Rangitane Road to Crow Hut Loop Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

A very steep up and down tramp in Ruahine Forest Park, climbing first to the Mokai Patea Range, then dropping to the Kawhatau River and then back up to the Hikurangi Range and out to Rangitane Road via the Kawhatau River. Involves camping out.

This DOC directory entry covers Rangitane Road to Crow Hut Loop Track in Manawatu-Whanganui, within Ruahine Forest Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

• Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
• Walking time: 3 days
• 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.

Dog access

Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

Rangitane Road bridge to Colenso Trig

Time: 7 - 9 hr

Walk approximately 9.5 km up the Kawhatau River to the Kawhatau Base access track on the true right of the river. Go through the gate into the old Kawhatau Field Base grounds then climb the steep track up through forest behind the buildings to Colenso Trig (1406 m). Just beyond the trig site is a small sheltered basin with good camp spots beside a tarn. Stay here the night and look down on the lights of settlements in the Rangitikei and Manawatu.

Colenso Trig to Crow Hut

Time: 6 - 8 hr

Continue on up the worn track through tussock for about one hour to the tops of the Mokai Patea Range. Turn right and choose a path along the tops through alpine vegetation and bogs till you reach the very steep and slightly hair-raising poled ridge down to Crow Hut. Take extreme care on the top section of this ridge. The track heads back into forest and at the end drops steeply into the Kawhatau River. Negotiate a small bluff before rejoining a track along to the swingbridge crossing the river just before Crow Hut. Due to travel on the unmarked open tops this section should not be attempted in poor visibility or bad weather. Snow can occur any time of year.

Crow Hut to Rangitane Road

Time: 8-9 hr

From the hut a steep track climbs steadily for 3 - 4 hr to the northern end of the Hikurangi Range. Here it joins the poled route down from McKinnon Hut and descends the ridge down to the Kawhatau River. Walk downstream for approximately 9.5 km to the starting point at Rangitane Road bridge.

Getting there

Previously there has been vehicle access to Kawhatau Base through private land but this access is no longer available.

Access is now by walking up the Kawhatau River from the Rangitane road bridge across the Kawhatau River. Please note this route may not be accessible during times of high river flow.

To get to the Rangitane Road bridge, head north from Mangaweka and turn right off SH1. Cross the Rangitikei River and follow Kawhatau Valley Road. This eventually leads to Upper Kawhatau Valley Road which becomes Rangitane Road.

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.