Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Intermediate

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Caples Track - The Divide Version

Te Anau, Southland

Submitted by Louise Player-Bishop

Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023

Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 30 ?

Gnarl Factor: 25 ?

31.0km

410m

470m

945m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Point to Point (one way)

Undulating, some big hills

Native bush

Riverside

Open tussock/grasslands

Open ridges/tops

Run Makeup

70%
30%

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +8.8%

Average Downhill Gradient: -7.6%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

6:30

Slow

5:00

Moderate

3:00

Fast

Caples Track about 31km, and is post-to-point. We chose to run from the Divide to the Greenstone Road carpark.

This is a beautiful track and not as busy as some of the other tracks in the area. McKellar Saddle is 945m high, and as the Divide is 531m the climb is steep but not significant.

We started from the Divide but the track is runnable from ether direction. Our support people dropped us off at the Divide and met us at the Greenstone Carpark after a long drive around (Te Anau, Queenstown, Glenorchy, Kinlock, Greenstone carpark). Ingrid from Glenorchy Journeys also offers a shuttle service to/from the Greenstone car park, reaonably priced and is flexible with pick-up times.

From the Divide, it was a short run to Howden Hut, the first hut on the Routeburn, and at this junction we peeled off to the Caples/Greenstone tracks. Shortly after this we left the Greenstone Track and turned left onto the Caples Track and the climb to the McKellar Saddle. We were fortunate with the weather and had magnificent views from the Saddle boardwalk. From the saddle, the track meanders through beech forest and along the valley floor to Mid Caples Hut. We stopped and had a leisruely break at Mid Caples Hut (with flushable toilets) and where we filled our water bottles. There is a fast flowing and accessible river prior to the farmed areas which we found ok for drinking water. After the Mid Caples Hut, you cross a gorge and the track meanders adjacent to and just above the farmed valley to the carpark.

This track was very runnable, is well maintained with a combination of rock, boardwalk, grassy flats and beech forest and took just over 6 hours at a lei.surely pace

McKellar Saddle gives some lovely views of the surrounding mountains

Plenty of parking at The Divide

75 km

57 minutes

Unknown

No

Easy.

The track is well graded and well marked, with alternative options clearly defined

Non-existent.

Waterproof leggings, Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.

Mid Caples Hut and from the river prior to the farmed areas

Summer run only

Alpine environment

Kinloch Lodge
Kinloch
http://www.kinlochlodge.co.nz
Great hot chips, perfect at the end of a run!

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Trail Reviews

Nice alternative to the Routeburn for a change of scenery. Ran from the Kinloch/Glenorchy side to the Divide which is actually a bigger climb that will get your closer to a total of 1100m. Plenty of water options along the course.

Chris Seymour

December 28, 2020

I gather the McKerrow Saddle is a bit less technical than it used to be, but still wonderful country to be cruising through. I call this the Routeburn Bypass

Tony Sharpe

August 19, 2019

Totally under rated running trail. This is fun and diverse without too much technical. It is also lower in altitude then some of the other mountain trails so can be done in cold and dark conditions.

André Chalmers

April 17, 2018

Totally under rated running trail. This is fun and diverse without too much technical. It is also lower in altitude then some of the other mountain trails so can be done in cold and dark conditions.

André Chalmers

April 17, 2018

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