Klein Lake

Klein Lake near Earls Cove on the Sunshine Coast is a relaxed out-and-back hike that feels more like a long forest wander than a grind. At 8.7 km with about 236 m of gain, it’s classed as easy and usually takes just over two hours, with most of the effort packed into the first stretch. The payoff is a quiet forest trail that drops you at a lakeside campground with options to swim, picnic, or just sit by the water before heading back.

The Klein Lake trail starts with roughly 2 km of steady uphill through second-growth forest, with benches and a viewpoint that give you an excuse to stop and look out over the trees. After that, the route rolls gently along, partly on singletrack and partly on old and active forest service roads, all the way to the lakeshore. There’s no big mountain panorama at the end, but the lake itself is calm and clear, with docks and campsites dotted along the edge and a day-use area if you’re willing to walk the extra bit around the road.

Recent hikers say the trail is well marked, but it’s easy to miss the short turnoff to the lake, so keep an eye out for the dock. Expect leaf litter hiding rocks and roots, some puddles, and the odd downed tree to step over; in winter or right after snow, light traction can be handy on the initial climb. There’s car access and bathrooms at the Klein Lake recreation site, benches along the way, and usually not many people, making this a good year-round leg-stretcher when you just want an easy forest hike with a swim option at the end.