Walshs Pyramid Hike – The Ultimate Guide
Walshs Pyramid is a challenging hike just 20 kilometers to the south of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Seeing the pyramid is easy as you travel south along Bruce Highway. Finding the trail at the base of the mountain is a little harder, but the biggest challenge is easily the climb. This hike is not for the faint of heart as you will be climbing up about 800 meters over three kilometers of trail. If this still interests you, keep reading below.
Getting to Walshs Pyramid
Finding Walshs Pyramid is pretty straightforward. As you travel south along Bruce Highway, you will start to see a mountain that resembles the shape of a pyramid. You might even think that it was an ancient human-made pyramid that covered in trees. Men did not create it, but it is the highest freestanding natural pyramid in the world. To find the trailhead, you will need to cross Mulgrave River and then take the next right, Moss Access. There is a carpark that is signed down this road. The carpark is right at the base of the mountain and next to the start of the trial.
Necessary items for the hike
Now before you start hiking up Walshs Pyramid, you will need to make sure you have a few things. I recommend bringing a wide-brimmed hat to help protect your face from the sun. Put on sunscreen before you start the hike and bring some with you to reapply during the trek. Bring A LOT of water with you. There will not be any options to fill up with more water on the trail. I took 3.5 liters of water with me and ran out with 0.5 kilometers remaining to the carpark. I could have easily drunk another liter during the hike. The last things you should bring are some trail snacks and maybe lunch. You will need high energy foods to give you an extra boost during the climb.
Walshs Pyramid trail will prove challenging
The top of Walshs Pyramid is a little more than three kilometers from the base, and there are markers every kilometer. The hike should take you somewhere between 3 and 6 hours, depending on your fitness level. As you begin the trek, you will notice some orange triangles to mark the trail. It is essential to look for these as some parts of the trail are hard to follow without them.
The trail has many rocks and roots, so it is crucial to watch your footing, especially on the way down. Some parts of the trail also involve climbing up steeper smooth rocks that could be slippery in wet conditions. Numerous times you will also climb up some boulders. Many times along the path, you will probably feel like you are almost to the top, but these are all false summits. Around the 3km marker, you should be able to see the actual top, but it could easily take you another 30 minutes to reach it.
Take your time and enjoy the views
There are many amazing places to look out at the surrounding landscape along the trail, so make sure you take your time and enjoy every view offered. The top of Walshs Pyramid will provide for the best view of all, though. On a mostly sunny day, you should have no trouble seeing Cairns in the distance. Make sure you also exercise caution on the top as the many drop-offs could end in death if you fall.
If you decide you want to conquer Walshs Pyramid, keep in mind the toll this mountain will extract. Numerous times for myself, I truly believed that I would not make it. I managed to push through only by making a lot of stops to catch my breath and drink some more water. Is this hike worth it? I would say yes, but be prepared to pay the toll.
