Mt Crichton Loop Track is a local’s favorite hiking track. It can be done in an easy loop that features native bush, rivers, a waterfall, old gold mining tunnels, historic hut, mountains and lake views.
Mt Crichton Loop Track Parking & Trailhead
12.01pm: Mt Crichton Loop Track Parking is located across the road near the trailhead. From the car park, follow the signboard to the track. Twelve Mile Delta and Bob’s Cove Track can also be accessed from here.
(+4)12.05pm: Follow the signboard to cross the road and enter the track at the opposite side.
(+2)12.07pm: Here is the starting point for Mt Crichton Loop Track. You can choose to start the loop from either direction. I did it clockwise as most people recommend (less constant uphill compared to anti-clockwise) but the difference in difficulty is not significant.
The track follows Twelve Mile Creek.
(+3)12.10pm: An old water race tunnel dug for gold mining activities.
(+4)12.14pm: This tree on a small hill looked like it’s gonna fall over along with the chunk of earth. Fortunately it’s away from the track.
(+9)12.23pm: A brief view of open sky and mountains as the track turns around the corner.
(+8)12.31pm: Crossing the merging creek at the Māori Gully. The bridge was destroyed during a flood after my hike and you would have to get your feet wet (or not, depending on water level) and cross the creek until the bridge is restored. Do not cross if the water is high or discolored.
(+13)12.44pm: As the track takes you to the highest point you’ll find yourself at a wide open area with surrounding beech forest. You’ll find canyons sluiced by gold miners in the past.
(+1)12.45pm: A short side trip to the historic tunnel.
Mt Crichton Loop Track Historic Tunnel
(+3)12.48pm: This tunnel was laboriously chiseled and blasted with drill, hammer and explosive. It is a tailrace tunnel made to allow water and rock cut from the mining face to flow into 12-Mile Creek.
(+6)12.54pm: Continue on, the track goes back down into the shaded forest.
(+2)12.56pm: A beautiful creek and mini waterfall spotted down below.
(+2)12.58pm: A toilet by the track.
Sam Summers Hut
(+1)12.59pm: The historic Sam Summers Hut is a short side trip from the track.
This hut was built with schist and iron by Sam Summers and his brothers in 1930. It was a necessary shelter against the often brutal weather as they sluiced for gold nearby. He also had a good vegetable garden and strawberry beds near the hut.
Sam left his hut to go to war (WWII) but returned to visit many times. While other gold prospector shelters have crumbled, Sam Summers hut has been regularly repaired and maintained as a local’s favorite. This near-century-old hut stands as a window into the region’s past.
(+5)1.04pm: A spectacular small waterfall as the track crosses 12-Mile Creek (bridged).
(+26)1.30pm: Lake Dispute Walkway can be accessed from this junction, but I continued on towards Mt Crichton Loop Track exit (car park).
(+5)1.35pm: The view of the tip of Lake Dispute. The distant mountains were concealed by heavy fog.
(+2)1.37pm: More mountainous views as I walk through the east side of the loop.
(+13)1.50pm: Foggy snow mountain views.
(+27)2.17pm: After 2¼ hours of walking, I completed the loop and returned to the car park.
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