Hiking Avalanche Peak New Zealand – Arthur's Pass

Hiking Avalanche Peak New Zealand – Arthur's Pass

Avalanche Peak New Zealand is a steep but rewarding day hike to an alpine peak overlooking the incredible Arthur's Pass and the surrounding mountains. A complete hiking guide to complete the Arthur's Peak route independently.

By far my favorite hike around Arthur’s Pass was the Avalanche Peak route. The great thing about this hike is that it can be completed in a loop, meaning you get great views of the entire area.

I encountered the Avalanche Peak Trail when I first arrived at Arthur’s Pass. It was a great way to look out over the area and I could even see the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall from the adjacent mountain range. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to experience the promised magnificent views from this 1833 meter high peak as there was a lot of stubborn low cloud cover that day.

COMPLETE GUIDE: 9 EPIC THINGS IN ARTHUR’S PASS

Where is Avalanche Peak Track?

There are two tracks that lead to the summit of Avalanche Peak. Both start on SH73 near Arthur’s Pass Village. There is the option to hike both as a loop or to ascend and descend along the same path.

I would recommend starting with the Avalanche Peak Track and descending on the Scotts Route. You will find the signpost directly across the street from the new visitor center (before Glasgow Creek). I have marked the location on the map below.

TRAILHEAD GPS POSITION: 42°56’27.9″S 171°33’42.5″E

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Location of the parking lot

There is a free parking lot directly opposite the DOC Visitor Center. We left our car here for most of the day while we explored all the things to do in Arthur’s Pass on foot.

About Avalanche Peak New Zealand

Length/duration of hike: 9.2 km, 4-6 hours return
Elevation: 1110M gain, 1833M AMSL at summit
Difficulty level: Moderate (steep) in summer, difficult in winter

The Avalanche Peak hike is one of the most challenging but rewarding hikes near Arthur’s Pass Village. It is also the only mountain peak in the area with a marked route to the summit.

Unfortunately, Avalanche Peak New Zealand is known for being a dangerous route. In fact, several people lost their lives on the way to the summit of Avalanche Peak. Remember to always be prepared, monitor weather conditions, and speak to visitor center staff for current route information and to register your intent.

Avalanche warning. The DOC recommends avalanche experience and equipment prior to this hike during avalanche season. Remember to consult the DOC before departure.

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• alt=“AVALANCHE PEAK ROUTE NEUSEELAND WANDERUNG“>
• alt=“ARTHURS PASS VON DER AVALANCHE PEAK ROUTE NEUSEELAND-WANDERUNG“>

Avalanche Peak Loop GPX file

Here is the GPX route showing the track and path I took, recorded with my GPS watch. You can download the file by clicking the link below. Keep in mind that these routes are subject to change, especially during avalanche season. Do not rely on this GPX map as your primary navigation source.

GPX file: Download

My Strava: Visit

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Avalanche Peak Track and Route

For the purpose of this blog post I will outline the path I took; Ascent on the Avalanche Peak Track and descent on Scotts Track. After the tree markers, the trail quickly shoots into the tree line and begins to climb steeply almost immediately. Within the first 5-10 minutes you will get a good idea of ​​what to expect on this hike.

Although it is steep, the section at the tree line is not technically difficult. There are a few sections where we were able to break away briefly and get a great view over Arthur’s Pass Village.
alt=“AVALANCHE TIP”>

Avalanche Creek Waterfall

After a few minutes of climbing, you will pass the Avalanche Creek Waterfall. You can get some great shots of it from the trail.
alt=“AVALANCHE CREEK WATERFALL ARTHURS PASS”>

Break through the tree line

After about 1-1.5 hours of walking, you finally break out of the tree line and into an exposed alpine area. This is officially the end of the Avalanche Peak Track and the beginning of the Avalanche Peak Route. The difference is that a route is just a marked "route" that shows the best way to the summit, while a track is a well-marked and maintained "path" that you can stay on.

This means this section is much more difficult and requires a bit of concentration to make sure you stay in the right direction. The DOC advises that if visibility or conditions are poor, it is best to turn back at the tree line, as this section of the Alps is exposed and can quickly become dangerous.

• alt=“AVALANCHE PEAK TRACK ANSICHTEN VON ARTHURS PASS“>
• alt=“LAWINENSPITZENWEG ZUM GIPFEL“>
• alt=“LAWINENSPITZENBÜSCHELN“>

Avalanche Peak route to the summit

I was here in early fall, so the snow hadn't started yet and visibility was good. We followed the yellow pole markers all the way up for another hour until we reached a ledge. From here there is a clear route to the summit that heads left.

In this section you will see yellow and orange pole markers blending into each other. Remember that the yellow markers indicate Arthur’s Peak route, while the orange markers represent Scott’s route.
alt=“AVALANCHE PATH TO THE SUMMIT”>

Loop Return to Arthur’s Pass

After enjoying the view (in my case the fog) we started the descent back to Arthurs Pass Village. We followed the same route back to the marker merger point and began the descent, this time following the orange markers for Scotts Route.

The views on the descent were much more impressive for us, with uninterrupted landscapes over the nearby mountains and the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall on the other side of the valley.

We spent much longer descending as we took photos and watched the kea birds as they flew overhead.
alt=“KEA VOGEL AT THE AVALANCHE TOP”>
alt="SCOTT'S ROUTE AVALANCHE TIP">
alt=“AVALANCHE PEAK NEW ZEALAND HIKE”>

Scott's track

After descending Scotts Route there is a clear, almost door-like entrance back into the treeline. This is the start of the Scotts Track, which heads back down to State Highway 73, just a few hundred meters higher up where we started the Avalanche Peak Track.
alt=“ARTHURS PASS FROM AVALANCHE PEAK ROUTE NEW ZEALAND HIKE”>

Overnight accommodation in Arthur’s Pass

Motel: Arthur’s Pass Alpine MotelOne of the best rated and best value motels in the area is the famous Alpine Motel. These rooms offer kitchen facilities and great views of the valley and surrounding mountains. It's a great place to sit and relax after checking off all the epic activities in Arthur's Pass!

Check price and availability for your travel dates here
alt=“ARTHUR’S PASS ACCOMMODATION NEW ZEALAND”>
Hostel: Arthur’s Pass YHAThe YHA at Arthur’s Pass is the only youth hostel or backpacker spot in the area. If you want to get out of the car and spend a night indoors then this is a great budget bet.

Check price and availability for your travel dates here
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Entire Apartment: The NookWhile I didn't stay here, if you're in a larger group or prefer an entire apartment then you can't go wrong with The Nook. This place offers a private bathroom, bedroom, living room and mountain views.

Check price and availability for your travel dates here
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More photos of Avalanche Peak New Zealand

I strongly believe that if you always wait for the “perfect conditions” you will inevitably miss opportunities. An example of this is that if I had decided to postpone the Avalanche Peak hike because of the heavy fog, I probably would have missed the hike entirely!

Sometimes you just have to get out. Maybe 3 times out of 10 the conditions might not be ideal, but if you wait for Goldilocks hiking conditions, there's a big chance you'll miss the other 7 bangers!

Regardless, here are some more photos of my less than ideal hiking conditions at Avalanche Peak New Zealand. If you use this guide and get better shots than me, let me know, I'd be happy to share it.
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alt=“LAWINENSPITZENWEG”>
alt="SCOTT'S ROUTE AVALANCHE TIP">
alt=“ARTHUR’S PASS FROM THE AVALANCHE PEAK TRACK”>
alt=“DEVILS PUNCHBOWL WATERFALL FROM THE AVALANCHE PEAK HIKE”>
alt=“ARTHUR’S PASS FROM THE AVALANCHE PEAK TRACK”>
alt=“AVALANCHE CREEK WATERFALL ARTHURS PASS”>
alt="CLIMBING TO THE AVALANCHE TOP">

More things to do near Arthur’s Pass

I hope you found this guide to hiking Avalanche Peak New Zealand in Arthur’s Pass! If you have any questions or current route information, please let other hitchhikers know by leaving a comment below.

For now, check out some other Arthur’s Pass hikes and guides from the list below. Hiking? Don't miss the 31 best hikes in New Zealand's South Island.

Enjoy!

alt=“AVALANCHE PEAK NEW ZEALAND”>

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