Distance: 6.7 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 394m to 821m. Gain: 290m. Loss: 663m . Gradient: 8 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

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

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

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

A good cut track connects the Cromel/Ashton track to Cromel Base Hut.

From the track junction (marked with a large triangle only), a cut marked track climbs steeply east, gaining 60m before sidling the valleyside south to reach the ridgeline at a saddle. A further 1.5km of ridgeline track follows, before the track drops east and sidles the eastern face. The track finally descends directly to the Cromel River down a spur 50m north of the creek draining pt768. The representation of this track on Topo50 and NZMS260 maps is incorrect.

Once in the valley the track follows the western bank until the last creek 1km upriver of Cromel Base Hut (again incorrect on maps) before crossing to the eastern bank. The crossing is knee deep and could easily flood after rain. The next sidecreek upriver is also quite deep and requires good selection of a crossing pint.

Once on the eastern bank, the track picks up an old 4WD track which it follows downstream. A signposted turnoff to Mt Bee Huts is passed, and Cromel base Hut is 500m beyond. This hut is 50m east of the main track up another 4WD track

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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