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You're in for an adventure on your way up this trail!


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Map Key

10.0

Miles

16.0

KM

84%

Runnable

3,141' 957 m

High

1,084' 330 m

Low

2,944' 897 m

Up

897' 273 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

53%

Max Grade (28°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Views

Description

The tourists are headed to the Blue Pools in droves and you shouldn't miss the pools either. But after crossing a suspension bridge, 150 meters before the pools, there is a fork in the wooden boardwalk where another trail ascends steeply. Onward intrepid runner into a world of your own! Singletrack is a misnomer; halftrack or vanishing track would be more accurate. If it weren't for the frequent orange triangles nailed to trees to mark the track, you would wonder if you were on a trail at all.

The track follows the Blue River from above at a distance of 100-1000 feet under thick forest canopy. It climbs 190 meters steeply over 0.8 km before losing most of the gain as it quickly drops to cross a forested basin of mature silver beech/tawhai. Then it climbs again, more gently, sidles up a gorge and descends to Camp Flat, a grassy knoll. This is a good lunch stop or campsite. The Blue River is easily accessible from Camp Flat but sandflies will likely deter more than a short photo opportunity. This is where the majority of folk turn around.

However, from Camp Flat it is possible to continue well into the valley. The trail follows the Blue River, crossing it several times. There are no bridges at these crossings, and if the water is high they could be dangerous. This trail is not for the faint of heart; you should know what you're doing if you opt to head this way!

Contacts

Shared By:

Matthew Kidd

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#29495

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#277

in New Zealand

#29,495

Overall
22 Views Last Month
1,000 Since Feb 20, 2018
Difficult Difficult

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Photos

View upstream of the Blue River near Camp Flat
Feb 20, 2018 near Makarora, NZ
Stone marker for the Blue Valley Track at Camp Flat
Feb 20, 2018 near Makarora, NZ
Hiker on an easier section of the Blue Valley Track along the drop to the Blue River
Feb 20, 2018 near Makarora, NZ
Hiker on the Blue Valley Track
Feb 20, 2018 near Makarora, NZ
Yes, this really is the Blue Valley Track
Feb 20, 2018 near Makarora, NZ
Hiker on the Blue Valley Track
Feb 20, 2018 near Makarora, NZ

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