Kahurangi NP: Heaphy Track, Day 2-3: Perry Saddle Hut to James Mackay Hut:

 ...tussock, rivers, glacial remains and Takahe on the Heaphy Track....

From Perry Saddle Hut I continued westward towards the coast and the Heaphy River. My stop for the second day was at Saxon Hut about four hours along the track. The second and third day are charactorised by the open tussock covered downs you are crossing. Poor soils mean tussock and stunted trees are the only things that grow up here.

It is only 7 km's to Gouland Downs Hut

Day 2 and 3 are moderately easy as the track tends to the flat with smaller hills to navigate at the start and end of both days. You eventually end up at James MacKay which has the first views down to the West Coast and the shining estuary of the Heaphy River...

Day 2: Perry Saddle Hut to Saxon Hut: (5 hours, 12.5 kilometers)

It is 12.5 kilometers from Perry Saddle Hut to Saxon Hut. You should be able to cover this distance in about 3-4 hours hours depending on your fitness and how much gear you are carrying. It took me the full four hours but then I was stopping a lot to take videos and photos and I was in no rush to get there. 

Looking along Perry Saddle towards Gouland Downs

I was the one of first people out of the hut as is my custom and the first person walking towards the west. I didn't see any other people until I got near Gouland Downs Hut so I basically had the track to myself for the first 2.5 hours. 

Mt Perry rises off to the north of the Heaphy Track

The first kilometer is around the side of some shallow swampy tarns in the shadow of Mt Perry. About 500 meters down the track there is a sign pointing out the poled route to the top of Mt Perry. In good weather it would be a great place to get an over view of the whole of Perry Saddle and the two valleys heading east and west from it...

Looking back for my last view of Perry Saddle Hut

There is an unmarked route to the top of Mt Perry...

The track starts off flat but then starts to descend down towards the Downs about 45 minutes into the day. You are in forest for the first hour and a half after which you are out in the open. You are walking down the side of Perry Creek which has cut a shallow valley from the saddle down towards the coast. 

The second day starts off in beech forest...Heaphy Track

One of the numerous side streams along the Heaphy Track

After walking for 20 minutes you are in thick Beech forest. There are four streams/creeks to pass between Perry Saddle and the start of the Gouland Downs...all of them have bridges so the track is all weather. It had been raining overnight so there were a few small waterfalls and rivulets running along this section. All of the water is fine for drinking but I would still treat it just for safety...

First bridge of the day over Ainsley Creek, Heaphy Track

The track slowly descends down towards Gouland Downs...

There are multiple creeks enroute to Gouland Downs Hut...

There are small ridges to climb over at both ends of the Gouland Downs...

First view of the Gouland Downs from near Pt. 1263

 Quintinia Creek is 20 minutes from the Gouland Downs

Nice waterfall near Quintinia Creek, Heaphy Track

After Quintinia Creek you start to climb up to the eastern edge of the Gouland Downs....the gradient is very gentle as you need to gain about 60 meters to get out of Perry Creek. The forest starts to thin and then you turn a corner and find yourself looking out over the strange tableland that is Gouland Downs. 

Edge of the bush and Gouland Downs, Heaphy Track

The Slate Range backs the Gouland Downs

The Gouland and MacKay Downs are the result of glaciation...the soils are very thin over the underlaying limestone and so poor that they cannot support forest cover. They are covered with a mixture of tussock species, sub alpine plants and withered stunted trees. 

Start of the Gouland Downs near Sheep Creek

Here and there are deeply incised creeks and the occasional area of exposed bedrock. There are a few other areas like this in the top of the South Island such as Takaka Downs, the Matiri Plateau, Denniston Plateau and the Tablelands.

The Tubman Range is on the far side of the Gouland Downs

Here is a sign you wont see many places...Beware of Takahe!!! There are wild Takahe in only two places on the mainland of New Zealand...here and in the Jamieson Valley near Te Anau. You will not see Takahe anywhere else so this is the most uncommon sign you will ever see in the backcountry. 

A rare DOC sign...Beware of Takahe!!!

Crossing Sheep Creek along the Heaphy Track

The track is bordered with a variety of sub alpine plants...

If you are walking across the Gouland Downs you need to be prepared for any weather...it can be freezing cold or super hot depending on the season. There is zero cover up here so you will be exposed to anything that is rolling in. I was lucky to have an overcast day but I had my sun hat on from Gouland Downs Hut to Saxon Hut as I started to feel the sun. 

Jon on the Heaphy Track near Pt. 717

The Gouland Downs are a series of flat undulating ridges...

You reach a point just past Sheep Creek where you can see across and down to Gouland Downs Hut...it is tucked into a small area of Beech forest right in the middle of the Downs. Over the next 30 minutes the hut will get closer as you work your way along the undulating ridgelines towards it. There are expansive views up here. In the far distance the Slate Range and further into Kahurangi NP to the Tasman Wilderness Area and Tubman Range...

Gouland Downs Hut is just visible in the near distance...

Saxon Hut is at the left edge of the Slate Range

I passed by the famous Boot Pole Corner...this used to be a very wet and swampy track and people often lost boots in the deep mud at this corner. DOC have improved it over time but there is now a tall pole with blown out footwear attached to it. It is a long way to civilization from here so I'm not sure how people managed to walk to the track ends missing one or more boots....

The famous Boot Pole Corner...Heaphy Track

At closer look at the actual Boot Pole...

The Heaphy Track is passing along the side of Trocadero Creek on the top of a ridge...the track is easy walking as it is flat and well packed down by the MTB's passing along it. Back in the 1980's this was a very muddy section...I like this a lot more!!!

Heading along Trocadero Creek towards Gouland Downs Hut

The one kilometer pole for Gouland Downs Hut

Another thing you will find along the Heaphy Track are giant carnivorous snails...you often encounter them on the tracks as they like to climb out and warm themselves on the exposed rocks. The species is in decline mainly through predation from Weka who love to eat them. 

You will often find their shells in the huts and I saw some shells at Saxon Hut, James Mackay and Heaphy Hut. Do not remove them from the park...there is a $10 000 fine for doing so!!!

The Heaphy Track also has rare Giant Snails....

Better view of Gouland Downs Hut on a distant ridge..

Heading down to the Cave Brook bridge, Heaphy Track

You reach the end of the ridge top track and it starts to descend down towards Cave Brook Bridge. There is a bridge over the river here and some limestone caves with really nice looking swimming holes in the river. I did not partake but if you were staying at Gouland Downs Hut for the night I would absolutely come down for a dip. 

Cave Brook Bridge, Heaphy Track

...I have seen this style of bridge in other places...

These two trampers were the first people I had seen since leaving the hut that morning...They were walking all the way out to the road end that day which was a +25 kilometer, 9-10 hour day!!!

Looking downstream from Cave Brook Bridge

Good swimming holes in Cave Brook...Heaphy Track

You climb up from the river to get to Gouland Downs Hut...it is about 400 meters from the bridge. The track is easy to climb with a very gentle slope up to the terrace the hut sits on. 

Climbing up to Gouland Downs Hut from Cave Brook

It took me about 2.5 hours to walk from Perry Saddle Hut to Gouland Downs Hut and I was the first person to arrive that day from either direction. There were still three people in the hut from the previous night and I had a chat to them about the hut and the track. They had three Takahe at the hut the previous afternoon and they had just left 20 minutes before I arrived so I was bummed not to have seen them. 

Gouland Downs Hut (1957), Kahurangi NP

Interior of Gouland Downs Hut...open fire!!!

Gouland Downs Hut is the oldest on the Heaphy Track as it was built way back in 1957 before the track had been recut and turned into a Great Walk. Back then it was just an old pack track from Golden Bay to the West coast and hardly anyone used it. It would mostly have been Deer Cullers using it...

Gouland Downs Hut holds eight people...

The hut is really nice with lots of old time charm...it has eight bunks around a central open fire and a table, benches and inside water taps over a sink. I would like to have stayed there but it did not fit in with my plans. 

Gouland Downs is the oldest hut on the Heaphy Track

I spent about 15 minutes at the hut before packing my gear and setting off for Saxon Hut which is another 5 kilometers and 1.5 hours walk from Gouland Downs Hut. Over the first kilometer you are walking through a patch of Beech forest along a limestone ridge. 

Heading towards Saxon hut from Gouland Downs Hut

The whole area is full of over hangs and caves and you could easily spend an hour exploring them. As I was by myself I bypassed them...if I had fallen or gotten lost nobody would have known where I was...

There are many limestone caves near Gouland Downs Hut

A short interlude in Beech forest near Gouland Downs Hut

After the ridge you break out into the Gouland Downs once again...you are heading for the western edge and the end of the Slate Range. It was very easy to see the track heading off across the Downs and it is easy travel as the ground is flat and the track good. 

It is five kilometers from Gouland Downs Hut to Saxon Hut

Shiner Brook is between Gouland Downs and Saxon Hut

View up Shiner Creek from the bridge, Heaphy Track

There are a lot of larger creeks and streams on this side of Gouland Downs but as they all have bridges they do not bother you at all. Keep a close eye as you cross as all of these rivers are known for Whio or Blue Duck sightings. I saw a distant Whio in the last of the streams Weka Creek but I think most people spot them in Big River. 

One kilometer past Gouland Downs Hut...just 4 km's left!!!

...you can see the Heaphy Track meandering over the Gouland Downs...

On the approaches to Big River bridge, Heaphy Track

Big River often has Whio (Blue Ducks) in it...

View upstream from the Big River bridge...

I passed my first people coming from the West Coast just past Big River bridge...most people walk east to west so Golden Bay to Kohaihai. They were a young couple who had stayed at Saxon Hut the previous night and were heading for Perry Saddle Hut. 

Looking back to the east you have a great view of the Gouland Mountains and the valley Perry Creek flows out of. 

View back across Gouland Downs to Perry Saddle

Past Weka Creek the track starts to climb...

Past Weka Creek the track starts to climb up off the Gouland Downs and onto the Slate Range. The track gradient is very mild as it is built for the MTB riders and you steadily gain about 150 meters in elevation from Gouland Downs to Saxon Hut. 

Climb up the end of the Slate Range enroute to Saxon Hut

The Heaphy Track climbs 140 meters off the Gouland Downs...

There is a very nice seat about a kilometer into the climb with awesome views out over the Gouland Downs so you should stop for a while and enjoy the views...

Seat on the Heaphy Track overlooking Gouland Downs

The distant Gouland Range from the seat above...

You pass through an extensive area of Dracophyllum Traversii trees on the way up to Saxon Hut. These are sometimes called Doctor Seuss trees as they have the odd shape of the trees in his books with long thin trunks and bushy puffs of leaves on top. I think they are one of the most handsome trees in our forests and always enjoy seeing them. 

Dracophyllum along this section of the Heaphy Track

Lovely benched track climb up off the Gouland Downs

The track heads steadily uphill until almost at Saxon Hut and the raised track has wetlands and mountains swamp on both sides of it. I remember this section being very muddy back in the day and you could see the occasional patch of old track just off to the side now slowly returning to bush...

The track has swamp and mires on both sides...

I eventually made it to the distance marker post for Saxon Hut and was on the last kilometer of walking for the day. You break out into a series of small tussock clearings just before you reach the hut as the track levels out and sidles the side of the Slate Range. 

...it is one kilometer to Saxon Hut.....

The edge of the Gouland Downs close to Saxon Hut

Saxon Hut wardens quarters come into view...

Eventually Saxon Hut hove into view with its bright red roof being the first part to become visible and I gratefully headed over to it to set myself up for the night. 

Saxon Hut (1984), Kahurangi NP

Saxon hut occupies a lovely spot near some beech forest...

Saxon Hut was almost brand new the last time I was here in 1989...it was only four years old at the time and it is still in excellent condition. The shape of the hut is very familiar and it reminds me of other huts around the country including Boyle Flat Hut and Christopher Hut on the St James. It has features of Hamilton Hut and the old Casey Hut as well.....

Saxon Hut: interior of the hut...

It has space for 16 people and is of the one big room variety with two bunk areas with platforms for the mattresses. It has plenty of living space and the hut had a good selection of pots and pans, fry pans and toaster racks for visitors to use. I was generally impressed with the equipment in these huts and all of them could be visited without bringing your own cooking pot. 

Saxon Hut: dining and living area

There is a lovely veranda around the exterior of the hut and a picnic table out the front which I sat at for about an hour later in the day. There is a lot of information around the hut about the local flora and fauna and they had a cut away version of a DOC 200 trap out the front so people can see how they work.

Both trampers and MTB riders use Saxon Hut

Information board at Saxon Hut describing the local flora...

Local version of the classic DOC 200 rodent trap...

The Osprey Atmos 55 at Saxon Hut.....

I was the first to arrive at the hut but the other occupants of Perry Saddle Hut turned up over the next couple of hours on their way to James MacKay Hut. Everyone except myself, Ed and Bella were walking through to James MacKay which was at least another four hours down the track. It would have been a long, long day for them....23 km's and at least 8-9 hours!!!

Jon looks pleased to be finished for the day...

The DOC warden came and cut the grass around the hut in the afternoon when all the people had headed away and it must be like a dinner gong to the local Takahe who turned up about 15 minutes later. He spent about four hours around the hut and only disappeared once it got dark.

A Takahe foraging near Saxon Hut...

Takahe to the rear of Saxon Hut

Weka and Takahe enjoying the freshly cut grass at Saxon Hut

...the Takahe came right up to the door of the hut...

Takahe are one of the most endangered birds in the world with only about 300 in existence. I had been hoping to see Takahe on this trip and I was very, very pleased to see one. The only other place I have seen one was at Willowbank Reserve in Christchurch. We figured out that Ed and Bella had seen eight since arriving in New Zealand which is about 2 % of the total population...

The long rod is a radio transmitter antenna.....

We had a very pleasant afternoon and evening at Saxon Hut and I was especially happy with my choice to stay there when heavy rain rolled in about 2 pm in the afternoon. The people walking to James MacKay Hut would have been soaking wet by the time they got there...if you go walk the Heaphy Track do not walk all the way from Perry Saddle to James MacKay in one day. 

Day 3: Saxon Hut to James MacKay Hut: (4 hours, 12 kilometers)

Day three of the Heaphy Track was another short day...it was about 12 km's or 3-4 hours walk to get to James MacKay Hut. It had been heavily raining overnight which led to some worries about river crossings but in the event everything was fine and it was just a case of covering the distance. 

Leaving Saxon Hut the next morning heading west...

I saw the Takahe one last time as I was leaving it was along the side of the hut foraging in the long grass.

Takahe at Saxon Hut the next morning...

It was overcast and threatening looking as I left but luckily I managed to walk the first hour and a half before the rain started. You head off towards Blue Duck Creek with alternating patches of tussock clearings, boardwalk and Beech forest track. 

The Heaphy Track heading towards the MacKay Downs

Last view of Saxon Hut on the Heaphy Track

In very heavy rain several of the local streams will overflow onto the track and there were multiple warnings in the hut to turn about and return to Saxon Hut if you could not get past the Saxon River about 10 minutes down valley. I got to the bridge over the Saxon River and although it was high there was no reason to return to the hut...

Day three starts out in beech forest....

The weather was sub optimal with rain and low cloud...

Crossing the Saxon River near the hut site...

From the Saxon River crossing you continue down valley towards Blue Duck Creek where the track starts to climb up the side of Mt Teddy. Have a look in Blue Duck Creek for Whio as they are often seen in that area...

Pt. 800 overlooks Blue Duck Creek, Heaphy Track

You gain about 240 meters of altitude on a very gradual climb onto the southern flank of the mountain and then begin a long sidle across to the distant MacKay Downs. The track starts off climbing steeply but gradual levels out into a long slow grind up to 820 meters a.s.l. 

Climbing up above the Saxon River near Pt. 800

On the Heaphy Track climbing up Saxon Ridge

There are many attractive side streams on Saxon Ridge

The track levels off once you get past Mt Teddy and you are basically walking along a sub ridge for the next couple of kilometers on the same altitude line. There are multiple small creeks to pass along this section and small waterfalls are everywhere along the side of the track. 

Sidling along near Mt Teddy, Heaphy Track

Object d'arte on the Heaphy Track near Mt Teddy

More Dracophyllum Trees along Saxon Ridge

It started to rain as I sidled along Saxon Ridge so I had to stop to don my wet weather jacket...I did not need my pants at that point as the rain was intermittent but I did have to put them on a bit later as there was a very heavy downpour as I was walking out onto the start of the MacKay Downs. 

The Heaphy Track is flat along Saxon Ridge

There is a bench seat between Pt. 800 and Pt. 816 along the track that marks the boundary between the Tasman District and the West Coast. This is also the spot of one of the East-West divides along the spine of the South Island. I had a 5 minute break here as it was roughly the half way mark between the two huts. 

Boundary Seat between West Coast and Tasman Districts

There is a view down to the West Coast from just along the track from the seat and I could make out the Heaphy River Mouth about 25 kilometers away. 

First view down to the West Coast and Heaphy River

There are plenty of water sources on the ridge

The high point of the Heaphy Track between Saxon and James MacKay Huts

From the edge of the MacKay Downs to James MacKay Hut you are passing from one tussock covered clearing to another. This area is not as open as Gouland Downs but you could see the similarities with the same plants and alternating areas of forest and open land. The track was waterlogged and I passed a number of swiftly flowing streams and large open swamps. 

Start of MacKay Downs near Pt. 800...Heaphy Track

The track is covered with crushed rock on the MacKay Downs

  You walk along next to Blue Shirt Creek for a while before crossing a couple of bridges and climbing up a ridge to another clearing. It was raining very hard through this section so I only managed to capture a few photos along the way.

Blue Shirt Creek Bridge, Heaphy Track

You can see that this whole area is glacial in nature with kettle lakes, huge erratic rocks everywhere and moraine walls. There was a glacier up here as little as 20 000 years ago and the land has still not covered all the scars of its passage. It probably came down off Mt Teddy which is by far the highest peak in the area. 

In an area of past glaciation on MacKay Downs

The track was mostly boardwalk as you are walking over a delicate alpine bog...and would sink to your knees in mud if there was no platform there. 

There is extensive boardwalk over the MacKay Downs section

Massive glacial eractic rock near Monument Creek

Back in 1989 when I last walked this section I remember it being very muddy even though it was the height of summer. The boardwalks are much nicer to walk over and the bog has started to mend itself after all those years of people walking through it. 

Towards the end you are walking alongside Monument Creek and I could hear some Whio but not see them in the thick foliage along the side of the river. 

Old moraine walls near Monument Creek, Heaphy Track

More swamp and boardwalk past  Monument Creek

Just past Monument Creek you walk over a long section of boardwalk and then find yourself close to Horrible Creek. It is roughly 2 km's to James MacKay Hut from here and there is a rare 2 kilometer marker post on the side of the track. 

Just 2 km's left to James MacKay Hut...

Horrible Creek has been known to flood in heavy rain but luckily it was only ankle deep when I crossed over and continued on my way. DOC should really build a bridge here as you have no place to retreat to if you walked this far and couldn't get over the creek. 

Horrible Creek can flood in very heavy rain...Heaphy Track

One kilometer marker near Pt. 749 on the MacKay downs

The last kilometer to James MacKay Hut flies by and before you know it the roof of the hut comes into view over the top of the surrounding trees. There is a short side track from the Heaphy Track to the hut which has been located on a small knob with excellent views down to the coast from the veranda. 

James MacKay Hut is on the distant ridge...

Heaphy Track...turn off to James MacKay Hut

I was pleased to finally get to the hut as it had been raining for the last two hours and I was wet and ready to have some lunch. It is never pleasant to be out walking in the rain for a long time but at least it was warm rain coming from the West Coast so while I was wet I was not cold. 

James MacKay Hut II (2014), Kahurangi NP

This is the second James MacKay Hut with the previous hut being replaced in 2014 with a bigger and better designed version. We stayed in the original James MacKay Hut back in 1989 and it was a slightly bigger version of Brown Hut right at the start of the track.

On the Veranda of James MacKay Hut....

Hut wardens quarters at James MacKay Hut site

 I was the first person at the hut for the day and I had a good chat with the resident hut warden who was cleaning up after the previous residents had left. she was from Hokitika and had been working over the summers for DOC for the previous10 years. She was super chatty and really perfect as a hut warden....

Flushing toilet for the James MacKay Campsite

The hut has a very nice mud room which is just as well as all of the people who arrived after me had ben walking for a minimum of at least four hours in the rain. After a brew the first thing I did was light the fire so that when the people started rolling in over the afternoon they arrived to a warm, dry hut. All these hut have coal for fuel and while it can be a pig to get going once you have a bed of hot embers it pumps out a huge amount of heat...

At the entrance to James MacKay Hut

Mud room for James MacKay Hut

The hut is in a prime spot with views from the kitchen area and veranda right down to the coast over 20 kilometers away. There is plenty of space in the living area and three separate bunkrooms just like Perry Saddle Hut. There were a set of attached flush toilets right outside the backdoor so there is no reason to leave the hut once you arrive...

Nice cooking area at James MacKay Hut

Benches and wood burner at James MacKay Hut

I love the new mattresses DOC have started putting into the huts...they are much thicker than the old pads and more comfortable to sleep on. I had an excellent nights sleep at both Saxon Hut and James MacKay as I had two mats to sleep on with the huts being only half full...

One of the bunkrooms at James MacKay Hut

Another bunkroom at James MacKay Hut

It was very rainy for most of the afternoon so there were only fleeting glimpse of the surrounding terrain...I bet it is nice sitting out on the veranda on a hot sunny day!!!

Heavy rain over Bluffy Creek from James MacKay Hut

Later in the afternoon the weather cleared a bit and you could see down to the West Coast from the veranda around the hut. It was all downhill to Lewis Shelter the next day and then the final1.5 hours is along the Heaphy River on flat ground. It is 21 km's to Heaphy Hut from James MacKay so it would be the second most difficult day of the trip...

Distant view of Heaphy estuary from James MacKay Hut

Heaphy River mouth is the target for day four....

...it is all downhill or flat to Heaphy Hut....

I quite enjoyed myself on day three even with the rain it was a nice scenic section of the track and I am interested in geology so walking through the old glacial area was fascinating...

James MacKay campsite facilities...

At the peak of the season both the huts and campsites on the track will be filled to capacity...this is one of the most popular Great Walks despite the difficulties getting to the track ends. I was impressed with the very nice campsite facilities each of the sites possessed. They all had water from tanks, picnic tables, flush toilets and a shelter of some design. 

Sinks and water point at James MacKay Campsite

This is a much better level of amenity than you would find at most of the other DOC campsites and reflects their Great Walk status. The flush toilets are a real bonus...no smelly long drops to contemplate!!!

Inside the nice James MacKay Campsite shelter

...there are even seats in the James MacKay Campsite shelter...

The campsite shelter at James MacKay was very nice...it is open sided but it was basically the size of a big 2 person bivouac and had benches, seats and lighting inside. I am surprised they are all open to the air (and the sandflies) but if they were not people would be sleeping in them every night. I'm sure no DOC warden wants to be rousting people out of the shelters every night...

James MacKay Campsite Shelter (2019)

Sign on the James MacKay Campsite shelter

The campsites right along the track were of the platform type and you have to tie your tent down to the platform rather than pegging them into the ground. A free standing tent would be recommended if you wanted to tent on this track as they are so much easier to use on a platform. 

All tent sites are platforms...James MacKay Campsite

I really liked these two days as the terrain you are crossing is beautiful and unique. I really liked staying at Saxon Hut as it is really the kind of hut I like the best in the DOC Estate...sleeping platforms and a centrally located living area. I was super excited to see some Takahe in the wild and it is a moment that will live in my mind for quite some time.

 Anyway there are still two days of travel left so come back and see how the last two days of my trip progressed...

Access: Getting to the track ends at either Brown River or Kohaihai is extremely difficult at this time. Covid has meant that many services are not available. See my post from earlier this year about planning a trip on the Heaphy Track for more detail....

Track Times: Perry Saddle Hut to Gouland Downs Hut 7 km's or 2.5 hours, Gouland Downs Hut to Saxon Hut 5.4 km's or 1-1.5 hours, Saxon Hut to James Mackay Hut 12 km's or 3-4 hours. Total track time of 4 hours on Day 2 and 4 hours on Day 3...

Hut Details: Perry Saddle Hut: Great Walk, 28 bunks, gas cookers, wood burner, woodshed (coal supplied), toilet, water from tank, Gouland Downs: Great Walk, 8 bunks, cooking bench, open fire (coal supplied), picnic table, watertank, flush toilet;  Perry Saddle Hut: Great Walk, 28 bunks, watertank, gas cooker, wood burner, woodshed (coal supplied), picnic table, flush toilet; James MacKay Hut: Great Walk, 28 bunks, watertank, gas cookers, wood burner (coal supplied), picnic tables, flush toilet; James Mackay Campsite Shelter: Shelter, water from tap, benches, sink, flush toilet

Miscellaneous: All huts and campsites MUST be booked before starting the track. MTB riders from April to October. There are several rivers and creeks to cross enroute and some may be difficult or impossible in very heavy rain. 

You Tube link: Perry Saddle Hut to Saxon Hut