Pros & cons
PROS
- Wood stove and mattresses provided
- Refreshed deck with valley views
CONS
- First-come, no bookings; can fill up December–Easter
- Toilet issues reported in April 2025
Overview
Kerin Forks Hut is a serviced, 10‑bunk backcountry hut built in 1983 on the Makarora/Wānaka side of the park. It sits around 342 m in a broad valley setting and makes a handy overnight for the Gillespie Pass Track and Wilkin Valley trips. Expect classic backcountry simplicity with a few comforts and a great outlook from the refreshed deck.
Getting There
- From SH6 (Haast Highway) via the Gillespie Pass Track: 4–5 hours (~15 km).
- From Siberia Hut: 2–3 hours (~7 km).
- From Top Forks Hut via Wilkin Valley tracks: 7–10 hours.
Facilities and What to Bring
On site you’ll get mattresses, a wood burner for heating, a toilet, and a roof‑fed water tank. Bring your own sleeping bag, stove and fuel (no cookers provided), pots/utensils, toilet paper, rubbish bags to pack everything out, fire starter/matches, and a torch/headlamp.
Fees and How Payment Works
This is a serviced hut. Fees are: Adults $25/night; Youth (5–17) $12.50; Under‑5s free. Pay with Serviced Hut Tickets (drop them in the honesty box) or use a Backcountry Hut Pass for 12 months of access to most serviced/standard huts. It’s first‑come, first‑served—no bookings.
Seasonality and Crowd Factor
It’s popular from December through after Easter. During this peak period, carry a tent or roll mat as backup in case bunks are taken. Outside those months it’s often quieter than nearby huts, but don’t bank on emptiness in good weather.
Recent Notes
Users in 2025 reported a spruce‑up via the Backcountry Trust, including a refreshed deck with views down the valley. One April 2025 comment noted a grotty toilet and a broken seat—expect typical backcountry variability.
Best Time to Visit
If you want a higher chance of an empty bunk, aim for shoulder periods outside December–Easter or arrive earlier in the day. For comfort, longer summer daylight helps with travel times; in any season, start early enough to make the DOC time estimates with margin.
Where it is
-44.2393, 169.0358Tips for Kerin Forks Hut
- 01Carry Serviced Hut Tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass and use the honesty box.
- 02Bring your own stove, fuel, cookware, toilet paper, and a torch—none are supplied.
- 03In peak season (December–Easter), arrive early or carry a tent as backup.
- 04Plan travel time carefully: 4–5 hr from SH6 or 2–3 hr from Siberia Hut.
- 05For current conditions and track updates, contact the Awarua/Haast or Tititea/Mt Aspiring visitor centres.
Amenities
Near Kerin Forks Hut
All places →All trails →
1.1 mi awayWilkin River ValleyWild valley tramp to glacier-fed lakes and big-mountain viewsTrailhead
2.7 mi awaySiberia HutServiced backcountry hut in Siberia Valley, base for Lake CrucibleLodging · Restroom
4.8 mi awayCrucible LakeIce‑studded alpine lake beneath Mt Alba’s moraine wallsScenic Viewpoint
4.8 mi awayCrucible FallsRugged cascades on the climb to glacial Lake CrucibleScenic Viewpoint
8.3 mi awayWilkin Valley TrackBig-valley tramp to Top Forks with serious river crossingsChallenging · 18.6 mi · 12 hr
12.8 mi awayYoung River TrackQuiet Blue Pools add-on to the Young River mouth—easy, scenic, useful.Easy · 4.3 mi · 2 hr
13.6 mi awayBlue Pools TrackShort forest stroll to vivid blue pools and swing-bridge viewsEasy · 1.9 mi · 1 hr
20.7 mi awayBrewster TrackShort, brutally steep climb to a hut with glacier viewsChallenging · 2 mi · 3.5 hr
