Distance: 4.2 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 560m to 733m. Gain: 492m. Loss: 319m . Gradient: 11 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, 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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

From the DOC sign behind Mid Pohangina Hut a steep marked track takes you directly to the top of the ridge and drops equally as rapidly into Cattle Creek. Care is required, but plenty of vegetation to hang onto. From here it nearly 4km upstream in a mostly clear, but slippery creek bed. Some sidling can be done, but for most part water levels are low and banks covered in toi toi.

After 2.4km a chain is seen on the true left to offer bypass of a waterfall (difficult to see if travelling downstream), but if flows are low, it's just as easy to stay in the creek and climb up the side.

Around 3km there is another waterfall which is a bit trickier to negotiate without getting very wet. A steep bypass is on true left. From there the valley begins to open out and the banks are much flatter and wider making for faster walking. The bright orange of Cattle Creek Hut can be seen high on the true left, accessed by a short steep track.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description