Mt Crichton Loop Track
A DOC loop above the Glenorchy road through beech forest and old gold workings to Sam Summers Hut and its waterfall, 12 km from Queenstown.
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Key facts
Open, with cautions. DOC shows no alerts for this track on 18 September 2026, but its page says the bridge over the creek at the Māori Gully confluence was destroyed in a flood and slips are present on the track. Do not cross if the creek is high or discoloured. Checked 18 September 2026 on DOC, Mt Crichton Loop Track (alerts and know before you go) (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- 2 to 3 hours for the loop; 1 hour to Sam Summers Hut
- Distance
- 6.4 km loop
- Track type
- Loop
- Grade
- Easy to intermediate
- Surface
- Well formed track through beech forest, with slips, an unbridged creek crossing, old mine shafts and steep drop-offs
- Winter
- Good in winter
- Starts at
- Mt Crichton car park, Glenorchy-Queenstown Road
- Bus
- No Orbus stop within 1.2 km of the start
- Dogs
- Dogs on a lead
- Bikes
- No bikes
- Toilets
- At Sam Summers Hut (DOC)
- Buggies and wheelchairs
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children
- DOC says it has plenty to keep kids interested; families often walk just to Sam Summers Hut, 1 hour.
- Cost
- Free
In short: The Mt Crichton Loop Track is a 6.4 km loop of 2 to 3 hours from the Mt Crichton car park, 12 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy road. DOC grades it easy to intermediate, and Sam Summers Hut is 1 hour in. A flood destroyed the bridge at the Māori Gully confluence.
What the track is like
Red beech in the gullies gives way to mountain beech and mānuka as the track climbs beside Twelve Mile Creek, past sluicing left by gold miners. Sam Summers Hut, built of schist and iron in 1930, sits beside a waterfall, and a short side track below it leads to a rock fissure once used as a tailrace.
The loop starts and finishes at the Mt Crichton car park on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road. It follows sections of Twelve Mile Creek through red beech in the gullies, then climbs through mountain beech and mānuka. Gold miners worked the Twelve Mile Creek gorge intensively, and DOC notes the sluicing marks are still visible.
For Sam Summers Hut, take the left side of the loop (the true right of Twelve Mile Creek): DOC times it at 1 hour, and walking there and back is a popular family option. The hut is day use only, with no overnight stays since 1 December 2021, and has a toilet. Just below it, a short side track leads to a rock fissure that miners used as a tailrace.
The full loop is 6.4 km and takes 2 to 3 hours. On the ridge on the eastern side, a signposted link leads to the Lake Dispute Walkway; DOC's brochure times the link at about 40 minutes. Mountain biking is not permitted on the loop or on the link.
DOC's page says the bridge over the creek at the Māori Gully confluence was destroyed in a flood and that slips are present. There are also old mine shafts and steep drop-offs along parts of the track. If the creek is high or discoloured, do not cross: go back the way you came.
How to get to the start
The Mt Crichton car park is 12 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, close to the Twelve Mile Delta Campsite, which has non-flush toilets. DOC's pages for the neighbouring tracks on this road warn that its car parks are very busy in summer and that parking on the roadside or reversing out onto the road is not recommended.
No Orbus stop is within walking distance. The nearest stops are on Route 1 in Sunshine Bay, about 7.6 km away in a straight line, so plan on your own transport.
- Start: Mt Crichton car park, Glenorchy-Queenstown Road (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Mt Crichton car park on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road (DOC)
- From Queenstown: 12 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road (DOC)
- By bus: There is no Orbus stop within walking distance of the start: the nearest stops are on Route 1 in Sunshine Bay, about 7.6 km away in a straight line. Routes and fares are in the bus guide.
Is it open, and what is it like in winter?
Open, with cautions on 18 September 2026. DOC shows no alerts for this track on 18 September 2026, but its page says the bridge over the creek at the Māori Gully confluence was destroyed in a flood and slips are present on the track. Do not cross if the creek is high or discoloured. Check DOC, Mt Crichton Loop Track (alerts and know before you go) (opens in a new tab) on the day; conditions change quickly.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | DOC publishes no seasonal closure, and the fire ban applies all year. The crossing at the Māori Gully confluence has no bridge, so after rain check the creek and turn back if it is high or discoloured. |
| Summer (December to February) | No summer restriction is published. DOC's pages for the neighbouring Glenorchy road tracks warn that car parks along the road are very busy in summer; arrive in the morning or early evening. |
| Autumn (March to May) | No autumn restriction is published. Leave enough daylight for the full 3 hours, and remember that slips are already present on parts of the track. |
| Winter (June to August) | DOC names the Mt Crichton Loop Track as a good winter option near the Remarkables, without snow. The unbridged creek crossing and slips still apply, so wear footwear with grip and turn back if the creek is up. |
What to know before you go
- The bridge at the Māori Gully confluence was destroyed in a flood. DOC says not to cross when the creek is high or discoloured.
- Slips are present on the track, according to DOC; cross them with care and turn back if a section looks unstable.
- Old mine shafts and steep drop-offs sit along parts of the loop. Keep children close and stay on the track.
- Mountain biking is not permitted on the loop or the link to Lake Dispute; dogs must be on a lead, and fires are not allowed at any time.
- DOC's easy to intermediate category is meant for people with moderate fitness and basic outdoor skills, wearing walking shoes or light tramping boots.
- Allow 3 hours for the loop and start early enough to finish in daylight; Sam Summers Hut is for day visits only.
- Check DOC's page for alerts before you go, or ask the Whakatipu-wai-Māori/Queenstown Visitor Centre (+64 3 442 7935) about current conditions.
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
How long does the Mt Crichton loop take?
DOC gives 2 to 3 hours for the 6.4 km loop, and 1 hour to reach Sam Summers Hut from the left side of the track.
How long is the walk to Sam Summers Hut?
1 hour, according to DOC, on the left side of the loop (the true right of Twelve Mile Creek). Walking there and back is a popular family option.
Is the Mt Crichton loop open?
DOC showed no alerts on 18 September 2026, but its page says the bridge at the Māori Gully confluence was destroyed in a flood and slips are present. Do not cross if the creek is high or discoloured.
Can you walk the Mt Crichton loop in winter?
DOC names it as a good winter option near the Remarkables, without snow. The unbridged creek crossing and slips still apply.
Where does the Mt Crichton loop start, and is there a bus?
At the Mt Crichton car park, 12 km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road. There is no bus: the nearest Orbus stops are on Route 1 in Sunshine Bay, about 7.6 km away.
Are dogs or bikes allowed on the Mt Crichton loop?
Dogs are allowed on a lead. Mountain biking is not permitted on the loop or on the link to Lake Dispute.
Is the Mt Crichton loop good for kids?
DOC says it has plenty to keep kids interested, and the 1-hour walk to Sam Summers Hut is a popular family option. Watch for old mine shafts and steep drop-offs.
Are there toilets on the Mt Crichton loop?
DOC lists a toilet at Sam Summers Hut, and the Twelve Mile Delta Campsite near the car park has non-flush toilets.
Nearby walks
- Twelve Mile Delta track
6 km one way · 1 to 2 hours one way · Easy to intermediate
- Bob's Cove
1.5 km one way · 20 minutes to Bobs Cove, 30 minutes to Picnic Point, one way · Easy to intermediate
- Lake Dispute walk
5.6 km return · 1 hour 30 minutes return · Easy to intermediate walking track
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Sources: DOC, Mt Crichton Loop Track (opens in a new tab), DOC, Sam Summers Hut (opens in a new tab), DOC, Remarkables Conservation Area (winter options) (opens in a new tab), DOC, Twelve Mile Delta Campsite (opens in a new tab), DOC, Queenstown day walks and bike trails brochure (March 2025) (opens in a new tab) and DOC, Walking track categories (opens in a new tab), retrieved 18 September 2026. Distances, times and grades are the managing body's published figures; fit walkers are often quicker. Department of Conservation information is used under CC BY 4.0. Start coordinates: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.
All walks: Queenstown walks and tracks.