Douglas Walk

Douglas Walk is a 3.9 km out-and-back, about an hour, from the Glacier Access Road car park. It follows gravel paths through forest and over glacial landforms, passes Peters Pool, then reaches historic Douglas Bridge before returning the same way. DOC rates it easy to intermediate. Come for the changing forest, the pool and the bridge; this is a valley walk, not a close approach to the glacier.

There is one distance wrinkle: the connected route line we could verify reaches the bridge in about 1.5 km one way, shorter than half of the published distance. The extra stretch could not be established from a current mapped source, so use 3.9 km as the published planning figure and treat the mapped line as the verified core. Follow DOC's current track directions on site.

The route crosses landforms shaped by Franz Josef Glacier's advances and retreats between 1600 and 1750. The forest changes as you go; DOC links the different vegetation to stages of regrowth behind the retreating ice and to changes in soil. It gives this short walk more to look at than a single viewpoint.

Peters Pool is a kettle lake left by glacial activity. On a calm day it can reflect the Southern Alps and the steep valley walls. This is the walk's best place to stop for a photo; the reflections depend on the water being still, so don't count on them in wind.

The historic suspension bridge crosses the Waiho River and is the clear endpoint for this walk. Roberts Point Track begins at the bridge, but it is a separate, much longer hike; turn back here to stay on Douglas Walk.

Start at Franz Josef Glacier Car Park at the end of Glacier Access Road (Te Ara a Waiau). The car park is paid. Dogs are not allowed on this track, and the route crosses a narrow wooden suspension bridge.