Distance: 7.2 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy terrain
Altitude: 496m to 592m. Gain: 146m. Loss: 63m . Gradient: 2 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

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 poled route heads up rough farmed flats from the swingbridge, climbing the valleyside once to get round bluffs, but mainly on the valley floor. Beech forest is reached shortly before Gabriel Hut.
1.5-3 hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Heading down the Hurunui from Gabriel Hut the track soon exits beech forest and enters farmland. A poled route continues down the valley over rough flats, climbing once to pass above bluffs 1km before reaching the swingbridge where the track junction is signposted.

1.5-3hrs