Distance: 3.5 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1091m to 1238m. Gain: 179m. Loss: 32m . Gradient: 3 deg (Flat)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot, avalanche risk (3/7)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

Snow/ice underfoot, avalanche risk (difficulty: 3/7)
Snow/ice likely on track, tramp crosses avalance paths

Avalanche risk is present at and near Stone Hut. The hut is not recommended for use when >500mm of snow is present on slopes above (DOC)

A sparsely poled, but well work route head up Bush Stream from Stone Hut. Crossing to the western bank just above the hut, the creek enters a gorge and 2 more crossings are required. Once trough the track remains on the true left (west) for 2km, before crossing again to the true right (east). A signposted turnoff along an obvious track to Forest Creek is reached 200m later.

If the river is impassable, it is possible to cross at Stone Hut using the bridge, and continue all the way up the western bank, passing over pt1408 to avoid the gorge. You would still need to cross to reach Royal Hut, but could continue up to Stag Saddle with only minor side stream crossings.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A poled route with a good ground trail heads north down the east side of Bush Stream from the Forest Creek Turnoff, crossing to the west bank at the confluence 200m later. The valley becomes gorged after 2km, and the track crosses the creek 3 times before reaching Stone Hut. If the river is high, travel all the way on the true left (west) from Royal Hut is possible, but you need to climb over pt1408 to avoid the gorge. A bridge below Stone Hut provides safe crossing.