The overnight hike to French Ridge Hut is a big couple of days hiking, but wow. The views are awesome, and you can explore around the hut a reasonable amount which is fun.

The return journey is 34-37km. If you’re not used to steep climbs it’s grueling, but so so worth it.

This post will give you all the details about the French Ridge Hut track.

Before getting started though, if you’re trying to book French Ridge Hut but it’s sold out, consider Liverpool Hut on the other side of the valley. Both of these are two of the best hikes on offer in Mt Aspiring NP.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Details About Hiking To French Ridge Hut
2. French Ridge Hut Map
3. How To Get To The Trailhead
4. My French Ridge Hut Experience

1. DETAILS ABOUT HIKING TO HIKING TO FRENCH RIDGE HUT

How hard is the hike to French Ridge Hut?

In short, how long is a piece of string. It all depends on how you feel about climbing 900+ metres of elevation gain in under 3km. The hike to the base of the hill is comfortable, but the hill is what makes this considered an advanced tramping track.

If you don’t mind steep climbs, overall you’ll find this a medium difficulty hike. If the steep terrain is new to you, you’ll find it a very tough hike.

How long is the hike to French Ridge Hut?

Based on my Strava profile, the hike is around 17km each way, but you could add another 2km to that if you went up to the bridge if the Matukituki River West Branch is too high.

The DOC website states the track is 16.2km each way, but that seems to short in my experience. Be prepared for up to 18km each way 🙂

How much climbing do you do?

From the car park to the start of the real climb, there’s a little under 400 metres of elevation gain. But you won’t be feeling too bad, as it’s spread over a large distance. It’s a little over 900 metres of climbing, essentially straight up, to get to the hut.

Here’s the elevation profile of the French Ridge Hut track to give you an idea of what you’re in for:

How long does the hike to French Ridge Hut take?

The DOC website states it is a 6 – 7.5 hour hike one way. I can definitely see this being the case for some people as it’ll take a few hours to reach Pearl Flat, then the climb up the hill can take a good few hours if you’ve got a heavy pack and aren’t used to steep, technical terrain.

If you need to cover ground quickly, you could get there in around 5 hours. The climb to the hut is going to be where people can really spread out timewise.

What’s the story with staying at French Ridge Hut?

This is a 20-bunk NZ Alpine Club hut meaning you can’t use Back Country Hut Passes or DOC Hut tickets here.

Instead, you’ll need to book the hut online in advance.

The fees are:

• Members: $20/ night
• Non-members: $40/night
• Youth rate (11-17 years): $10/night
• Children (10 yrs and under): free

At 7.45 pm each night there’s a weather update you can receive via the radio in the hut.

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2. FRENCH RIDGE HUT MAP

Click the image below will open the map in a new window.

The map above is the GPX file from my hike to French Ridge Hut overlaid on a topomap. You can download this to your watch or phone, but the track is well signposted and easy to follow.

That said, you can view the full trail on both Google Maps, and maps.me.

3. HOW TO GET TO THE TRAILHEAD

Driving to the car park is easiest which will take 1 – 1.5 hours from Wanaka.

The trail starts from Raspberry Creek Car Park (a.k.a. Raspberry Flat Car Park) which is ~51km from Wanaka.

It’s a simple drive, you’re on one road the whole way, but the last 30km or so are on a gravel road. In the summer and when there’s little rain, most cars can navigate this road easily, including the fords. If there’s been rain in the area however, you should stick to a 4WD vehicle to get there.

But you can also try hitchhiking from Wanaka. It’s straightforward…provided you don’t leave too late in the day.

If you’re looking for a shuttle/bus/shared travel company out there, try WanaTaxi and KT Taxis from a quote. If you’re coming from Queenstown, Haula is a great option.

4. MY FRENCH RIDGE HUT EXPERIENCE

RASPBERRY CREEK CARPARK TO PEARL FLAT

This is the first 15km or so of the hike.

Leaving the car park, you follow the same track that takes you to Rob Roy Glacier, but instead of crossing the bridge, we’ll follow the river deeper into the West Matukituki Valley.

You primarily follow a combo of 4WD tracks and some single trail along gently undulating terrain, though there is a noticeable hill about 4.5km in. There’s also a couple of little bridges and stream crossings where it’s possible to keep your feet dry most of the time.

You’ll most likely come across some cows along the first part of the hike. They’re quite used to humans passing close by, but I like to give them a wide berth 🙂

After 9km, you’ll reach Aspiring Hut where it can be a good place to refuel, follow good hiking etiquette and write your plan in the Hut Intentions book and get ready for the next section.

Note: You can bike into Aspiring Hut as well.

Leaving Aspiring Hut you enter a couple of sections of forest. When you leave the second section, you’ll see the beautiful Pearl which you’ll follow for a couple of kilometers next to the river. If you look towards the right, you can see the French Ridge Hut high up…you’ll need to look up further than you think!

PEARL FLAT TO FRENCH RIDGE HUT

When you get to the Liverpool Hut turnoff, you can turn right and go directly across the river to reach the bottom of the climb to the French Ridge Track…If the river is low enough.

If not, continue on for another kilometre or so where there’s a bridge you can cross. I was lucky to cross when it was super low. Make sure you refill your water before you begin the climb.

The climb. Well, it’s tough and doesn’t mess around. You get straight into the climbing, and it’s steep and technical. Primarily filled with roots, you’ll be a lot happier doing this hike if it’s dry. Chip away and you might be surprised at your progress…just don’t make the mistake of asking anyone coming down how far you have to go…that never ends well.

There are a couple of sections where you’ll be using your hands to haul yourself up…but there always seems to be the perfect branch/root to hold onto. The track is well defined which is nice and a couple of views peeking out of the bush will keep your spirits high.

The further you get up, the more rocks come into play which can be slippery. On a couple of the trickier sections there’s some rope to assist you in getting up.

After about 500 metres of climbing you’ll get above the bushline, and provided you’ve got a nice day, this is epic! The first thing I spotted was the Maud Francis Glacier and Mt Avalanche. So good. You’ll want to take photos galore.

The ridgeline is awesome on a fine day. It’s easy to follow, but there’s still some technical aspects to it. But if it’s wet/windy it can be treacherous…in which case take your time. The same goes if there’s snow here.

Don’t forget to look in all directions, the view is always changing.

You can’t see the hut until you’re a couple of hundred metres away which can be cruel, but it’s so worth it once your there.

Settle in for the evening, get some water, and then go and explore! You can go further up the ridge, but make sure to head towards the glacier for epic views (be wary of the steep drop offs).

Hopefully you’ve got some sweet hut mates and get an epic sunset to enjoy the evening.

THE RETURN HIKE

You potentially have booked a night at Liverpool Hut after your stay here, in which case you’ll know exactly what you’re in for given you can see the hut across the valley from where you are (can you spot it in the photo above?)

But for most of you, you’ll simply follow the route you came in back out to Raspberry Flat car park.

Don’t rush down the hill, you wouldn’t want to catch your foot on a root…that could get ugly fast. Most people set off reasonably early (before 9 am) as it’s still a long walk back out before returning to Wanaka.

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The overnight hike to French Ridge Hut is amazing, as is the French Ridge Track from start to finish…though it does get better and better all the way to the hut in my mind!

If you’re on the fence about this hike, go for it! If you have any questions or comments about French Ridge Hut, leave them below or email jub@churnewzealand.com .

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MORE PHOTOS FROM FRENCH RIDGE HUT HIKE