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Key facts
- Distance
- 4 km one way
- Walking time
- 2 hr
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Ruahine Forest Park
- Dog access
- Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only. 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
A varied walk between two huts through a mixture of river, bush and ridgeline.
This DOC directory entry covers Stanfield Hut to Cattle Creek Hut 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: 4 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
Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
Starting from Stanfield Hut, follow the river upstream for about 400 m. An orange post and signage indicate the entrance to the bush on the true left of the river. The track climbs steeply, then continues at a gentler pace, firstly through bush and then along the ridge. Welcome views of Cattle Creek hut can be seen.
Take the left track junction to drop steeply towards the hut. Follow the stream downstream for a few minutes, before exiting on the left to walk the last 50 m up to the hut.
Getting there
This track runs between Stanfield Hut and Cattle Creek Hut.
Know before you go
It’s dangerous to cross or follow the river when the water level is high which can occur during or after heavy rain. How to cross rivers safely.
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.
