Distance: 2.2 km (0.8 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1238m to 1330m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 92m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) 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

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

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

Short uphill slopes, but avalanche risk reported by DOC.

From Royal Hut an old farm track heads downriver on the true right (east), now very faint and overgrown. The route is sparsely poled.

After 2km a signpost on an obvious section of track marks the junction with the track east to Forest Creek.

Travel downstream to Stone Hut on the western bank is also possible if you have been unable to cross at Royal Hut

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the Forest Creek / Bush Stream track junction an old, fain farm track heads up Bush Stream on the eastern bank. The route is sparsely poled. Royal Hut is reached after 2km.