A WOMAN has had a lucky escape visiting a popular Far North tourist location.

Police were called on Saturday at about 9am after a 19-year-old German tourist became disoriented and lost in the Barron Gorge National Park as heavy rain and bad weather descended. 

The woman managed to contact police with her limited phone reception and provide officers with an approximate location and advised she had no food, water, shelter or protection from the elements. 

Kuranda Police and the Cairns dog squad joined a search for the woman, which started at the Speewah side of the Barron Gorge.

The woman was located at about 8.45pm near a water crossing and was able to walk out of the forest with police. She was not injured and later returned to her accommodation in Cairns.