Distance: 7.5 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Surfaced walkway - Easy terrain
Altitude: 691m to 1007m. Gain: 248m. Loss: 446m . Gradient: 5 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot, avalanche risk (3/7)

Surfaced walkway (2/9)
Gravelled / board-walked walking track for all abilities

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Easy (difficulty: 1/5)
Grass / prepared surface

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Snow/ice underfoot, avalanche risk (difficulty: 3/7)
Snow/ice likely on track, tramp crosses avalance paths

The track leaves Mackenzie Hut and sidles the Hollyford valley, now mostly in the forest. There are a few bridges streams to cross, and Earland falls to negotiate if wet, but an easy tramp brings you to Lake Howden Hut, overlooking the lake and it's outlet.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Howden Hut follow the Great Walk along the flanks of the Ailsa Mountains to Lake Mackenzie. Easy!