Young River Track to Young Hut

Young River Track to Young Hut is a remote tramping out-and-back from the signed SH6 access to a 20-bunk backcountry hut. The mapped trail corridor is about 16.2 km (10.1 mi) one way; retrace it for about 32.5 km (20.2 mi) and roughly 12–14 hours of walking. The route is hard, multi-day terrain, so plan an overnight stay instead of trying to rush the return. The published Makarora-to-hut figure is 20 km; the access sign is 2.5 km north of Makarora, while the distance here starts at that sign.

From the roadside sign, cross the stile and follow orange poles to the Young–Makarora confluence. The Makarora crossing is unbridged and has caused drownings. It needs river-crossing experience; do not attempt it after heavy rain, when the river is high, or if you are unsure. Once across, stay on the true left bank of the Young River for about three to four hours to the swing bridge at the North and South Branch junction.

If that crossing is unsafe, the longer Blue Pools approach via Young River Link reaches the Young River mouth over bridges; the published route to the hut is 22 km one way. It has a separate start and is not the route mapped here.

Young Forks campsite sits about 200 m upstream of the swing bridge, with a cooking shelter and toilet. At the bridge, take the Young Hut branch downstream rather than continuing toward Gillespie Pass. It crosses a grassy flat, enters beech forest on the true left of South Branch, climbs steeply for about 100 m, then sidles a series of unstable slips to Stag Creek. From there it climbs steadily to the hut. The bridge and the meeting of the two branch valleys make the most distinctive photo stop on this route.

Young Hut is a serviced 20-bunk hut at about 750 m, with heating, mattresses, a toilet and untreated tap water that must be boiled. Book it during summer. Camping is not allowed around the hut because the cleared area is a helicopter landing site; the first-come Young Forks campsite is the alternative. There is no food service, so carry what you need. A dam formed in the North Branch in 2007 remains a valley hazard: avoid the valley in heavy rain, do not camp on the valley floor, watch for unusual rises in water and move to higher ground. Dogs are not allowed.