Carroll Hut Track is a 2.5km+ (one-way) hiking trail that climbs steeply to Carroll Hut. The hut is a standard 10-bunk Department of Conservation (DoC) hut. Carroll Hut sits on West Coast’s mountain range with awesome views. The Carroll Hut Track takes around 2-3 hours one way, and can be done as either an in-and-out day hike, or an overnight trip staying in the hut.
Carroll Hut Booking
There is no booking for Carroll Hut (first come, first serve), but you need to purchase a standard hut ticket (per adult) beforehand and put it in the honesty box in the hut. The closest place to purchase the hut ticket is at the Arthur’s Pass National Park Visitor Centre in Arthur’s Pass Village, 20 minutes drive away. You can also buy the standard hut tickets from any other visitor centers or retailers.
After purchasing the hut ticket and dropping off my valuables at Arthur’s Pass, I drove towards the starting point of Carroll Hut Track. On the way there, I stopped by Otira Viaduct Lookout.
A cheeky kea decided to land on my parked car at the lookout. It even tried to pry open the sunroof with its beak.
I also made a quick stop at Otira Gorge Rock Shelter Lookout, a concrete cover above the highway to protect the road from falling rocks and slips.
Carroll Hut Track Car Park & Trailhead
Carroll Hut Track starts from the parking spot at Cockayne Nature Walk, but enters a different trailhead.
3.31pm: For Carroll Hut Track, make sure you enter the trailhead to the left of this signboard. There’s another trailhead on the right which is for the Cockayne Nature Walk that hikes up and then down towards the road.
(+4)3.35pm: After a few minutes you will have to cross the only stream crossing section of the track (the stream photo was taken after crossing it). You’ll find the signboard and orange triangle markers on the opposite bank.
As soon as you enter the forest track, you’ll be continuously climbing uphill (moderate to very steep). Many parts would require you to grab onto something to climb over the walls of rocks and roots.
Many rocks are smooth and slippery (it was a wet day on my hike and they were very slippery), so take caution and don’t rush.
(+68)4.43pm: One hour plus later, I made it above the bushline to the open tops.
While still climbing uphill, the subalpine scrub track is less steep compared to the forest track.
A washout on the track. Cross carefully to avoid slipping down the hill.
A waterfall spotted ahead. There’s a stream near the back of the hut so the waterfall might be coming from there.
Carroll Hut
(+23)5.06pm: Up onto the tussock grassland on Kelly’s Range with Carroll Hut in sight!
(+4)5.10pm: Arrived at Carroll Hut.
The long drop toilet is around 80 meters away from the hut.
The fantastic view if you leave the toilet door open while using it haha.
Interior of Carroll Hut: Kitchen bench, dining table, and two-level bunk area. Another small group of uni students was here to spend their study break holiday together.
A cheeky weka was running around the outside of the hut.
Since the other group took the lower bunk, I set up my sleeping spot on the upper bunk by the window.
The view from the window (that’s the toilet).
Day 2
6.35am: The next morning, I woke up early to see if I could do a side trip to Kelly’s Hill Peak or Kelley Saddle, but it was a foggy morning with thick and low clouds giving no visibility on the peaks. The climb from Carroll Hut takes around 1-2 hours one way along a poled route with less obvious trail, and should only be attempted in good visibility, fine weather and low avalanche risk.
This is the kind of view you could see on a clear sunny day:
8.39am: With the weather not getting better and more clouds expected to arrive. I packed up after breakfast and started my descent from Carroll Hut.
The misty views of the mountain range.
(+113)10.32am: Almost two hours later, I arrived at the car park.
Have this guide helped you? Tag @meowtainpeople in your hiking stories & posts!
*Captain Planet passing by* Remember, please take care of our environment, and please don’t destroy the Nature. Leave no trash behind and take back only photos and memories (and also some trash if you can). Walk on the designated path and stay in the middle as much as you can, so that the exposed soil doesn’t spread/corrode further. BE ONE WITH NATURE *flies away*
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