Herberton Range National Park, Herberton Range Conservation Park, Herberton Range State Forest and Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve Tropical North Queensland

Photo credit: Tamara Vallance; Tamara Vallance; TIMBA; Tamara Vallance, Queensland Government; Tamara Vallance

Be inspired: Mountain biking in north Queensland parks—feel the burn!

Want to take leg day to the next level? Sometimes you just have to say, ‘what the heck, let’s do it’. Queensland National Parks, particularly those in the north, offer some gnarly mountain bike trails&hellip… Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

Things to do

    View from Mount Baldy.

    View from Mount Baldy.

    Photo credit: Tamara Vallance

    The Herberton Range offers many opportunities for visitors to explore and enjoy the natural surrounds.

    Camping and accommodation

    Bush camp in various locations throughout Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve. Camping permits are required and fees and restrictions apply.

    Camping is not permitted in Herberton Range National Park, Herberton Range Conservation Park or Herberton Range State Forest.

    Other accommodation

    There is a range of holiday accommodation on the Atherton and Evelyn tablelands. For more information, see the tourism information links.

    Walking

    The Atherton walking trails were winners in the Government Achievement section of the 2015 QORF Queensland Outdoor Recreation Awards. Don’t miss you chance to visit this award-winning facility.

    Maps

    Halls Falls walking track

    Herberton Range Conservation Park

    Grade 5

    Distance: 520m return
    Time: allow 15mins walking time
    Details: take this short walk through a forest of brushbox to where numerous streams of cool, clear water tumble gently over the polished granite walls. Take care on uneven and slippery surfaces and beware of loose rocks. This is a walking track only—horses and mountain bikes are not permitted.

    Baldy-Yabi circuit walk

    Herberton Range State Forest and Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve

    Grade 4

    Distance: 8.4km return
    Time: allow 2.5hrs walking time
    Details: This difficult walk, which includes the 1109m summit of Mount Baldy and the 1055m summit of Yabi Mountain, offers generous views of the Atherton Tableland and Lake Tinaroo. The walk is strenuous with steep sections and loose rock. A moderate level of fitness is required. The walk to either summit from the nearest car park takes a person of moderate fitness about 45 minutes. The walk up Yabi Mountain is slightly longer, but less steep, than the walk up Mount Baldy. Ensure you observe the shooting range danger signs (PDF, 162.9KB) and stay on the walking track at all times. Please choose a walking option for the Baldy-Yabi circuit walk (PDF, 262.4KB) that will allow you enough time to return in daylight. Dogs are permitted on this track but they must be on a leash. Please note mountain bikes are not permitted on this track. The Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park is situated nearby and provides a purpose built facility for mountain bike riders of all skills and ability.

    Trail-bike riding and driving

    Maps

    Drive or ride Herberton Range’s network of internal roads and firebreaks. Not all roads are shown on the maps and intersections may not be sign posted. Riders and drivers must be licensed and trail-bikes and vehicles must be registered. Expect to share the roads with pedestrians, horses, cyclists and other vehicles. Stay on formed roads and firebreaks—trail-bikes and vehicles are not permitted off-road, including on walking tracks and mountain bike trails.

    The unmarked fire trails in the north-west section of Herberton Range National Park (PDF, 121.8KB) are suitable for four-wheel-drive vehicles only. These trails are very steep and rocky and should only be accessed by experienced drivers in suitable off-road vehicles.

    Drovers Lookout track, Herberton Range Conservation Park

    Distance: 250m return
    Time: allow 0.5min driving time
    Details: this short track to Drovers lookout will reward you with expansive eastern views over the tablelands. Remember to take your camera.

    Herberton Range ridge road, Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve

    Distance: 17.5km one way
    Time: allow 1.5hrs driving time
    Details: this four-wheel-drive road winds its way through a section of the Herberton Range, rising from 780m near the rifle range to just over 1200m at the highest point. The road travels through open forest of mostly bloodwoods and ironbarks. As the elevation increases, the vegetation changes to rainforest, with wet, high-altitude rainforest surrounding the peaks. On the lower slopes and foothills the road travels through a drier forest of turpentines, red mahogany and she-oaks. Riders and drivers must be licensed and trail-bikes and vehicles must be registered. Expect to share the road with pedestrians, horses, cyclists and other vehicles.

    For more information, see trail-bike riding and four-wheel driving.

    Mountain biking

    Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park

    This network of mountain bike trails in the Herberton Range is accessed from the northern entrance to the Herberton Range ridge road (PDF, 121.8KB) . Detailed information including trail grades and distances can be found at Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park.

    Internal roads

    Mountain bike through Herberton Range on the network of internal roads and firebreaks. Not all roads are shown on the maps and intersections may not be sign posted. Expect to share the roads with pedestrians, trail-bikes, horses, vehicles and other cyclists.

    For more information, see cycling.

    Horse riding

    Horse riding is permitted in the Herberton Range Conservation Park on the trails indicated on the map (PDF, 141.6KB) . Not all trails and roads are shown on the map and intersections may not be signposted. Horse riding is also permitted on roads and firebreaks in Herberton Range State Forest and Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve. For more information see horse riding.

    Horse riding is not permitted in Herberton Range National Park.