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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: -44.17593, 169.26137. 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
- 14 km return via same track
- Walking time
- 3 -4 hr
- Track grade
- Intermediate
- Location
- Mount Aspiring National Park
- 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
An extension of the very popular Blue Pools Walk and connects with the Young River. It's also an alternative, high river route to the start of the Gillespie Pass Circuit.
This DOC directory entry covers Young River Link Track in Otago, within Mount Aspiring National 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: 14 km return via same track
- Walking time: 3 -4 hr
- DOC grade: Intermediate
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.
- Predator control for Mt Aspiring National Park; First published on 16 September 2025. Last reviewed on 6 October 2026.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The track starts at the Blue Pools car park. After 10 minutes, just after the first swing bridge, it branches to the left. Soon after, it crosses the Blue Pools Bridge for great views up the river gorge. From here the track continues through beech/tawhero forest to Rainy Flat and then opens up onto sections of farmland and bush that lead to the mouth of the Young River.
Note, in high river conditions, this track also provides an alternative route to the mouth of the Young River and the start of the Gillespie Pass Circuit. This circuit is a tramping track - those who want to continue up the Young Valley need to have a good level of fitness and a moderate to high level of backcountry skills and experience.
Note: This track was formerly known as Blue-Young Link Track.
Getting there
Young River Link Track is an extension of the very popular Blue Pools Track. Access is from the Blue Pools car park, off the Haast Highway (SH6).
Know before you go
While most of the track is well formed, the last 30 metres before the Young River is steep and unformed.
No visitor centre in Makarora
Contact the Awarua/Haast or Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park visitor centres instead.
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.
