Cairnmuir Hill Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

An all-day walk from Clyde to Bannockburn over the crest of the Cairnmuir Mountains.

This DOC directory entry covers Cairnmuir Hill Track in Otago, within Alexandra area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

• Distance: 21 km one way
• Walking time: 6–8 hr one way
• DOC grade: Advanced

Access and alerts

Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.

Seasonal restrictions

The track is closed for lambing 10 September to 15 November

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

The route is described from south to north (Clyde to Bannockburn).

From the car park on Hawksburn Road, cross a stile and follow yellow marker pegs to a 4WD track.

After 2.5 km the track forks – take the branch straight ahead (marked with pegs) that stays on the main ridge crest for the next 3 km until the boundary fence between Earnscleugh and Cairnmuir Stations is reached. This is crossed via another stile.

For the next 1 km, there is no 4WD track to follow but the track is well-marked and descends between Fish and Jackson Creeks following a fence line on the ridge crest. After crossing another fence line, it picks up a 4WD track again.

Turn right here, following the markers, and head northeast towards the Cairnmuir Hill trig. The trig is a short, 300 m detour off the track and well worth the panoramic view across Lake Dunstan towards Leaning Rock.

From Cairnmuir Hill, the track heads northwest along the ridge then drops into the middle reaches of Cairnmuir Gully. There is a well-preserved boundary rider’s stone hut from the 1860s where the 4WD track crosses the creek. From there, the track climbs out of the gully until another fence line and track junction is reached. Turn right towards Cromwell and follow the marked 4WD track down to the Cornish Point Road car park.

Horse riding

Horse riding is from Bannockburn to Cairnmuir Hill return, a through trip to Hawksburn Road, Clyde is not possible.

Getting there

There are two car parks:

Hawksburn Road (Clyde). From Clyde, cross the Clyde Bridge and head south towards Alexandra on Earnscleugh Road. Take the first right turn into Lookout Road, also known as the Clyde-Bannockburn Road or Hawksburn Road. The car park is signposted at the first gate, about 3 km up the road. Note that Hawksburn Road is steep, rutted and rocky. It is negotiable with care by 2WD cars for most of the year, but a 4WD may be required in winter or in adverse weather conditions.

Cornish Point Road (Bannockburn). From Cromwell, cross over the Bannockburn Bridge and take the first left turn into Cornish Point Road. Follow the road for approximately 4 km to the car park, sign posted on the right.

Sources and reuse

Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.

The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.