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Key facts
- Distance
- 8.1 km one way
- Walking time
- 6 hr one way
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Queenstown area
- Seasonal restrictions
- Fires are not allowed at any time. See fire rules on conservation land.
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Climb up to the saddle and get great views of the Wakatipu Basin.
This DOC directory entry covers Devils Creek Track in Otago, within Queenstown 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: 8.1 km one way
- Walking time: 6 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
Fires are not allowed at any time. See fire rules on conservation land.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The track can be completed in either direction. But it's easier when starting from the Skippers saddle/ Mt Dewar side.
Devils Creek Track initially traverses tussock grassland with fantastic views of the Whakatipu Basin. Gentle at first and then more steeply, dropping into Devils Creek catchment.
Bypassing remnant stands of beech and grey shrubland before climbing out of the catchment past bluffs. Gaining a low saddle in the ridge before dropping down to the Coronet Peak Road access point. The track crosses a mixture of conservation and private land. Follow markers and signposted directions to exit at Coronet Peak road.
Skippers Road is 1 hour walk from Mt Dewar.
Mountain biking
It is steep up to Mt Dewar, then a descent to Devil's Creek. The climb out of Devil's Creek is steep and technical.
Getting there
You can finish or start this track from Mt Dewar or from Coronet Peak Road.
To access the Devils Creek Track, park at the Skippers saddle in the areas provided near the Cattle grid. Start by crossing the wooden stile beside the locked gate and continue to gently climb for 1 hour along the access road to the summit of Mt Dewar.
A short distance beyond the Transmission towers a signposted junction is reached. This signifies the northern terminus of the Devils Creek Track where it starts.
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.
