Distance: 2.7 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmaintained track
Altitude: 498m to 679m. Gain: 46m. Loss: 227m . Gradient: 6 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

Unmaintained track (5/9)
Former track, overgrown - markers / ground trail still followable

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Unknown (difficulty: 0/5)
Not specified

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

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

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

Old topo260 maps show a track heading north from Saddle Hut to the highpoint 600m east of Te Whakaumu. Recent hut book entries at Saddle and Twain confirm that this is still the best route between Saddle and either Twain of Waikokopu Huts.

From the unnamed summit 600m east of Te Whakaumu, follow the ridgeline south. A trap-line runs along here and the route is marked with both yellow triangles and old permolat. The route descends the spur dropping due south into the first fork of the Mangawai Stream. From there follow the stream downriver and after 1km pick up track markers on the true right (western) bank climbing to Saddle Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Old topo260 maps show a track heading north from Saddle Hut to the highpoint 600m east of Te Whakaumu. Recent hut book entries at Saddle and Twain confirm that this is still the best route between Saddle and either Twain of Waikokopu Huts.

From Saddle Hut, follow the track to the river and follow the creek upstream for about 1km. Pick up the centre spur heading due north, climb it to the ridgeline, and follow the ridgeline north until you reach the highpoint 600m east of Te Whakaumu. Here you will meet the track from Twain Hut to Waikokopu Hut.