Klondyke Loop

A great day out starting with a steep climb up through the bush, some great ridge travel before descending to some beautiful tarns and out along the valley through classic mossy West Coast forest.

A few hundred metres after leaving the carpark where the track splits, take the left track signposted Klondyke Spur (you will return on the Klondyke Valley track to the right). Travel steeply uphill for approximately 2km and 600m until you reach the bushline and get your first taste of the amazing views - not much running to be had here.

Travel along the ridge for approx. 2km - travel is straightforward and easy to follow. Do not drop off ridge until in a saddle with tarns are directly on your right, as shown in gpx. Dropping off too soon can result in getting bluffed. Make your way down to the tarns, stopping for a refreshing dip if you want to cool off, before going round the north side of the main tarn and keeping on the true left of the outlet stream, aiming for a finger of tussock/rocks between the bush. This is quite a steep 100m descent, but isn't technical.

Follow a faint track through the tussock looking out for the DoC orange triangle showing where to enter the bush. From here it is a fun and largely runnable 4km run back to the car. The last 1.5km can be quite muddy just to remind you that you are near the West Coast. A couple of hundred metres before the end you come to the Klondyke Spur/Klondyke Valley junction.