trail ✓ Dogs welcome, verified on Google

Goat Track

4.6 (71) Open in Google Maps

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The rules at a glance

On-lead welcome

Verified dog-friendly on Google

Open 24 hours

Townsville City, QLD 4810

Council / official page

Rules verified 10 June 2026

Dogs: Welcome
Where: Townsville City, QLD
Policy checked: 2026-06-10

What visitors mention

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The steep, direct foot route up Castle Hill, on-lead, with 360-degree views at the top. The Goat Track is the short-but-sharp walking trail up Townsville's Castle Hill, climbing roughly 540m one way over rocky ground and formed stairs to a summit looking across the city, Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island. It is dog-friendly, but it is a genuine climb and the heat is the real hazard.

The walk. About 540m each way, rated moderate-to-steep, on uneven rocky single track with many natural and formed stairs. Reckon on 30 to 45 minutes up depending on fitness. The reward is an open, unbroken view from the top.

The rules. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on-lead at all times. Pick up after your dog and use the bins or carry it out. On the narrow, busy sections, yield to runners and other walkers and keep your dog under close control.

What is there. A small parking area at the base on Gardiner Street. There are no reliable water taps along the track itself, and the route is largely exposed with only patchy shade, so carry ample water for both you and your dog.

Max's takegerman shepherd

The rock holds the heat and there is almost no shade. Climb at first light, turn back if your dog is panting hard, and skip it entirely in the middle of a hot day - the stairs and bare rock are no place for paws at midday.

Getting there. The trailhead is off Gardiner Street in North Ward, a short walk from the North Ward cafe district and about 15 minutes on foot from the city centre. Direct bus access to the trailhead is limited, so most people walk in or drive.

Nearby with the dogs. North Ward and Strand cafes with outdoor seating are an easy walk for a post-climb coffee and a water bowl, and the foreshore walkway is close for a flatter cool-down leg.

When to go. Very early morning or near sunset, well clear of the midday heat. The hill draws thousands of users a day, so weekends and the cooler tourist months are busy and the narrow track gets crowded - an early start gives you cooler rock and a clearer path.