Last Updated: 31st Jan 2025
Avalanche Peak
Submitted by Katie Smith
Last Updated: 31st Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 28 ?
Gnarl Factor: 69 ?
8.7km
1075m
1075m
1833m
Last Updated: 31st Jan 2025
Submitted by Katie Smith
Last Updated: 31st Jan 2025
Open
Grunt Factor: 28 ?
Gnarl Factor: 69 ?
8.7km
1075m
1075m
1833m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Mountainous
Native bush
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +32.2%
Average Downhill Gradient: -25.9%
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4:30
Slow
3:20
Moderate
2:15
Fast
This is a steep loop to the summit of Avalanche Peak, a popular day walk. There is little running to be done on the way up, but provides a nice technical downhill finished with an easy warm-down through the town to get you back to where you started. It can be done in either direction - Scott's track is slightly longer and marginally less steep than the Avalanche Peak track. This describes the clockwise direction.
Start from just behind the visitor centre where you see a DoC sign for the Avalanche Peak track. This climbs steeply right from the start, giving views of Avalanche Creek and several waterfalls early on. It climbs through beech forest on a well cut out track, often on bare rockbed, with a few short hauls,
As you come out of the beech at around 1000m the track gradient eases slightly, and follows a spur which falls steeply to the left. This continues to climb over a small knob before passing through an open basin just before the final climb. As you get to the top where Scott's track meets from the right, you clamber left over broken boulders to the obvious summit a short distance away.
From here Mt Rolleston and its glacier dominated the views. Backtrack the way you came, then follow the orange and yellow poles down along Scott's track. There are great views of the Devil's Punchbowl falls across the valley. The track then zigzags through the beech, with some less steep sections, before popping out on SH73 just outside the Arthurs Pass town edge. Here you can go right along the highway back into town (beware or traffic) or left for a short distance before another track turns right off the road, bringing you out at the Devil's Punchbowl car park. From here head back to the main road and along it to where you started.
Great views of the Arthurs Pass area
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
Parking and public toilets available at the DoC centre and across the road - plenty of it.
0 km
0 minutes
No
No
Moderate.
Harder in poor visibility, although there are lots of snow poles once you're on the tops.
Patchy.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map
Water available from the public toilets at the bottom, with very little available on Avalanche Peak track, and two small creeks near the bottom of Scott's track
Lots of snow in winter - you will needs crampons/ice axe at times - and the track crosses avalanche paths. The tops are exposed at any time of year, and the weather can change quickly.
Beware of the steep drop-offs, particularly if visibility is poor.
Arthur's Pass Store & Cafe
Great date scones! Busy in summer.
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KS
Loved it. The weather was a bit dodgy but we managed about 10 minutes of semi-clear at the top before it clagged in. Good honest effort to get there. Highly recommended.
Will do it again in the summer months when the weather is a bot more stable.
May 1, 2022
Beautiful day with a honest grunty climb up the Avalanche peak track filling my water bottles up at the second waterfall . Then a a nice exposed track to the summit. Stunning views ot Mt Rolleston and surrounding area. Then a fun run down Scotts track with a water refill about 2/3 of the way down. Loved it
April 9, 2022
PH
A super step, challenging trail but totally worth it! The views are amazing and if you're lucky you'll spot a few Kea keeping you company. Avalanche Peak Track has a few climbs and scrambles which are great fun and Scotts track on the descent is (thankfully) a little easier but will still finish off your quads. Make sure you hit the summit too, the views are truly worth the pain!
February 21, 2022
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.
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