Blue Pools - Gillespie Pass Loop

Start at the Blue Pools, you can park here and camp at Cameron Flat across the road. Simply follow the trail to the swimming spot, across the bridge and carry on toward the Young river. The trail is largely good and easy to follow until you reach the turn off to the Young.

At the gate, keep going as you take a gradually right turn down the valley. The trail gets a bit more tough and there is some scrambling and climbing, but all achievable but not runnable. The trail gets better after a while as you join the Young river. Tip - make a GPS position or note a good location to cross the Young on your return.

Continue to the Young Hut. It's well sign-posted. From the Young to the pass the trail is varied. It starts with some tough climbing but gives way to a lovely run. The pass climb is steep (you'll be used to that by now). It goes on for a while, then a bit longer, and a bit more. The pass may have snow and is roughly marked.

Carry down the other side toward Siberia. This is steep in parts but quite runnable in large sections. Until you get to the rooty sections in the second half. Take care on the roots and eventually they'll give way to a nice run down the Siberia River to Siberia Hut. 35kms to this point so you may decide to stay at the hut. Continue on the trail all the way out to the Makarora River. You may need to vary your track to take easier routes if the river is low. Keep heading out if you loose the trail, you'll get there.

At the Makarora turn left, so stay on the farmland. This is marked by orange markers. The markers will eventually fade away and now you need to make your own way threading between farmland and the river. This gets tight in places and you will need to make your way through some bush to avoid the deep river. Don't fear - it's all possible!

Continue to the Young River and if you marked a spot to cross, then do it. Take care. Retrace your steps back to the Blue Pools for a swim!