Grey Gum STEPS Track - Toohey Forest

The Grey Gum STEPS Track is a short, steep climb through the eucalypt bushland of Toohey Forest Park, entered off Madang Street on the Moorooka/Tarragindi edge. It is a leg-burner rather than a stroll: real stair sections, a sandstone ridge, and a fair chance of spotting koalas overhead. Dogs are welcome, on leash.

The walk

This is a short but intense track built around stone and stair steps climbing the ridge, connecting through to other Toohey Forest routes such as the Mayne Ridge Track. The surface mixes steps, gravel and paved sections, and it is more effort than distance, so it suits a fit dog over a casual pottering walk. Longer circuits off the same network, like the Toohey Ridge Track, stretch the outing if the legs are willing.

Leash status

Dogs must be on leash at all times across Toohey Forest. It is an on-leash conservation reserve, and the rule protects resident koalas, gliders and ground-dwelling wildlife. Stay on the marked track to limit erosion, and carry your dog's waste out: there are few or no bins on the tracks.

Max: Keep the leash short near the tree line. The koalas are the whole reason this forest is on-leash only, and a lunging dog at the end of a long lead is how good walks end badly.

Watch-outs

Sections are exposed and the climb is warm work, so bring water for both of you and go early in summer. Standard south-east Queensland bushland cautions apply: keep your dog close through longer grass in the warmer months, and watch for bikes where the track meets shared sections.

Getting there and parking

The nearest entry is off Madang Street, Moorooka, with street parking that fills on weekends, so arrive early. From the CBD, take the M3 then Tarragindi Road across to Madang Street. Buses run along Tarragindi Road near Madang Street with a short walk to the forest edge.

More walks nearby

For an off-lead reward afterwards, the Evans Road Park Fenced Dog Park is the closest secure run, and Botanicafe covers the coffee leg on the way home. The The Willow Hotel takes dogs in its outdoor areas for a post-walk lunch.

Weekday mornings and early afternoons are quietest; weekend mornings draw the most walkers and dogs. More options are on the Queensland dog trails guide and the Moorooka destination page.