Distance: 11.6 km (4.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 298m to 740m. Gain: 5m. Loss: 447m . Gradient: 2 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

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

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is 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

Prolonged rivers (difficulty: 4/6)
Frequent river travel - impassible after rain, risk of getting trapped

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

Below Upper Deception Hut the track continues beside the river for a short distance, crossing a few times, until you reach broad gravel flats. From here to the confluence with the Otira travel is down the riverbed and banks, crossing frequently. The route is poled. In normal flows the river should be knee deep but it will rise after rain and will become impassible in high flows.

Shortly before the Otria Kanuka scrub appears on flats beside the river and the track becomes marked and cut, first on the true left, later the true right. It runs through a final section of bush to emerge at the Morrisons Bridge.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the Morrisons Bridge, follow the signposted track through podocarp forest then kanuka into the lower Deception. Travel from here is up the river flats, crossing frequently as required. The route is poled. In normal flows the river should be knee deep but it will rise after rain and will become impassible in high flows.

Shortly before Upper Deception Hut sections of track commence on the river banks and the flats end. Continue upriver on the marked track / route, crossing as indicated to reach Upper Deception Hut 20m from the river on the eastern valleyside.