Gertrude Saddle Route Fiordland National Park

Gertrude Saddle Route: The Dry-Weather-Only Hike | Fiordland

The Gertrude Saddle Route is a short but challenging hike in Fiordland that offers a truly unique experience. It is an exposed, 14 km return route through Gertrude Valley to the top of the saddle. Gertrude Saddle Route is often underestimated due to its relatively short distance and duration (4-6 hours return). The biggest hazard on this alpine route is the smooth and steep rock slabs, which will be very slippery when wet or icy. Due to this, one shall only attempt this route in good weather in the peak of summer, and not to do it when there’s rain, snow or ice. There is also the risk of avalanches during winter.

Gertrude Valley Lookout & Trailhead

Gertrude Valley Lookout Car Park Gertrude Saddle Route Trailhead Starting Point

The Gertrude Saddle Route starts at Getrude Valley car park, which is also a nice scenic drive stop if you don’t intend to hike.

Gertrude Valley Lookout Gertrude Saddle Route Trailhead

12pm: A warm sunny day, perfect weather to attempt the Gertrude Saddle Route.

Gertrude Saddle Route

(+3)12.03pm: Follow the pole markers, go through some different types of tracks at the start.

Gertrude Valley Gertrude Saddle Route

(+9)12.12pm: The track winds towards the valley.

Gertrude Saddle Route
Gertrude Saddle Route

(+12)12.24pm: Look out for a less obvious pole marker on the left into the bush as you cross a wide section of dry stone bed.

Gertrude Saddle Route Valley

(+6)12.30pm: Out of the bush.

Gertrude Saddle Route Valley

(+4)12.34pm: Walk into Gertrude Valley. The path is still flat at this point.

Gertrude Saddle Route

(+5)12.39pm: From the distance you see the valley turns upwards to the left. The Gertrude Saddle is up behind that turn.

Gertrude Saddle Route Marker

(+12)12.51pm: Near the end of the dry, rocky river bed, look for the pole marker on the left. It takes you up from the head of the valley towards the saddle.

Gertrude Saddle Route Pole Marker

(+4)12.55pm: There are limited track markers as you head up the valley so you’ll need good route finding experience.

Gertrude Saddle Route River Crossing

(+11)1.06pm: Approaching the first river.

Gertrude Saddle Route

(+2)1.08pm: The track is steep and slippery beyond this point. If the weather is turning bad (eg. rain or foggy), turn back and try another day. If you get caught in sudden change of weather, take extreme care to stick to the route as you head down, as wandering off route has led to multiple fatalities.

Gertrude Saddle Waterfalls & River Crossings

Gertrude Saddle Waterfall and River Crossing
Gertrude Saddle Waterfall and River Crossing

(+1)1.09pm: Below the steep waterfall area, you have to cross the river over to the opposite track to continue the climb. Pay close attention and look for the orange triangle markers (easy to miss especially on the way back) that mark the crossing point. It is absolutely essential that you cross at this point. As it was during a very dry period and also during the peak of summer, the water volume was very low and I didn’t have to get my feet wet at the crossing.

Gertrude Saddle Route

(+3)1.12pm: After crossing the river, continue the route up towards the saddle.

Gertrude Saddle Lower Waterfall and River Crossing

(+4)1.16pm: This is the lower fall of Gertrude Saddle, which was quite small during this dry period.

Gertrude Saddle Route Scree

(+5)1.21pm: Track with slippery loose rocks and scree.

Gertrude Saddle Route

(+7)1.28pm

Gertrude Saddle Route Wet Rocks
Gertrude Saddle Route

(+2)1.30pm: Avoid wet rocks. Wet rocks have caused fatalities on this route.

Gertrude Saddle Route slippery rock slabs
Gertrude Saddle Route granite slabs

(+2)1.32pm: Eventually, the scree route turns into big granite slabs, which can be very slippery when wet or icy.

Gertrude Saddle Waterfall and River Crossing
Gertrude Saddle Upper Waterfall

(+7)1.39pm: Some steel cable to assist your climb along the side of the upper waterfall.

Gertrude Saddle Route - Black Lake

Gertrude Saddle Route Black Lake

(+5)1.44pm: Arriving at the Black Lake, the water source of the previous waterfalls and rivers.

Gertrude Saddle Route Steel Cable climb

(+1)1.45pm: Right after the lake is another steep granite to climb. Steel cables are installed to aid your climb.

Black Lake
Gertrude Saddle Black Lake

(+5)1.50pm: Looking back at the Black Lake on the way up.

Gertrude Saddle Quatz Veins
Gertrude Saddle Quatz Veins

As I climbed, I noticed some odd-looking white lines along the granite ground. You can also see similar lines from the river pool photo above (underwater). Maybe those are the quartz veins.

Gertrude Saddle Route

(+10)2pm: Some final pushes towards the top of the saddle.

Gertrude Saddle Top

Gertrude Saddle Peak

(+16)2.16pm: Finally, at the top of the Gertrude Saddle!

Gertrude Saddle Peak

On the saddle, you can now see what’s on the other side of the mountains. Parts of Milford Sound can be seen from here, along with breathtaking views of the valley. A kea landed nearby as I was eating my lunch while enjoying the scenery. I also saw a tour helicopter fly past the saddle from Milford Sound Airport.

Gertrude Saddle Black Lake

2.49pm: After my lunch break I headed down back towards Black Lake.

Gertrude Valley

(+26)3.15pm: Down towards the bottom of the valley, just before recrossing the river. Remember to look for the orange triangles for the river crossing.

Gertrude Saddle Waterfall Quatz Veins

(+17)3.32pm: Another of those odd white lines (possibly quartz veins).

Gertrude Valley

(+29)4.01pm: Back into the valley, heading towards the car park.

Ditto Te Anau

On the drive back past the small town, I grabbed some delicious sushi bowl and loaded fries in Te Anau.

Barnyard Backpackers Te Anau Dog

Then, I checked in at the serene Barnyard Backpackers Te Anau as I have another hike in Fiordland the next morning, at Lake Marian Track. There’s this cute doggo living here!

Barnyard Backpackers Te Anau Sunset view

Sunset by the dorm room door.

Barnyard Backpackers Te Anau Dark Sky
Barnyard Backpackers Te Anau Night Sky

Into the twilight, outlined by Fiordland mountain range.

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