Rating: 5.5/10
Last visited: April 2021
The walk from Crystal Cascades to Copperlode Dam is another great short hike located close to Cairns City. We have to rate this walk strenuous purely due to how steep the first section of the walk is, it is a real calf burner.
The distance is about 6.22 km long, you gain about 498 metres elevation and it will take you roughly 2 hours return (including time at the top to soak in the views).
The trail starts at Crystal Cascades in Redlynch, from the carpark walk around 150 metres and you will spot the trailhead off to your left.
From the start of the trail it gets steep real quick. The trail is very well defined so you shouldn't be able to get lost. There is one opportunity for views out to the ocean on the way up, otherwise it is all rainforest. Be wary of cassowaries, we have come across them on this track before. Just stay out of their way and make yourself taller than them. As silly as you will feel, hold a big branch or stick above your head-> this makes you taller than the cassowary and they will be more scared of you and hopefully clear off the path for you.
The trail will eventually lead you to a yellow boom gate and just after it will pop out onto Copperlode Dam Road, you need to turn right and keep walking along the road until you reach the dam and lookout. As well as the lookout you can walk down to the dam and to the spillway for a look.
The only thing we don't like about this walk is that you can have the same views of the Dam if you drove up Copperlode Dam (we tend to like our rewards well earned with no easy way of obtaining it).
Remember when returning to take your left back onto the track, if you miss the turn-off it is approximately 15.5 km walk to base of Copperlode Dam Road and you will be no where near your car. On a side note we did actually once decide it would be a great idea to car shuttle and walk up from Crystal Cascades and walk down the Copperlode Dam Road. We would not recommend this, it is a long walk to the base on concrete which is not great on the body. We were more sore walking on the concrete road than we have been doing some of the bigger day long hikes! If you have a burning desire to travel the whole distance of the road, take it from us- just drive!
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