Walshs Pyramid, Cairns: Location, height & summit walk
The 6km hike up Walshs Pyramid is a Cairns rite of passage. But the trek to the summit of this 922km pyramid-shaped mountain south of Gordonvale is tough-going.
What is Walshs Pyramid?
Walshs Pyramid is a mountain in Wooroonooran National Park, Queensland. It is just to the south of Cairns, and its prominent, standalone nature makes it a Cairns landmark. You’ll drive past on Bruce Highway when travelling from Innisfail to Cairns, or Cairns to Mission Beach.
You’ll also go past on an Atherton Tableland day tour that takes in Paronella Park, Lake Barrine and Millaa Millaa Falls.
Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday
- Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
- Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
- Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
- Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
- Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
- Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
- Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.
Where is Walshs Pyramid?
Walshs Pyramid is just to the south of Gordonvale, and 25km south of Cairns. The Walshs Pyramid car park is on Moss Road, just after crossing the Mulgrave River Bridge. If you come to the road for Behana Gorge, you’ve gone too far.
Why is Walshs Pyramid shaped like a pyramid?
Walshs Pyramid hasn’t always had its distinctive pyramid shape. It has eroded to become this shape over time, with softer metamorphic rock crumbling away and the harder granite core remaining.
Walshs Pyramid is 922 metres high. Getting to the top of it is something of a Cairns rite of passage.
Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance
- From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
- At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
- For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
- For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
- For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.
Walshs Pyramid summit walk
The Walshs Pyramid summit walk is along a 6km return track. It is steep, strenuous, rocky and unshaded. Only fit walkers with experience should attempt the ascent, and it is best to start out early in the morning to avoid heatstroke.
Either way, make sure you’re down before dark – you do not want to be stumbling near the cliff edges.
The return walk to the summit of Walshs Pyramid takes most people five to six hours.
Wooroonooran National Park attractions
Other Wooroonooran National Park highlights include Windin Falls, Mount Bartle Frere, Josephine Falls and Nandroya Falls.
Natural attractions elsewhere in Cairns include Fairy Falls, the Crystal Cascades, Copperlode Dam, the Barron Gorge National Park and Isabella Falls.
More Queensland travel
How long is the drive from Hideaway Bay to Airlie Beach?
What to see on the drive from Moranbah to Mackay.
Visit Isabella Falls on the Gordonvale to Cairns drive?
What to see on a Gold Coast to Rockhampton road trip.
How long is the Trinity Beach to Cairns drive?