Distance: 3.5 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 494m to 1229m. Gain: 742m. Loss: 16m . Gradient: 13 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

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

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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

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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From the information panel at the campground, the Kuripapango track runs up flats on the eastern bank of the Ngaruroro river for 200. Two sidestreams are crossed by bridge.

After 200m of flat, the track starts to ascend steeply up the spur to Kurikapango summit, and continues on the same gradient for 2km, gaining 800m. The track is generally ok - on gravelly clay-pan in places but not as slippery as faces further west. Track markers are poles / cairns, but the track is well used and generally fairly obvious. The track hits the Lakes-Kiwi Saddle track 100m west of the summit/transmitter tower at a signposted junction.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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