Distance: 9.0 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 936m to 1536m. Gain: 812m. Loss: 222m . Gradient: 7 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Prolonged rivers (difficulty: 4/6)
Frequent river travel - impassible after rain, risk of getting trapped

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Cross the bridged Snowy Creek and take the left track. A short scrubby descent to a grassy flat, the track heads up the TL of the Dart River. Cairns and poles mark the route.

Just before the face of Dart Glacier, the track climbs steeply (a visit to the glacier face should be undertaken with care - icefall can occur without warning). A short contour precedes the next climb to Cascade Saddle.

In good weather, it's astounding to stand in the saddle and look over the West Matukituki Valley and back to the Dart Valley and it's glacier.

Note that camping is not permitted at Cascade Saddle.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From just above the saddle, the track descends to the valley floor and continues on the TL (marked with poles and cairns) through to the Dart Hut.

It is possible, at low flow, to travel in the river course from the glacier to below the gorge (lots of rock hopping required) rejoining the track at the top od the grassy flat (980m contour). It's not a short cut but an interesting alternative.