Child friendly rating: 4 stars

Distance: 7.4km

Signposted time: 3 hours

Bookings Required? No

Suitable in Winter? Generally

Camping Available? Yes

4wd required? No

Parking:

The direct parking spot would be to park at the Lewis Pass carpark on SH7.

However this is notorious for break-ins, so if you're going to be staying the night, I would recommend instead leaving your car safely at the Boyle Outdoor Centre, and getting dropped off to the track start by them. Then arranging a pick up. This I think is the main reason people don't do this tramp much.

The Track:

 This hut is the first hut along the St James Walkway. While a well used track that's relatively popular, with Ada Pass Hut only a further 1 hour walk, most people walking the St James bypass this hut.

The track isn't the easiest underfoot, but that actually can make it a pretty fun walk. Bridges, rocks, and more to pass over.

There is a fair bit of undulation in the track, and you pass through a gorge - Cannibal Gorge - which means the track is not super wide all the way. It is still very easy to follow and very well worn.

There are 3 main bridges to cross, and after you cross the 3rd, you come out of the bushline into a clearing. At the end of the clearing you'll see the hut ahead.

If you are planning on continuing along the St James Walkway, the track does follow the open valley more after this point.

Hut:

Beds are platform bunks in this slightly dated but tidy hut.

Recommendations:

If you've got kids who like variety, this could be a more fun walk than the nearby Lake Daniells walk which is a similar distance, but with less variety. Though Lake Daniells does have many little boardwalks which keep things a little more fun too.

I would recommend this for a first track for kids who need more of a challenge, or as a 2nd/3rd hike for kids who are proving capable on some of the 5 star friendly walks. The distance is manageable and the location is pretty spectacular in the valley surrounded by mountains.