Distance: 3.3 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Unmaintained track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 536m to 696m. Gain: 257m. Loss: 112m . Gradient: 6 deg (Gentle)
Skills:

Unmaintained track (5/9)
Former track, overgrown - markers / ground trail still followable

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

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

From the parkjing area at the Rimutaka Hill Rd summit, a graveled track leads noirth along the ridgeline. The roadbed soon ends, replaced by a poorly maintained tramping track winding along the ridgeline.

The first kilometer or so is scrubby, with more gorse than is pleasant, but has views of the Wairarapa and Kaitoke. At the 2nd saddle the track enters bush and is far clearer and less scrubby. Unfortunately at pt653 the scrub and gorse returns, and the track markers and cutting ceases for the last 300m to the pylon. A short 4wd track leads north to join the pylon track at the tiop of its ascent from Kaitoke.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A short 4wd trackleads along the ridgeline to the nearest pylon, from the point where the pylon track starts its descent to Kaitoke. From the roadend at the pylon, a scrubby, poorly maintained tramping track commences heading SE along the ridgeline through the gorse. 300m later, at pt653 native bush starts and the track is suddenly cut and marked. Scrub returns a kilometer or so later, but the track has been cut and though scratchy through gorse is easily followed all the way to the Rimutaka Hill Rd summit.

For those heading on into the Rimutakas, the access on tio the railtrail summit is via Back Rd, 300m down the hill n the Wellington side, at the 2nd carpark and locked gate (the first is the Rimutaka Summit trig track).