Mount Fox Route - Hiking guide to the best Fox Glacier viewpoint, New Zealand

Mount Fox Route - Hiking guide to the best Fox Glacier viewpoint, New Zealand

The Mount Fox Route is arguably one of the toughest but most rewarding day hikes on the west coast of the South Island, New Zealand. If you're looking for the best viewing spot of Fox Glacier, this is it.

The Mount Fox Route was one of my personal favorite hikes on the South Island of New Zealand. It's challenging, steep and incredibly rewarding.

After hours of almost vertical climbing, the sunrise views across the glacial valley to Aoraki (Mount Cook) and Fox Glacier are simply unbeatable. They say this is the best Fox Glacier viewing spot in the area without getting a helicopter ride.

But you better be prepared to earn it.

Via the Mount Fox Route hike

The Mount Fox Route is a challenging hike that climbs steeply through dense jungle before breaking through at a trig point just below the Mount Fox summit.

It is located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island.

The Mount Fox Route is different from a normal DOC hiking or tramping “trail”. The main difference is that on New Zealand “tracks” you can follow a warning path the entire way. The routes vary as hikers must navigate along the route by following markers on trees and poles.

This navigation can sometimes become difficult. And that's why this hike is aimed at those with bush and New Zealand mountain experience.

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• alt=“MOUNT FOX ROUTE WANDERUNG FOX GLACIER AUSSICHTSPUNKT“>
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This is how you get to the starting point

The trailhead for the Mount Fox hike is located on Haast Highway near Thirsty Culvert, approximately 2 miles south of the community of Fox Glacier.

As soon as you arrive you will see a parking lot on the right side of the street. You will see the small signpost on the opposite side of the road that leads directly into the bushes.

I have marked the exact location on the map below.

GPS coordinates: 43°28’49.2″S 169°59’38.2″E

Alternative: Best Helicopter Experience at Fox Glacier

If you prefer hiking on the glacier and would rather avoid this steep hike, you can book a helicopter or heli-hike trip over Fox Glacier instead.

This particular trip is one of the highest rated heli trips to Fox Glacier, with an impressive 4.2 star rating from over 8,000 reviews. It's also the cheapest tour I could find that includes a hike up the glacier.

Check the best price: Heli Hike Experience at Fox Glacier
Klook.com
alt="HELICOPTER TO FUCHS GLACIER">

Mount Fox route map

Here is the best topographic map of the Mount Fox route to Glacier Viewpoint that I could find online. It was created using the DOC website and is therefore for reference only.

If you have difficulty finding the route, it may be more accurate to follow my GPX file below. However, this is only intended to be a general guide.
alt=““>SOURCE: DOC

GPX map

Here is the GPX route I recorded with my Garmin GPS watch. I trimmed a section of the launch where I lost track in the dark so you don't make the same mistake.

GPX file: Download

My Strava: Visit

Remember that New Zealand's landscape changes faster than anywhere else in the world. Be careful when following my GPX track and use it for reference only. Rockfalls and avalanches can occur along the trail, especially above the tree line.

RELATED: Roberts Point Hike for Franz Josef Glacier Views

Mount Fox Route Hiking Guide

Hiking length: 7.2 km there and back
Duration: 5-6 hours there and back
Altitude: 1250m ascent, 1325m AMSL at summit
Difficulty: Hard

Tips

Here are some tips to help you make the most of hiking the Mount Fox Route.

• Gehen Sie früh los, um den Sonnenaufgang zu erleben und den Nachmittagsnebel zu vermeiden
• Bringen Sie eine Stirnlampe mit, wenn Sie früher gehen
• Setzen Sie ein Lesezeichen oder einen Screenshot dieses Blogs – es ist schwierig, sich im ersten Abschnitt zurechtzufinden
• Bringen Sie zusätzliches Wasser mit – es gibt keine Süßwasserquellen
• Tragen Sie feste Stiefel oder Trailrunner
• Bringen Sie eine Kamera mit – der Aussichtspunkt Mount Fox Route Fox Glacier ist unglaublich!
• Folgen Sie den orangefarbenen Markierungen sorgfältig – sich zu verirren ist sehr einfach

First section: Finding the way

Finding your way on the Mount Fox hike can be very difficult. This is especially true if you head out early in the morning before sunrise. In fact, we got lost after just 15 minutes.

Still, don't worry too much. The most difficult part is the first section in the forest before the climb. Just do your best to follow the orange markers on the tree. If you come to a rocky section right next to the river, you've gone too far. Look for cairns near the rocky area on the right to guide the way.

If you have problems try following my GPX map above.

The rise

Immediately after the cairns the path begins to climb steeply. You can expect about 85% of the hike to be just a steady climb and about 15% to be epic views at the summit.

Although it is physically demanding to grab the roots and trail in front of you to pull yourself up the mountain, it is still very fun and rewarding. The Mount Fox Route Trail also has very little traffic. Depending on the season, you have everything to yourself.

The trig point

At approximately 1050m above sea level you eventually break out of the tree line into an alpine grassland area. Soon you will find the trig point. This is a very rewarding experience as you finally get a glimpse of the glacial moraine and farmland surrounding the west coast. You can also see how much you have climbed in such a short distance.

From here you can expect another hour or so and about 300 meters more elevation gain to climb to the summit.
alt=“MOUNT FOX HIKING TRIG POINT”>
alt="WEST COAST FOX GLACIER MOraine">
alt=“VIEW OF THE WEST COAST FROM TRIG POINT ON THE MOUNT FOX HIKE”>

The summit push

The path to the summit can understandably be very difficult to follow in thick fog. Luckily we were treated to a very fresh morning with not a cloud in sight.

Continue following the orange markings and pass the many mountain lakes on your left. Conditions permitting, the views across the valley to Mt Cook and Fox Glacier are spectacular from here.

The final push is a steam climb to the summit shield of Mount Fox. From the top you'll be rewarded with one of my favorite views in the South Island.

In fact, you get views that rival the helicopter experience. And best of all: you deserve it too.

• alt=“MOUNT FOX VOM TRIG-PUNKT“>
• alt=“MOUNT FOX ROUTE GOX GLETSCHERBLICK“>

Klook.com

MORE: 11 EPIC MOUNT COOK VIEW LOCATIONS – THE BEST PLACES TO SEE MOUNT COOK

The Mount Fox Summit: The best Fox Glacier and Mount Cook viewpoint

The official summit of Mount Fox is indicated by a signpost immediately after the climb. However, there is a small hill just to the right that is a bit higher (if we're really counting).

The views from the summit of Mount Fox are breathtaking, with sweeping panoramas of the Southern Alps and Westland National Park.

The highlight is of course the direct view of the Fox Glacier and the west face of Aoraki (Mount Cook). To be honest, Mount Fox is the best viewpoint of Fox Glacier you'll find in the South Island. I'll let the photos do the talking!
alt=“MOUNT FOX ROUTE FOX GLACIER “>
alt=“MOUNT FOX HIKING VIEWPOINT OF MT COOK “>
alt="MOUNT FOX SUMMIT">
alt="FUCHS GLACIER ">

More photos from the Mount Fox hike in New Zealand

Here are some more photos from the hike and summit of the Mount Fox Route. I hope they inspire you to take on this difficult but rewarding hike in New Zealand's South Island!
alt=“MOUNT FOX ROUTE SUMMIT VIEW OF GOX GLACIER”>
alt=“MT COOK WEST FRONT”>
alt="SOUTHERN ALPS MOUNTAINS IN NEW ZEALAND">
alt="SOUTH ALPS NEW ZEALAND">
alt=“SOUTH ALPS NEW ZEALAND FROM MOUNT FOX SUMMIT”>
alt=“FOX GLACIER VIEW FROM MOUNT FOX “>View of Mount Fox Route Fox Glacier
alt=“SOUTHERN ALPES FROM MOUNT FOX SUMMIT”>
alt=“MT AORAKI MT COOK WEST FRONT”>Mount Cook from Mount Fox New Zealand

More travel and hiking guides for the West Coast

I hope you found this guide to hiking the Mount Fox Route, New Zealand's best viewpoint of Fox Glacier, informative and inspiring.

If you're looking for more travel inspiration or travel guides for New Zealand's South Island, why not check out some of my other blogs below. A good starting point for more great hikes is this description of the 31 best hikes in New Zealand's South Island.

If you have any questions or news about the Mount Fox Route, let me and other hikers know by leaving a comment below.

Stay adventurous!

MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.
alt=“MOUNT FOX ROUTE “>

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