Distance: 5.8 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 355m to 960m. Gain: 661m. Loss: 139m . Gradient: 8 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

This is a reasonable winter trip possible without ice-axe or crampons if snow is above 800m. It crosses (in beech) below avalanche paths for the last 1.5km to Cameron Hut so awareness of avalanche conditions would be advisable.

A steep / exposed tramping track sidles the Camerons Creek valley from the roadend to Camerons Hut. Long sections of narrow track with exposure to fatal falls are present.

From the carpark a gravelled benched track runs 300m to a lookout, where the tramping track begins. Climbing steadily the track enters the Camerons valley 100m above the river and sidles. The valleyside is steep and the track is cut but not benched. There are many sections where a slip would lead to a fall of 100m or more - take care. Two small side creeks are crossed - look out for the track exiting the far side of each at roughly the same height as it enters.

Eventually the track drops to the river above the major falls. After crossing the foot of one small slip a further shuts sidle section follows, and then another 100m-or-so of riverbed to reach a point where progress is blocked by bluffs. One small triangle on the far bank is all that marks the crossing - not obvious - but if you followed the track to the river, and proceeded until bluffs blocked your way then you're there.

The Camerons river is swift and knee deep in normal flows. Rapids are present starting just downriver and this is not a place you'd want to lose your footing. The river rises significantly after rain and can easily become impassable. If in doubt, do not cross.

Once on the SW bank, the track cuts briefly back downriver (20m or so) round the base of small bluffs and then climbs over them. An old wooden 'track' sign was all that marked the start. The track then sidles the southern/western valleyside upriver, dropping twice to the riverbed then climbing again. Once past the crossing the slopes are much gentler and the track less tricky.

The track drops to grassy flats 500m below Camerons Hut, passes through a small beech section and follows the western bank top forks. Cross the western fork and continue 50m up the eastern fork to where Cameron Hut is visible 20m from the river.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A steep / exposed tramping track sidles the Camerons Creek valley to the roadend from Camerons Hut. Long sections of narrow track with exposure to fatal falls are present.

From Cameron Hut, follow the western bank downriver to where markers mark the start of the sidle track. The track climbs and sidles in beech forest 100m above the river for 4km before dropping back to the river on narrow stoney flats. A couple of short sidle sections follow. The track finally drops to the river in a gorged section with bluffs / slips opposite. Cross the river above the rapids, just below the start of bluffs opposite.

The Camerons river is swift and knee deep in normal flows. Rapids are present starting just downriver and this is not a place you'd want to lose your footing. The river rises significantly after rain and can easily become impassable. If in doubt, do not cross.

Head downriver at the base of slips until you spot a sidle track climbing the face - the start is not obvoius or well marked, but you should spot the work trail climbing across the base of the slip.

Once in the bush a well marked track climbs and sidles downriver. The track is narrow and not benched, and the river soon drops 100m over falls, leaving you sidling just above bluffs over 100m in height - this is not a place to slip - take care.

Eventually you sidle out of the the gorge and the track drops steadily towards the Makarora valley floor. The last 300m are on a gravelled, benched track from the lookout to the carpark.