Routeburn Track Winter Guide
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Most people think that New Zealand’s famous Routeburn Track can only be hiked in the summer, and this is incorrect! While you can’t complete the whole track in the winter, the Routeburn Track winter hike is simply gorgeous and worth checking out! This blog is a guide to the portions of the track you can complete in winter along with tips!
Routeburn Track Winter Guide
The Routeburn Track is one of the busiest trails in New Zealand – in summer that is! In winter though, the Routeburn Track becomes a ghost land with only very few hikers venturing onto the pristine trail. This is largely due to the cold weather and the fact that hiking the entire trail in winter is downright dangerous.
However, there is a large section of the trail that can be hiked all year round and with the right preparation that is completely safe! In my opinion, it’s a great time to avoid the large crowds and get out and see some snow!
For those thinking the same as I did, this blog is here to help you have fun but avoid any unnecessary risk on the trail. In no way is this a “you shouldn’t go” post but more of an “if you’re going to go, only go to where it is safe”.
I will also let you know of a couple of great Routeburn Track winter trips that range from 1 day to an overnight adventure!
What are the risks of a Routeburn Track winter hike?
Avalanches – Likely the most dangerous risk of a Routeburn Track winter trip is avalanches. Even on day hikes where you do not complete the mountain pass, there are large areas where steep cliffs and large amounts of snowfall create areas where avalanches are just part of the décor.
Hypothermia – With the remoteness of the trail and the very few visitors in winter, hiking the Routeburn Track can put you at risk of hypothermia. If you were to injure yourself and be forced to spend the night in the sub-zero temperatures things could turn for the worse very quickly
Large Snow Fall- The trail itself in the alpine areas receives lots of snow. These areas can make the track impossible to find and open you up to new dangers like falling through the deep snow. Losing track of the path and getting lost is also a quick way to turn a fun trip to a dangerous one.
How far can you go?
*This will all depend on recent weather conditions so please check with the DOC (Department of Conservation) beforehand.
From the Queenstown side, you can make it to Routeburn Flats without any trouble. This area is not alpine and only elevates to around 600m. This section of the trail is a flat 7.5km one-way trip. You could complete this in around 3 to 4 hours return.
Once you begin heading further in than Routeburn Flats is where the dangers begin to arise. From the Flats, you must begin your ascent up the trail to the Routeburn Falls Hut. Although most of this trail is covered in thick forest, some areas are exposed and in the dead of winter can collect snow.
This part of the track should only be hiked if conditions are good and there is little to snowfall on the track.
In the middle of winter, the Routeburn Falls Hut is as far as you should go.
The next section of the hike poses a high risk of avalanches. This section is before the Harris Saddle. Here, you enter a large valley where the trail follows the bottom of large mountain peaks.
These peaks collect large amounts of snow and make hiking far too dangerous during avalanche risk times. Also, this is likely where the track will start to disappear under the snow,
making both walking and finding the trail more difficult.
How far I went
I hiked the Routeburn Track at the start of spring when there had been a week or so of warm temperatures and a few weeks without heavy snowfall. Both Bailey and I always said we would hike as far as was safe and actually made it to Lake Harris (about an hour past Routeburn Falls). There was lots of snow on the ground, however not on the mountains. We could also easily spot the orange poles that marked the track.
Read our blog all about our Routeburn Track day hike experience!
Recommendations
There are several different ways you can hike the Routeburn Track in winter, however, one we can rule out is hiking past the Harris Saddle.
Hiking to the Routeburn Falls Hut and back
This option is great as there is no need to buy a hut pass and in one day you can be in and out! The hike up to the falls is 10km long one-way and takes you high above the valley floor raising you in altitude by 600m!
By no means is this a short day, but its a great way for those who are short on time and up for a long day hike!
Overnight at the Routeburn Falls Hut
After making the trip up and back in a day I realized that the best way to hike the Routeburn in winter is by spending the night at the Routeburn Falls Hut. This way you can take your time on both the way up and down, and then spend the night in a quiet hut with some pretty spectacular views!
Of course, even in winter the huts still cost money but the great thing is they never book out! You can buy your hut pass at any of the DOC offices! There is one in Queenstown so you can get your pass before you head up!
Overall
The Routeburn Track winter hike was an amazing experience that I highly recommend. Though there are more dangers in winter I loved the quietness of the track and venturing through the snow was really cool!
If your a hiker who loves getting away from the busy trails but still wants to hike one of New Zealand’s Great Walks then a Routeburn Track winter hike is the perfect option!
There are some really incredible other places to hike on New Zealand’s South Island, be sure not to miss out on the Tasman Lake, the Hooker Valley, Roy’s Peak, Moke Lake, the Sealy Tarns Track, Omarama Clay Cliffs, and the Blue Pools.
-Daniel
November 5, 2019
