Last Updated: 6th May 2024
Fern Burn Hut
Last Updated: 6th May 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 25 ?
Gnarl Factor: 59 ?
14.0km
660m
660m
785m
Last Updated: 6th May 2024
Last Updated: 6th May 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 25 ?
Gnarl Factor: 59 ?
14.0km
660m
660m
785m
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Riverside
Open farmlands
Open tussock/grasslands
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +12.6%
Average Downhill Gradient: -12.6%
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3:00
Slow
2:15
Moderate
1:30
Fast
The first 2.7k is a nice warm up on easy single track following the marker poles. Once through the second deer fence you enter the beech forest and undulate alongside Fern Burn to reach a footbridge. Once over the bridge the gradient steepens dramatically and the trail gets very technical in places.
Once above the bush you enter tussock country within a gorged section of Fern Burn. The final couple of kms sidle above the stream, mostly climbing but sometimes descending to reach Fern Burn Hut.
Once you've taken a breather on the deck of this beautifully positioned hut and drunk in the views start re-tracing your steps and enjoy the mostly downhill run back to your car.
A beautiful section of native beech forest, open tussock country and great views.
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.
Plenty of parking on opposite side of road to trailhead. Also a toilet and information board.
15 km
16 minutes
No
No
Moderate.
The trail is generally well marked, just keep a close eye out for the red triangle markers on trees in the bush section
Very 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, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions)
The water in Fern Burn is fine once in the bush or higher up. Also water at the hut.
Muddy after heavy rain, can be icy in winter particularly if starting early.
Nothing more than the usual hazards associated with technical trail. Take care if not confident on root/rocky stuff.
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Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Fern Burn Hut
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I had high expectations for this run based on other reviews, and felt like it didn't meet them. The forest section was a lot less runnable than expected, and then once I left the forest I still found it quite unrunnable due to the narrowness of the track and how overgrown it was - having such a steep drop off you really don't want to mess up your footing! The hut was a nice break in the middle, and the downhill was more enjoyable, but it was definitely not as runnable and fun as I hoped.
February 10, 2024
Beautiful trail, mixture of all sorts of terrain, did it after heavy rain which did not really affect it. The forest section is gorgeous and the location of the hut is awesome. Great little run
May 29, 2023
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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