The best walks and hikes in Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve

This trailhead is the main access point for walks to Mount Baldy, Yabi Mountain, and the full circuit in the Herberton Range State Forest. There is information signage with route options to help walkers choose between shorter summit hikes or the full circuit, and parking areas right next to the trailhead off Rifle Range Road.

Baldy–Yabi Circuit Walk is a relatively challenging loop that runs just over 8 kilometres in the Herberton Range, connecting the summits of Mount Baldy and Yabi Mountain through wet sclerophyll forest, rainforest, and along rocky ridgelines. Steep climbs, loose rock, and changing terrain can make it a strenuous trek, but the reward for your efforts is sweeping views across the Atherton Tablelands and Lake Tinaroo. The route is popular for its variety of landscapes, combining exposed lookout points with cooler, shaded forest sections on the way down.

Yabi Mountain Lookout sits on the 1,055-metre summit of Yabi Mountain, with fantastic elevated views across the Atherton Tablelands, surrounding forested ranges, and Lake Tinaroo in the distance. Reached via the Baldy–Yabi Circuit or a shorter return walk, this lookout is slightly less steep to access than nearby Mount Baldy while still providing breathtaking scenery, especially in clear weather.