Access: Routeburn Flats Carpark

Distance: Roughly 15km from the Parking Lot

Elevation: 1434m

Difficulty: Some 2nd class scrambling with a bit of easy route-finding.

Description:

Lake Wilson is a beautiful alpine lake above lake harris off the Routeburn track. The first leg of the trip is very straightforward. Follow the highway of a track that is the Routeburn track until you reach the Harris Saddle. You will need to find a way to get around Lake Harris beneath the saddle. If you start to make your way toward the lake from the saddle you will reach a goat track that takes you above and around the lake to the Valley of the Trolls. This spot in itself is a popular camping spot. Just a heads up, it is very marshy. We got wet feet on the way through the valley.

Looking into the valley on the way to the Falls Hut

If you look out to the back of the valley, you will see what looks like a very steep gully just right of the waterfall. This is our route. It is not as bad as it looks. Once you are at the base of the gully, you will see a switchbacking trail heading straight up into the gully. Follow this track. Halfway up there is an awkward rock step. Take your time and find some good footholds. Once you’re above that it’s a cakewalk until you reach the mouth of the lake. From here there area tons of little campsites. If you want a bit more privacy then you can walk around the lake to the other side.

Above the Falls Hut, headed to Harris Saddle

Lake Harris with Valley of the Trolls behind it.

Valley of the Trolls with Ocean Peak in the background.

 

Our campsite was on the ridge above the lake. Unfortunately, we were not out of the wind and it was March so the night was freezing.

You can follow this ridge to climb Mt. Erebus. We have a post about that climb from this point as well!