Distance: 2.2 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 261m to 477m. Gain: 21m. Loss: 220m . Gradient: 6 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

Secondary, mapped (3/5)
Formal route, on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

A rough route with a potentially tricky crossing of the Styx at the Tyndall / Styx confluence. Note that the eastern access to Mid Styx is the easier of the two.

From Mid Styx Hut, follow the rough cut/marked route west across wooded terraces until it starts to drop steeply into Tyndall Creek. The ground trail ended at the lip (2017) and markers became hard to locate - so if in doubt just bush-bash down to the creek.

Follow Tyndall Creek 1.5km down to the confluence with the Styx. The uneven, stony riverbed is often the best option, with bands of ongaonga on the banks making travel there tough.

The crossing of the Styx at the confluence was marginal when I visited. Deep short pools with white-water tumbles between them. I was able to boulder-crawl / wade waist deep across at this point, but the crossing is not recommended. Remotehuts suggest following the stoat line on the southern bank downriver to the first grassy flat where farmland begins, and crossing to the northern bank there.

The Styx Pack Track is 10m up the northern valleyside from the river - a short scramble. The 'junction' is not marked.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description