Distance: 4.5 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 779m to 894m. Gain: 84m. Loss: 148m . Gradient: 3 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)

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

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

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

A good, marked track heads downriver from West Harper Hut. This alternates between sidling low on the western face, and walking along good river terraces. Several small sidestreams are crossed, but should pose no problems except after heavy rain.

After 3km a swingbridge takes you to the eastern bank, and the track cuts up, over a slip and heads east up the Hamilton Creek. This creek is bridged, soon after, taking you to the southern bank where a track junction is located. Hamilton Hut is 300m further upstream on the southern bank along a good, well marked track.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Hamilton Hut, head 300m downstream to the track junction and swingbridge along the marked track. Cross to the north side of Hamilton Stream over the bridge, and follow the track over a slip and into the Harper. Soon after a second bridge crosses to the eastern bank of the Harper. From there a good, well marked track rund 3km up the eastern bank to West Harper Hut.