Distance: 3.4 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy terrain
Altitude: 974m to 1307m. Gain: 127m. Loss: 393m . Gradient: 9 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7)

Benched track (3/9)
Benched, maintained, marked tramping track or pack-track

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

There's an emergency shelter at Harris Saddle and a worthwhile side trip up Conical Hill with great views. The Routeburn Track carries on through bluffs above Lake Harris and drops down through a valley to reach Falls Hut. Climb down behind the helicopter pad here to swim under the falls!

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

On track, climb away from the Routeburn Falls Hut to a broadening of the valley and a brief respite before climbing again and sidling above Lake Harris. The track turns left into Harris Saddle, two emergency shelters on your right. If weather and time permit, a good side trip Conical Hill gives panoramic views.