Distance: 1.2 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 561m to 736m. Gain: 36m. Loss: 175m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate)
Skills:

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

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

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

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

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

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

About 300m west of Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge on the track to the roadend, a hand-painted signpost points west off the track labeled 'Iron Gates via Stoat Trappers' Track',. This short track leads to the Oroua River where you can look at the narrow slot at the top entrance to Iron Gates Gorge. This is a wildlife management track and not maintained to DOC standards.

The track follows the ridgeline before dropping into Umutoi Creek which it follows on the eastern bank to the confluence with the Oroua. The Iron Gates are visible just downriver.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the confluence of the Umutoi Creek and Oroua River, just above Iron Gates Gorge, a roughly cut, roughly marked track runs back to Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge. This is a wildlife management track and not maintained to DOC standards.

The track starts on the eastern bank of Umutoi Creek, and soon climbs the valleyside to the ridgeline, which it follows until it meets the main 4WD track used to access the hut. Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge is 300m further NE along the track from the junction.