Distance: 1.8 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 519m to 561m. Gain: 56m. Loss: 16m . Gradient: 2 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

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

Flat (difficulty: 1/5)
Flat

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

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

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

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

A flat shingle riverbed provides reasonable travel from the base of Colenso Spur to Barlow Hut. 6 crossings are required and all are knee-to-thigh deep on reasonable riverbeds (2015). The catchment is large and this river can easily flood.

Barlow Hut is not visible from the river, but the track to it is marked by a DOC triangle on the western bank.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A flat shingle riverbed provides reasonable travel to the base of Colenso Spur from Barlow Hut. 6 crossings are required and all are knee-to-thigh deep on reasonable riverbeds (2015). The catchment is large and this river can easily flood.