Distance: 4.2 km (1.3 DOC hours) - Road - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 476m to 558m. Gain: 104m. Loss: 23m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Road (1/9)
Formed road, 4WD track, etc

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, 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

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

A rough 4WD track heads up the riverbed to Cowshed Hut from Iron Spur. Several crossing are required - shin deep and a few meters wide on round river rocks - easy on foot or in a good 4WD. A rough crossing of The Bowels of the Earth and build-up on the upslope side of the track at a slip just upstream of it stop all but high-clearance 4WD access to the upper valley. The first 1km of the easement to Iron Spur is on the farmer's side of the fence - so the usual restriction regarding dogs & firearms apply.

Cowshed Hut is on the southern bank on a terrace.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A rough 4WD track heads down the riverbed from Cowshed Hut to Iron Spur. Several crossing are required - shin deep and a few meters wide on round river rocks - easy on foot or in a good 4WD. The last 1km of the easement to Iron Spur is on the farmer's side of the fence - so the usual restriction regarding dogs & firearms apply. A rough crossing of The Bowels of the Earth and build-up on the upslope side of the track at a slip just upstream of it stop all but high-clearance 4WD access to the upper valley.

The hut shown at Iron Spur has been removed - just the dog kennels remain.