- Area
- Kahurangi National Park
- Distance
- 11.7km
- Total Ascent
- Granity Pass: 1215m
- Time
- 2-3 days
- Grade
- Moderate
- Accom.
- Granity Pass Hut (12 bunks)
- Access
- Tapawera is 15km off SH6 from Kohatu. From Tapawera take the signed Wangapeka River Road. The track begins at Courthouse Flat where there is a DOC campsite
- Map
- BQ24
- GPX File
- Granity Pass Hut (gpx, yo 12 KB)
- Your device does not support GPX files. Please try a different device.
This trip is 11.7km one way to the summit of Mt Owen.
Start from the car park at Courthouse Flat, taking the ridge track which climbs above Granity Creek. After a couple of hours a clearing above the bushline at Billies Saddle is reached. From here, there is a steep descent known as Staircase.
On reaching the valley floor, the track follows Blue Creek to Granity Pass Hut (12 bunks). The hut should be reached within six hours from setting out from Courthouse Flat. It was built in 2008 and has a great veranda, double glazing and water tanks but no fireplace.
For those wanting to continue on to the summit of nearby Mt Owen (7hr return from Granity Pass Hut), follow the track to Sanctuary Basin and a group of small tarns from where you can, free-route, it to the summit. In winter, crevasses may be hidden by snow so care and appropriate equipment such as crampons should be taken.
The return trip to the car park can be varied by taking the side track from the tops north of Staircase down to Blue Creek and a stamping battery. From here it is a gentle walk to the car park.
