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Walsh's Pyramids Hike in Cairns - Complete Hiking Guide
A quick guide to hiking Walsh Pyramid from Cairns. Tackle one of the most unique trails on the Cairns coast in tropical north Queensland. Just south of Cairns is the world's tallest free-standing natural pyramid; Walsh's pyramid. Hikers who choose to climb the peak will be rewarded with some of the best panoramic views of the Cairns and Innisfail coastline. In this short walking guide I will detail how to get to Walshs Pyramid, information on trails and hikes, and what to expect. You will also find some photos of the route and the summit, which I hope...
Walsh's Pyramids Hike in Cairns - Complete Hiking Guide
A quick guide to hiking Walsh Pyramid from Cairns. Tackle one of the most unique trails on the Cairns coast in tropical north Queensland.
Just south of Cairns is the world's tallest free-standing natural pyramid; Walsh's pyramid. Hikers who choose to climb the peak will be rewarded with some of the best panoramic views of the Cairns and Innisfail coastline.
In this short walking guide I will detail how to get to Walshs Pyramid, information on trails and hikes, and what to expect. You will also find some photos of the route and summit that I hope will inspire you to tackle this epic route!
Featured in: 36 Best Cairns Hikes
Walsh's Pyramid – A natural free-standing pyramid
Walsh’s Pyramid is an independent peak rising above sugar cane fields in the small town of Gordonvale.
At first glance, you'd be excused if you make the mistake of thinking it's an artificial pyramid covered in eucalyptus bushes. However, the mountain is actually a natural phenomenon and the highest of its kind in the world.
Walsh's pyramid height
Wondering how tall Walsh's pyramid actually is?
The height of the Walsh Pyramid is 922 meters above sea level. Hikers start fairly close to sea level, so the total elevation is almost 900m.
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This is how you get to the hiking trail
The start of the Walsh’s Pyramid trail is approximately 25 km from Cairns. Expect a 30-minute drive.
To get here you need to take the Bruce Highway (A1) south and turn right at the Moss Access Road, just a few hundred meters after crossing the Mulgrave River over the Desmond Trannore Bridge.
After turning onto Moss Access Road, round the bend and find a small car park on the left, which is also the starting point for the Walshs Pyramid walk.
I have pinned the exact location of the trail parking lot below to help you. If you navigate to this pin, it's truly impossible to get lost. Don't make the common mistake of following Google Maps directions to the pyramid itself, as you will be directed to private property.
The Walsh Pyramid Hike
The Cairns Pyramid Walk can be considered a fairly strenuous hiking trail due to the almost 900 meters of elevation gain required to reach the summit. However, the route is easy to follow and well marked in most sections and does not require any climbing or technically difficult sections.
The total distance is 3.1 km to the summit of Walsh's Pyramid. Allow approximately 2 hours to reach the summit, depending on your speed and fitness level.
There are markers on every kilometer. You also need to look for ribbons and triangular markers on the trees that indicate the route to the summit.
Walsh’s Pyramid Track is quite steep due to the naturally steep slope of the pyramid. While it's not extremely difficult, you'll need to at least have a decent level of fitness to attempt it.
Walh’s Pyramid hiking trail details
The trail begins at the parking lot marked on the map above. Almost immediately the trail becomes steeper and begins to gain altitude.
The start of the route is fairly dense with vegetation. However, just after the 2KM mark you break out into a small clearing with large boulders.
This is a good place to take a short break and enjoy the view. Navigating the sloping scree field is probably the most difficult section.
My best advice in this section is that if you lose sight of any markers, go back the way you came up until you find one again. In general, after the rocky clearing, you should keep left and avoid going up the wrong, well-trodden paths to the right.
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The next section to the summit is pretty straight forward and you shouldn't have any problems. However, it seems like the route gets a bit steeper towards the top, so prepare your legs for a burn.
The last few hundred meters are the steepest of the entire Walshs Pyramid hike. It's not about climbing, but rather a steady climb up to the ledge at the summit.
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See also: The ultimate packing list for Cairns
Views from the summit of Walsh Pyramid
Once you finally reach the summit, you'll have sweeping 360-degree views, including the islands outside Innisfail, Cairns and Trinity Inlet, as well as the mountain backdrop to the south.
There are several places to sit and rest and enjoy the view. I found the best view was just a little further down past the summit where there are some large flat rocks that make a perfect vantage point.
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Related: Best waterfalls in Cairns
Tips for hiking Walh’s Pyramid in Cairns
I would recommend starting the hike to Walsh Pyramid early in the morning, even before dawn. This is because it can get quite hot along the route and you can enjoy some incredible sunrise views even halfway through.
Also pay attention to the route markings. In some sections it can be a little difficult to stay on the trail, especially if there is persistent fog or cloud cover near the summit.
Since this hike will take at least 3.4 to 4 hours, also remember to bring water as you won't find any along the way.
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Best time to attempt the Walsh pyramid hike
It is possible to climb the Walsh Pyramid all year round, but it definitely gets warmer in the hot, humid season.
Cairns has a tropical climate with two main seasons; wet and dry. April to November is considered the dry season, with Cairns experiencing less rain and cooler, drier weather. This is the best time to undertake the trek as there is less chance of rain and the climb is more comfortable.
Expect more rain and hot and humid conditions with an average of 28 to 34 degrees for the rest of the year. For up-to-date information about the weather in Cairns and the Walsh’s Pyramid Walk I always use Willyweather.
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The annual pyramid race
The Walsh’s Pyramid Race is an annual trail running event that starts and finishes in Gordonvale. It's a grueling race with a lot of climbing. On average, the winners take about an hour and a half.
More photos from Walsh’s Pyramid Summit
Looking for some photos of the Walsh Pyramid to inspire your hike? Check out some of the shots I took of the sunrise and the expansive views from the track and summit. The featured image at the top of this blog post shows the Walsh Pyramid from Behana Gorge Road.
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Cairns Accommodation Guide – Where to Stay
Are you planning a trip to Cairns and wondering where to base yourself? Below I have listed some of the best options near Cairns Esplanade. I have also written a comprehensive accommodation guide for Cairns as well as a comprehensive accommodation guide for Port Douglas.
Crystalbrook Riley – If you’re looking for luxury and location, Crystalrbook Riley can’t be beat. This is the best 5 star resort in Cairns and offers absolutely everything you would expect from a Crystalbrook resort.
Tip: Be sure to head to Rocco’s Bar at the top of Crystalbrook Riley for great views over Cairns!
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Rydges Resort – This hotel offers great value for an epic stay at a decent price! The location is perfect, close to the Esplanade and has three swimming pools, two tennis courts, a hot tub, a fitness center and even an award-winning restaurant.
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Fitzroy Island Resort – If you prefer to stay on one of the picturesque islands of the Great Barrier Reef, look no further than Fitzroy Island Resort. While you can do a day trip here, I highly recommend spending the night so you have more time to explore the reef, coral beaches, and rainforest hiking trails.
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Gilligan’s Backpackers – The best backpacker option for a great atmosphere in Cairns is Gilligan’s Backpackers. That's because this one has a swimming pool, air conditioning, a full kitchen and a great common area to meet other travelers.
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More Cairns hikes and adventures
Did you enjoy the Walsh Pyramid hike and are you looking for more epic adventures near Cairns?
Below is a list of other hikes, waterfalls and adventure activities in Cairns. Before you go, also check out this list of the best things to do in Cairns!
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