10 October 2026
Cloud increasing, then showers developing this evening.
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1 / 7Fiordland National Park
Routeburn Track: Lake Howden Track
For a taste of the Routeburn Track Great Walk, walk to Lake Howden with plenty of mountain and valley views along the way.
Distance
3.4 km
Walking time
3 hr
Difficulty
Intermediate
Dogs
Not allowed
Wheelchair access
Not marked friendly
Current status
Alerts and track conditions
Slip on Routeburn Track
Outdoor alert
Outdoor alert
Weather outlook
Fiordland National Park forecast
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 7:33 am
11 October 2026
Showers, clearing in the afternoon but remaining cloudy with the odd shower lingering south of Secretary Island. Snow to 2100 metres in the north at first.
12 October 2026
A few showers.
13 October 2026
A few showers, turning to rain, with snow to 2100 metres.
14 October 2026
Showers, some possibly heavy. Snow lowering to 800 metres.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Routeburn Track: Lake Howden Track on the map
See the full route on the map
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
About Routeburn Track: Lake Howden Track
From the Divide carpark the track starts to climb up through native fuschia and silver beech. After about 10 minutes walk there is a no stopping sign for 100 metres as there is a slip area that you need to walk past. The track continues to climb steadily up to the Key Summit and Howden junction. Along this part there are some nice views looking down to the Hollyford Valley and some views out to the Darren mountains. On a nice day it is worth taking a detour up to Key Summit with fantastic views of the Fiordland Mountains (allow 1 hour return back to the Howden junction) From the Key Summit/Howden turn off the track descends down to Lake Howden.
Essential information for Routeburn Track: Lake Howden Track
The weather in Fiordland is very changeable so make sure you prepared Howden Hut was destroyed in the 2020 floods, however there is a toilet and some picnic tables at Lake Howden. The best place to camp is 20 minutes walk further on down the Greenstone track where you'll find Greenstone Saddle campsite past the far end of Lake Howden. There is a creek by Lake Howden where you can refill water bottles and a tap at the divide shelter. No dogs are allowed.
Huts and campsites
The nearest DOC Hut is now the 50-bed Lake Mackenzie Hut which is several hours up the Routeburn T rack and requires booking in advance (nearby Howdon Hut is permanently closed after it was damaged in a landslide). There are several camping spots along the Milford Road, those nearby include Upper Eglinton Campsite , and Cascade Creek on the shores of Lake Gunn, but all need to be booked in advance as it can be popular in the height of summer.
Getting there for Routeburn Track: Lake Howden Track
From Te Anau to the Divide Carpark is 85km which takes about an hour’s drive. The carpark is well signposted on the right hand side of the road. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way there. Tracknet buses also drop off and pick up from Te Anau daily.
Helpful resources
We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .
Dog access for Routeburn Track: Lake Howden Track
No dogs.
Before you walk Routeburn Track: Lake Howden Track
Track information, access and weather can change. Confirm current alerts and land-manager information close to departure, tell someone your plans, and carry equipment appropriate for the route and conditions.