Routeburn Track: Key Summit Track
Alerts
Avalanche NZ
Check Avalanche NZ for the full avalanche forecast before you go.
Sorry, we can't show Avalanche NZ forecasts or alerts on this site. Avalanche NZ doesn't permit it.
NIWA weather risks
NIWA's Parks Weather site lists daily weather risks for the forecast point below.
Sorry, we can't show NIWA weather or alerts on this site. NIWA doesn't permit paid apps to do this.
Forecast point: Harris Saddle (1255m) · 9.9km away
Check the DOC website for current alerts and conditions before you go. This site gets current alert info from DOC, but is not an official source of information.
Enjoy panoramic views over mountains and alpine lakes on this half-day walk off Milford Road on the Routeburn Track - it's suitable families with children.
Elevation
Cover mapped summer 2023/24.
Description
This walk offers spectacular views of Fiordland National Park. If you only have time for one walk on your drive to Milford Sound, and the weather is fine, this track is well worth the effort.
From The Divide carpark follow the Routeburn Track for about an hour to get to to Key Summit Track. From here it is a 20 minute climb to Key Summit, with panoramic views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains.
This alpine nature walk passes a range of native vegetation: beech forest, sub-alpine shrublands, alpine tarns and bogs. Birdlife is prolific and tomtits, robins, New Zealand pigeons and bellbirds are commonly seen.
During the last ice age, which ended about 14,000 years ago, a huge glacier flowed down the Hollyford Valley and overtopped Key Summit by 500 m, with ice branches splitting off into the Eglinton and Greenstone Valleys.
Getting there
This walk begins at The Divide, about 85 km along the Milford Road from Te Anau.
The first part of the walk is on the Routeburn Track. A sign marks the turn off to Key Summit Track.
Weather
Forecast at the start of the track