track is shared with walkers, runners, mountain bikers and horse riders, and everyone gives way to horses.

It holds mud after heavy rain.

Getting there

Maddock Park on Connection Road, off Steve Irwin Way, is the main trailhead with parking, toilets, picnic tables, barbecues and a playground. The Gympie Street North entrance at Landsborough is the other end.

Public transport does not usefully serve either, and drinking water on site is limited, so fill up before you arrive.

More walks nearby

The full main track and the Gympie Street North entrance cover the rest of the network, and Pioneer Park Fenced Dog Park at Landsborough is fenced for an off-lead run afterwards. Didi's Coffee Haus and the Landsborough Pub close the loop in town.

More options are in the Queensland dog friendly trails guide and on the Glenview destination page.

Go before 9am. Maddock Park is busiest on Sunday mornings and the trail stays quiet on weekdays, and the cooler months suit this walk better than most because there is no swim at the end of it.

Good for big runners who cope with a lead for the full distance.