Parking
Start and finish at the Makarora West access on SH6. The Young Valley access is signposted about 2.5 km north of Makarora; arrange any jetboat access or Kerin Forks pickup in advance.
Overview
About Gillespie Pass Circuit
A serious 56 km loop in Mount Aspiring National Park, this 3–4 day circuit links the Young, Siberia, and Wilkin valleys with an alpine crossing of Gillespie Pass. Expect braided rivers, tussock basins, rugged peaks, and remote backcountry travel. This is an advanced tramping track for experienced parties.
Why go
- The Young River Link Track swing bridge offers an alternative to one Makarora River crossing.
- A jetboat pickup from Kerin Forks can avoid the rougher 15 km Wilkin Valley exit.
- Lake Crucible is an optional side trip from Siberia Hut, with alpine scenery and seasonal ice.
Heads up
- Unbridged rivers and streams can become impassable after rain and have caused fatalities.
- Young Hut and Siberia Hut require summer bookings; Young Forks camping is first-come, first-served.
- Remote logistics, changing alpine weather, and avalanche terrain demand advance planning and experience.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapElevation288–1,344 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
1 active Queenstown-Lakes District alert
- ClosureSkippers Bridge closed to all trafficSkippers Bridge is closed to all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians; do not cross.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide
Your drive to Gillespie Pass Circuit, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Queenstown-Lakes District, New Zealand. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Queenstown-Lakes District audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Blue Pools: A Famous Walk to Icy Blue WaterListen
“The parking area you're nearing is for the famous Blue Pools Walk. It’s a very popular and fairly easy track through native beech forest that leads to two swing bridges.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Kea: The Alpine Parrot with a PhD in Mischief
- Namu 101: Outsmarting Sandflies
- 164 audio storiesacross Queenstown-Lakes District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Kākā, Kererū, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 37 trails, 111 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Gillespie Pass Circuit
Route at a GlanceThe circuit can be walked clockwise or anti-clockwise.
The circuit can be walked clockwise or anti-clockwise. A common flow from Makarora West follows the Young Valley to Young Hut (20 km, 6–7 hr), crosses Gillespie Pass at about 1,600 m to Siberia Hut (12 km, 6–8 hr), then follows the Siberia and Wilkin valleys via Kerin Forks back toward Makarora (22 km, 7–8 hr). The 56 km visitor distance is the total circuit; the optional Lake Crucible side trip is not included. The descent from the pass is steep and slippery when wet.
Huts and CampingYoung Hut and Siberia Hut are serviced 20-bunk huts; bookings are required during the summer…
Young Hut and Siberia Hut are serviced 20-bunk huts; bookings are required during the summer season. Young Forks is a first-come, first-served backcountry campsite with a shelter and toilet. Camping is not allowed around Young Hut or in Crucible Basin. Carry a tent because rivers, weather, and full huts can change plans.
Logistics and TransportThe route can begin from either the Wilkin/Makarora or Young/Makarora confluence.
The route can begin from either the Wilkin/Makarora or Young/Makarora confluence. Access to the Young Valley is signposted about 2.5 km north of Makarora on SH6. The Young River Link Track provides a swing-bridge alternative to one Makarora River crossing. Commercial jetboats can provide access to the Young or Wilkin confluences and pickup from Kerin Forks, but all transport must be arranged in advance. There is no visitor centre in Makarora.
Safety EssentialsThis circuit is for experienced trampers with strong river-crossing skills.
This circuit is for experienced trampers with strong river-crossing skills. The Makarora and Wilkin rivers, Gillespie and Siberia streams, and the creek near Siberia Hut can become uncrossable after rain. A natural dam hazard exists in the Young North Branch. Carry warm waterproof layers, navigation, spare food, and a PLB; expect slips, steep slippery ground, rapidly changing alpine weather, and avalanche terrain.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Queenstown-Lakes District
189 sightingsKeaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
18 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
195 sightingsKererūMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
48 sightingsWekaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
239 sightingsTūīMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
97 sightingsBellbirdMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Queenstown-Lakes District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
