Doubtful Valley Track
WalkCanterbury
- Grade
- Advanced
- Walking time
- 5 hr 30 min
- Distance
- 17 km
- Dogs
- No dogs
Getting there
We have not checked a road end or car park for this place yet, so we do not give driving directions to it. Check how to get there before you go. Some routes cross private land and need the landowner's permission.
How to get there, on doc.govt.nzLake Sumner Forest Park lies 100 km northwest of Christchurch between the Lewis Pass and Arthur’s Pass National Park.
There is a car park by SH 7 – around 5 km further on from Windy Point and 5 km before Boyle Village.
There is no bridge over Boyle River from this access point, but the swingbridge at Windy Point (around 2 hours walk) can be reached via Tui Track if the river cannot be crossed.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Map and tracks
Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 42.52780° S, 172.24126° E
About this place
Doubtful Valley Track follows the Doubtful River to Amuri Pass with two huts on the way. The Lake Man and Devilskin Saddle Routes branch off this track.
The route
SH7 to Doubtful Hut
Time: 2 hr
Take care with river crossing; cross the Boyle River then follow the poled track on the true right of the Doubtful River across open flats to the bush. Here, pick up the track to Doubtful Hut. Devilskin Saddle Route starts from Doubtful Hut. It links the Nina and Doubtful valleys via Devilskin Saddle.
Doubtful Hut to Doubtless Hut
Time: 1 hour 30 min
Continue up grassy river flats and sections of track until you reach the Doubtful–Doubtless confluence. Cross the Doubtful River and then the Doubtless River to reach the Doubtless Hut on the true left of the river. Lake Man Route begins from Doubtful Valley Track between Doubtful Hut and Doubtless Hut.
Doubtless Hut to Amuri Pass
Time: 2 hr
From the hut, cross the Doubtless River and follow the track for about 10 minutes to a junction. Follow the track up the Doubtful River, crossing after about 20 minutes to the true right. The track follows the river to cut across Phantom Flat. At the top end of the flat, the track climbs steeply to the bushline. An old pack track crosses Amuri Pass.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Joins these tracks
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
On this track
In walking order.
Nearby stops
Lake Man Bivvy
Basic/bivvies • 2 bunks • Canterbury • 2.8 km
Lake Man Bivvy is a basic two-bunk hut located in the North Canterbury and Arthur's Pass area.
Toilets - non-flush • Water from stream • Water supply
Devils Den Bivvy
Basic/bivvies • 2 bunks • Canterbury • 6.2 km
Devils Den Bivvy is a basic two-bunk hut located in the North Canterbury and Arthur's Pass area.
Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush • Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Upper Nina Bivvy
Basic/bivvies • 2 bunks • Canterbury • 7 km
Upper Nina Bivvy is a basic two-bunk hut located in the North Canterbury and Arthur's Pass area.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Top Robinson Hut
Standard • 8 bunks • West Coast • 7.5 km
Top Robinson Hut is a standard eight-bunk hut located in the Greymouth area on the West Coast.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
St Jacob's Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • Canterbury • 8.6 km
St Jacob's Hut is a standard six-bunk hut located in the North Canterbury and Arthur's Pass area of Canterbury.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Walks nearby
Notes from people who have been
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Sources
- DOC Tracks (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).