Distance: 2.6 km (0.8 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 613m to 660m. Gain: 74m. Loss: 110m . Gradient: 4 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

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

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

Added alternative and more pleasant route.

Head down the Edwards from Scotties Camp Hut. After an initial 1km of open flats travel is predominantly in the riverbed with the banks steep and scrubby. Multiple crossings and prolonged in-river travel is required (ankle-knee deep in moderate flows).

The forks with Stony Stream are obvious with the main river swinging abruptly north at this point.

Alternatively traverse Charlies Saddle and descend to the flat terrain. At the first blue-topped waratah leave the cycleway and travel 35m along an old 4WD track. On the left a track rises up to a cruise-taped manuka bush. Follow this track down to the Edwards River where you can ford it at the upstream end of the gravel flat. In low flows you can wadl up the true left of the river in the river itself or make 2 more crossings to gain the junction with Stony Stream.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Head up the Edwards to Scotties Camp Hut. Travel is predominantly in the riverbed with the banks steep and scrubby. Multiple crossings and prolonged in-river travel is required (ankle-knee deep in moderate flows). The valley open up for the final 1km to the hut with a 4wd track on the northern bank.