Walking options

There are rough and rugged sections of track. View larger image (JPG, 263K). Image: New Zealand Mountain Safety Council

Mount Somers Track runs from the Sharplin Falls car park to the Woolshed Creek car park along the northern side of Mount Somers. There are two huts on the track – Woolshed Creek and Pinnacles. The track is a two-day tramp suitable for families.

You also have the option to do an overnight return tramp on the track:

• For an easy overnight tramp suitable for children do the return walk to Woolshed Creek Hut.
• The track into Pinnacles Hut is more physically demanding and requires tramping experience. It is still suited for family and school groups but allow more time.

You can also combine Mount Somers Track with the Bus Stop Track and South Face Track to make a circuit. This circuit starts and ends at Sharplin Falls car park. This is more challenging than the main Mount Somers Track. See further information further down this page. 

This area gets very cold in winter and early spring. There can be snow and ice. It is best suited to experienced and well-equipped trampers at these times. Trampers with less experience are advised to choose the return overnight trip to Woolshed Creek Hut in winter, rather than the full track.

Sharplin Falls car park to Pinnacles Hut

Time: 3.5 hr
Distance: 5.8 km

The track climbs steeply through mountain beech forest/tawhairauriki to Dukes Knob before following Bowyers Stream to Pinnacles Hut.

Allow more time if your group is not used to tramping. There are steep and rough sections of the track, including places where you will need to scramble over tree roots and places with steep drops beside the track. Supervise children through tricky or technical sections.

Heavy rain can flood the streams on this track and make them impassable, particularly Pony Stream. Assess them carefully before crossing. If heavy rain is forecast, consider changing your plans.

The hut is named after the rock formations on the northern face of Mount Somers, formed by the cooling of very hot sticky lava flows some 90 million years ago.

Pinnacles Hut to Woolshed Creek Hut

Time: 3 hr
Distance: 6.2 km

From the hut, follow markers through tussock and subalpine scrub up to the Mount Somers saddle (1170 m). It's a steady climb to the saddle where views of the Mount Somers Range and Old Man ranges dominate the scenery.

On the descent towards Morgan Stream, a sign indicates a short side-trip to view some interesting boulder features referred to as ‘caves’. Follow the markers across Morgan Stream and Woolshed Creek to Woolshed Creek Hut. There are no bridges, so assess these streams carefully before crossing – they may not be safely crossable.

Woolshed Creek Hut to Woolshed Creek car park

Time: 2 hr 30 min
Distance: 5.1 km

From Woolshed Creek Hut, the track rises to a high point (trig R, 934 m) with superb views of the upper Ashburton Gorge, before descending to the old Blackburn Mine. The track then runs alongside the hand-built jig that transported coal from the Blackburn Mine to the railway wagons waiting below. At the bottom of the jig the track follows the route of the tramway to Woolshed Creek car park.

Alternative route: 4WD track

From Woolshed Creek Hut, you can follow a 4WD track to its junction with the Mt Somers Track below Trig R. This is an easier track but takes about the same time.

Alternative route: Sidewinder Track

Time: 45 min
Distance: 1 km

This steep hill track branches off the Mount Somers Track. It starts at Blackburn Mine, then descends steeply into Woolshed Creek valley. It ends with a short walk through a silver beech forest before rejoining Mt Somers Track. Taking the Sidewinder Track adds about 25 minutes to the time out from Woolshed Creek Hut compared to the using The Mt Somers Track the whole way.

Alternative exit route: Woolshed Creek Hut to Woolshed Creek car park via Bus Stop and South Face Tracks

Category: Advanced tramping track
Time: 3 hr
Distance: 6.4 km

This is an alternative route for the last day of the Mount Somers Track. It is more challenging than Mount Somers Track.

From Woolshed Creek Hut, the track climbs some 500 metres to a local feature known as the Bus Stop Overhang. From here, the track crosses the face of Mount Somers to link with South Face Track (2 hr from the track start), which then follows a rocky ridge to Woolshed Creek car park.

There is dynamic scenery with regenerating mountain beech forest/tawhairauriki within a landscape of waterfalls, deep icy pools and rocky tors.

Circuit option: Returning to Sharplin Falls car park via Bus Stop Track and South Face Track  

You can combine the Bus Stop Track and South Face Track with Mount Somers Track to make a circuit, starting and ending at Sharplin Falls car park. This is longer and more challenging than the Mount Somers Track, and there can be persistent snow in winter and spring.

For the circuit, follow Mount Somers Track to Woolshed Creek Hut, as described above. Then take the alternative route described below to loop back to Sharplin Falls car park.

Woolshed Creek Hut to Sharplin Falls car park

Category: Advanced tramping track
Time: 8 hr
Distance: 14 km

From the hut, the route climbs some 500 m to a local feature known as the Bus Stop Overhang. From here the track crosses the face of Mount Somers to link with South Face Track.

Continue around the southern face of Mount Somers on the South Face Track, through a mix of open grassland and forested catchments. You pass Acland Shelter, a good place to stop for a rest but not intended to be used overnight. This section of track eventually rises to its highest point (1080 m) at the junction of the Mount Somers Summit Track.

The final steep downhill section is through regenerating forest areas but is open enough to continue to provide interesting views to the east.

In winter, the south face of Mount Somers gets very little sunlight, making the snow hard and icy. An ice axe, crampons and some mountaineering experience are required to safely reach the summit. The summit of Mount Somers is very exposed to southerly fronts.

Understand if you are ready for the Mount Somers Track

Watch the NZ Mountain Safety Council’s walk-through video which takes you through how to prepare for this track. Including facilities, key decision points, hazards and typical conditions for the area. 

Sharplin Falls car park: Sharplin Falls car park is at the end of Flynns Road, Staveley.

Woolshed Creek car park: From Mount Somers township, follow Ashburton Gorge Road for approximately 10 km before turning right into Jig Road. Follow Jig Road to the end.

If you intend to walk only one way from Woolshed Creek car park and require vehicle transport, a local service is available, phone Marilyn Gray on +64 3 303 0809 before you start your trip.

Be ready for all weather

The Mount Somers area is an alpine environment and bad weather can occur at any time of the year. The area can be extremely hot and dry, and at others times can experience freezing cold, high winds, heavy rain and snow.

There is no tree cover on parts of the track and you are fully exposed to the weather.

Always bring warm, waterproof layers, sturdy footwear and sun protection.

Check the Mount Somers Track weather forecast

Pack well for your trip

Overnight and multi-day packing list for tramping

Use NZTopo50 map sheets BX19 and BX20. We recommend carrying a distress beacon.

Expect snow and challenging alpine conditions in winter

There can be deep snow and ice on Mount Somers Track in winter. At that time of year, Mount Somers Track is a trip best suited to experienced and well-equipped trampers, with the skills and gear to safely tramp in snow.

In winter, the south face of Mount Somers gets very little sunlight, making the snow hard and icy. The south face and summit tracks can have persistent snow and ice in winter and spring. The best time to attempt these tracks is from November to April.

An ice axe, crampons and some mountaineering experience are required to safely reach the summit from May to October. The summit of Mount Somers is very exposed to southerly fronts.

There are wasps

Wasps may be present in high numbers, particularly during summer. Consider carrying an antihistamine product and if you are allergic to stings, ensure you bring your medication.

Stay safe when crossing rivers

If you plan to cross unbridged rivers, know how to cross safely and be prepared for if you cannot cross.

Do not cross if the river is flooded, you cannot find safe entry and exit points or are unsure it’s safe. Turn back or wait for the river to drop. If in doubt, stay out.

How to cross rivers safely