Wilkin Valley Track: Kerin Forks Hut to Top Forks Hut

Wilkin Valley Track: Kerin Forks Hut to Top Forks Hut is a 15 km (9.3 mi) one-way point-to-point tramp through the upper Wilkin Valley. It follows beech/tawhai forest beside the Wilkin River, opens onto Wonderland flats, climbs and sidles above the river, then drops to Jumboland and ends at Top Forks Hut above the North and South Branch junction. This is an advanced backcountry trip for people comfortable with rough tracks, route-finding and unbridged crossings. Plan for a full day: route guidance ranges from 6–8 to 7–10 hours, so allow extra time for river decisions and slower going.

The 15 km recorded here begins at Kerin Forks Hut, not at a road car park. Reaching Kerin Forks from SH6 by the Wilkin Road access adds a separate 15 km and 4–5 hours, including crossings of the Makarora and Wilkin rivers. A boat pickup point is marked beside the hut, but confirm transport and road-end parking before setting out. This upper section can be done on its own or as part of a longer Wilkin Valley trip; the lower approach and the North Branch lake walks are separate routes, not part of this distance.

The track starts behind Kerin Forks Hut in beech/tawhai forest beside the river. Several slips and steep-sided ravines need care, and this is not a smooth, built path. Wonderland flats make a natural lunch break about halfway. Beyond them the track returns to forest, climbs and sidles above the river, then descends to Jumboland flats. The alternation between sheltered bush and wide river country gives the long valley walk some welcome variety.

Beyond Jumboland the route is unmarked across the river flats to the branch junction. In low water, the described line follows the true right and fords the river several times before reaching flats near Top Forks Hut. If the river is high, track markers lead over a hill instead. Don't commit to the river option in advance: decide on the ground, and wait or turn back if a crossing is unsafe. The rivers can become impassable after rain, so check current river and weather information before leaving.

Top Forks Hut sits above the junction on the true right of the South Branch, at about 600 m. Kerin Forks is a serviced 10-bunk hut; Top Forks has 16 bunks. Both have heating, basic toilets and untreated water that must be boiled. Bring a sleeping bag, stove and fuel, utensils, toilet paper, food and a rubbish bag; these are backcountry huts, not resupply stops. Top Forks also starts separate North Branch walks to Lake Diana and other lakes, which are extra trips. If you stay at either hut, book it during the main summer season. Dogs are not allowed.

Weather can change quickly and hypothermia is possible even in summer. Avalanche terrain can affect this track, most often from May into November, so check the hazard outlook before leaving. This is a point-to-point route: arrange your onward travel or continue on a longer tramp rather than expecting to walk back to Kerin Forks in the same day. The payoff is a full crossing of the upper valley, but the unmarked, river-dependent finish and remote access make this one for experienced parties.