Beans Burn Track

Beans Burn Track is a remote out-and-back from the Dart River to the upper valley at Split Rock Biv: about 8.2 miles (13.2 km) return along the track corridor. It is a rough, slow walk through beech forest and river country, not a quick picnic trail. Budget about nine hours on the track; that excludes the long walk in from Weka Flat and Lake Sylvan. If you reach the mouth by boat, arrange the river transport in advance. Consider an overnight at Split Rock rather than rushing a long return.

At the Dart–Beans Burn confluence, the entrance is about 100 m upstream on the Dart bank, where the track comes out of the trees. It is easy to walk to the confluence and start pushing up the wrong bank instead; the forest there gets thick quickly. If there is no obvious tread, stop and check your position before climbing through bush.

Once you find it, the route climbs gradually beside Beans Burn through lush beech forest. For a long stretch the walking is steady, with moss, roots and a river sound beside you. Where the valley narrows, the track sidles higher through rougher ground and progress slows.

Farther up, crown fern, tight gullies and fallen trees make the line less obvious. Wet roots can be slick under leaf cover, and a ribbon or cairn can be easy to miss in the scrub. The swing bridge crosses the burn near a striking gorge of turquoise water and moss-covered boulders; frame a foreground boulder with the water to show the scale of the channel.

The track reaches Split Rock Biv, a grassy clearing beneath enormous rock overhangs. It is a natural shelter, not a serviced hut, and no facilities were confirmed. Beyond it, the line toward Fohn Saddle becomes a steep, unmarked backcountry route with rocky streambed travel and wading; that is the separate Five Passes continuation, not part of this walk.

Road access is to Weka Flat on Routeburn–Kinloch Road. From there, DOC describes a foot approach via Lake Sylvan, the Dart terraces and the Rock Burn canyon bridge; the river mouth can also be reached by commercial jetboat from Glenorchy. The 8.2-mile return starts at the Beans Burn mouth and does not include that approach. Dogs are not allowed in this part of Mount Aspiring National Park, and there are no confirmed trailhead services.