Distance: 2.9 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 1536m to 1783m. Gain: 363m. Loss: 123m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

The poled route climbs a spur and passes through a saddle into an small flat valley. Rising a little then descending to Cascade Creek, there is a toilet and the only DoC sanctioned camping spot in the area. There is great camping over by some tarns between Heads Leap and Cascade Creek.

Cross the creek and climb 200m to where the pylon used toe be. As of Feb 2016 the pylon no longer exists but the area is heavily snow poled so follow them to where the decent into the Matukituki begins.

It is extremely hazardous to continue beyond this point - people have died. DoC recommends the Aspiring - Dart route for highly experienced trampers only - and only in the reverse direction. However, with the lower Dart track closed indefinitely the decent into the Matukituki is now regularly attempted by parties coming up from the Rees.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the pylon, follow the poled route down to Cascade Creek and cross to the TL and a toilet and DoC sanctioned camp spot (note that camping is not permitted at Cascade Saddle).

The route climbs away from the creek to a small saddle then descends gently to a flat valley. On the far side, the track again climbs to a small saddle and then out onto the spur that leads towards Cascade Saddle.