Young River Link Track

The track starts at the Blue Pools car park. After 10 minutes, just after the first swing bridge, it branches to the left. Soon after, it crosses the Blue Pools Bridge for great views up the river gorge. From here the track continues through beech/tawhero forest to Rainy Flat and then opens up onto sections of farmland and bush that lead to the mouth of the Young River.

Note, in high river conditions, this track also provides an alternative route to the mouth of the Young River and the start of the Gillespie Pass Circuit. This circuit is a tramping track - those who want to continue up the Young Valley need to have a good level of fitness and a moderate to high level of backcountry skills and experience.

Note: This track was formerly known as Blue-Young Link Track.

Young River Link Track is an extension of the very popular Blue Pools Track. Access is from the Blue Pools car park, off the Haast Highway (SH6).

While most of the track is well formed, the last 30 metres before the Young River is steep and unformed.

No visitor centre in Makarora

Contact the Awarua/Haast or Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park visitor centres instead.