Two Tarns StepathonIntermediate
Submitted by Tom Booth
Front country - easily accessible
Combo
Very hilly
Native bushOpen ridges/tops
Intermediate
3:15 (Slow)
2:30 (Moderate)
1:40 (Fast)
-14.7%
+14.6%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
Best place to start is at the DOC office, follow path towards the hotel and then follow signs pointing to Kea Point and Hooker Valley. When the track forks veer left to Sealy tarns/Kea point. Follow trail to Sealy Tarns turn off (doing an out and back to Kea Point is also a worthwhile venture).
Then its up up and away to the tarns (just under 2k from turn off to tarns) - once at the top soak in the views and then back down you go (beware the steps feel steeper as you descend!) Re-trace your steps back to where you began at the DOC office.
If you're hungry for more then follow the road down to the bottom of the village past the gas station to the public shelter on the right. From here follow the path that starts the other side of the shelter which takes you to a bridge that crosses a river to the start of the Red Tarns Track. From here its up again (these steps aren't as steep, they may feel it though.) When you reach the tarns soak in some more views (a scramble up to McNulty's Tarns is also excellent however this is off trail with an interesting scree descent). Descend back to where you began and finish at the DOC office.
Trail Community
Features of interest
Sealy Tarns, sweet views of Mt Cook & surrounding tops. Good chance of spotting a Kea too!
Red Tarns, again awesome views of Mt Cook Village and tops!
Make Up of Run
Technical Single Track: 35%
Moderate Single Track: 20%
Easy Single Track: 30%
Sealed Road: 15%
Route Data
Reviews:
Overlapping Runs
The following trails overlap with this run 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 Strava activity for each
Photos:
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I did it!-
Access
Best place to start is outside the DOC office, though can be started outside the hotel as well!
Plenty of parking at the DOC office, also at the shelter at the start of the Red Tarns Track!
1 km
2 minutes
No
No
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Staying Safe
Easy.
Follow the green DOC signs and you can't go wrong!
Unknown.
Thermal leggings, Lightweight fleece top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions).
As you pass by the start point halfway you can fill up at the fountain outside the DOC office, the public shelter at the start of the red tarns track also has water.
Be careful as the steps on both tracks can become icy in winter, I would recommend giving this one a miss between July and October (conditions pending of course)
Sealy Tarns is steep!!! Take care on descent!! Both tracks are steps all the way so care is required both ways!!
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Post run indulgence
Old mountaineers cafe
Next to DOC office
https://m.facebook.com/theoldmountaineerscafe/
I mean the view alone is awesome! Good food and drink too. -
Sponsor this trail
See other runs nearby:
Mueller Hut
Mt Cook Village & Hooker Valley
Red Tarns
Icing on the Lake
Point at the Keas
