Upper Caples Hut - Remote Backcountry Shelters on Waymarking.com

This is possibly one of my more favorite huts, located at the upper end of the Caples valley tucked in a small clearing amongst the Beech Forest and next to the Caples River. This hut is the staging point for forays over the McKellar Saddle into the Greenstone Valley if that is direction you are travelling. The hut is sited close to the junction of Kay Creek and Fraser Creek valleys on the opposite side of the River. To get to this Hut from Lake Wakatipu you will need to drive the 90kms from Queenstown to the Greenstone Road end via Glenorchy and then Kinloch and start from there. This walk I have done a couple of times and is quite flat and fairly easy going, following the Greenstone River for a little while and then staying on the true left of the river, following up the Caples River crossing over at the Mid Caples Hut about 3 hrs or less after you started. From the Mid Caples Hut it is approx 2 1/2 hrs walk up river to the Upper Caples Hut. To carry on to the head of the valley to the saddle you will need to stay on the true right of the river - the side on which the hut is. To venture up Kay or Fraser Creek will mean crossing the swing Bridge close to the hut (400metres away) and going from there. The hut is a comfortable 12 bunk hut with a fire place and is serviced so there MAY be coal or wood there already. If not then go easy on the surrounding forest. It has a stove obviously but you will still need your own Gas cookers etc. My favorite time to go there is during winter when there if a lot less traffic but the valley can get pretty cold and see little to no sunshine due to the proximity of the mountains. Winter sunshine is limited due to the huts proximity to the surrounding mountains - bearing this in mind the hut can be a very cold one with the fire place making minimal difference. The weather can be quite erratic and unpredictable. The river has limted number of trout and is a Fly Fishing only river with 'Catch & Release' being encouraged. If you go then leave the hut in better condition than you found it. http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/backcountry-huts-by-region/otago/queenstown-wakatipu/upper-caples-hut/

Type of shelter: hut Stay overnight: Yes Sleeps How Many: 12 Reservation required: No Cost: $10-$30 Available Year Round: Yes Enclosed: Enclosed

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