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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -43.54647, 171.53018. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 4.5 km one way
- Walking time
- 2 hr
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Mount Hutt area
- 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
Starting in Mt Hutt Forest and ending at Mount Hutt Skifield Road, Scotts Saddle Track offers beautiful views over mid-Canterbury.
This DOC directory entry covers Scotts Saddle Track in Canterbury, within Mount Hutt 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: 4.5 km one way
- Walking time: 2 hr
- 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
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
This track starts from the car park in Awa Awa Rata Reserve and climbs steeply to a ridge top. It passes through beech/tawhairauriki forest before climbing to alpine herb and tussock/wï communities. The track then joins the Mount Hutt Skifield access road at Scotts Saddle.
On a clear day there are good views from Scotts Saddle to Pudding Hill Stream, Mount Hutt ski field, Canterbury plains and the Port Hills above Christchurch.
Getting there
Awa Awa Rata Reserve is at the end of McLennans Bush Road, which is off Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road and is 12.5 km from Methven.
The track can also be accessed from Mount Hutt Skifield access road. During summer, there is a locked gate at Scotts Saddle; you will need to walk from here.
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.
