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The long-forgotten 85km 'gold miners’ road leading from Lyell to the mighty Mokihinui River.


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Map Key

50.0

Miles

80.4

KM

Singletrack

4,412' 1,345 m

High

73' 22 m

Low

7,316' 2,230 m

Up

7,556' 2,303 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

64%

Max Grade (33°)

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Unknown

Description

The Old Ghost Road is an 85km trail that winds its way through remote valleys, across mountain tops and down river gorges. It is suitable for riders with a reasonable level of backcountry skills and experience.

There are fourteen bridges over waterways on The Old Ghost Road (and three other ‘land bridges’ over the infamous 'Suicide Slips'), yet there are still some waterways with potential to flood under heavy rainfall.

Lyell Carpark (DoC Campground)-Lyell Saddle Hut, 18km. Steady grade on the old benched track climbing to the Lyell Saddle hut (885 metres above sea level). Beech forest dominates.

Lyell Saddle Hut-Ghost Lake Hut, 12km. 6 km of graded climbing through cloud forest up to the tussock tops of the Lyell Range. Then it’s 6 km of level, open-tops travel to ‘Ghost Lake’ and the stunning Ghost Lake Hut. Unparalleled views of South Island majesty are yours with every pedal stroke. Note there is no water available once on the alpine tops. Carry sufficient supplies. Take your time and enjoy the scenic stopping points.

Ghost Lake Hut-Stern Valley Hut, 13km. Two sharp descents and ridge travel mark this day and it’s predominantly downhill (800 metres of altitude loss) all the way to Stern Valley Hut. There is no water in this section until Stern Creek is reached. Carry sufficient supplies. Prepare yourself for the Dr Seuss-like ‘Skyline Steps’ at the end of Skyline Ridge.

Stern Valley Hut-Specimen Point Hut, 25km. With various destination options this day (including more basic hut sites at Goat Creek and Mokihinui Forks), you'll have plenty of options to choose from. The route makes its way on up Earnest Valley (north branch of Stern Creek) and through the strange but gorgeous open meadows of its catchment. At the twin lakes (Lake Grim and Lake Cheerful), the track climbs through the ‘Boneyard’ heading for ‘Solemn Saddle’ and then leads on down through ‘The Hanging Judge’ into the headwaters of the Goat Creek catchment. Scrub and grass covered valleys form the way until the final few kilometres through bush to the historic Goat Creek Hut.

Stern Creek Hut to Goat Creek Hut 14 km. From Goat Creek Hut it’s 8 km of flat riding down through the beautiful podocarp forest of the Mokihinui River South Branch to the Mokihinui Forks Hut. Then it's just a further 3 km down to the Specimen Point Hut settlement at the head of the mighty Mokihinui River Gorge.

Specimen Point Hut to Welcome Bay/Seddonville, 17km. Undulating terrain greets you as The Old Ghost Road picks up old miners’ track hugging the true left bank of the mighty Mokihinui River.

Contacts

Shared By:

Mikhaila Redovian

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 12 votes

#1

in South Island

#703

Overall
  5.0 from 12 votes
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Trail Rankings

#1

in South Island

#1

in New Zealand

#703

Overall
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4,089 Since Aug 1, 2016
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Photos

Starting down the Skyline Steps
Mar 14, 2020 near Westport, NZ
Just before the Skyline Steps.
Sep 10, 2019 near Westport, NZ
Old Ghost Road - Looking NE near Mt Montgomery.
Aug 3, 2016 near Westport, NZ
Moss and and rimu trees line the the trail down the Mokihinui Valley
Mar 14, 2020 near Westport, NZ
The grunty climb up to Skyline Ridge is currently being upgraded
Mar 14, 2020 near Westport, NZ
The Boneyard. A massive landslide brought down in the 1929 Murchison earthquake.
Aug 6, 2017 near Westport, NZ
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Current Trail Conditions

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Apr 20, 2021
Craig Hoskin
Dec 22, 2017
Jon Harvey
Ghost Lake - Specimen Hut was epic riding. 54mi
Nov 25, 2017
Antonio Rocha
Nov 30, 2016
David Scott
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