Distance: 1.9 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate-hard terrain
Altitude: 310m to 454m. Gain: 151m. Loss: 7m . Gradient: 5 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Tall, walkable scrub / large rocks, occasional waterfalls or gorges in rivers

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

Forks stream is far harder than Diggers, and involves much scrambling up falls and round pools.

From the Diggers / Forks confluence the Forks Stream starts narrow, but gentle. Travel starts on graveled and rock banks, though frequent crossings are required. Going is ok for the first 1km to the first forks, with no really deep pools or waterfalls to contend with.

Above the forks, things change. The gradient increases and the valley becomes gorged and the faces impassable. Several low waterfalls must be passed though a mixture of scrambling up the boulders bed, or scrambling round the steep slopes. Tall red cliffs appear on the south bank, and the hardest section of falls is reached - but they can be navigated with some care. Immediately after, the forks after which Forks Hut is named are reached. Forks hut is out of sight in between the two forks, and can be reached by heading up either fork for 20m and cutting up onto the small terrace.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The st 500m below forks hut is the hardest section of the stream change. The gradient of the river is steadya nd the valley is gorged and the faces impassable. Several low waterfalls must be passed though a mixture of scrambling up the boulders bed, or scrambling round the steep slopes.

Eventually the next main forks are reached, and thing improve. Travel is on graveled and rock banks, though frequent crossings are required. The Diggers Creek confluence is reached just as farmland appears on the valleysides.