Scout Track, Marsden Valley
Nelson · Nelson-Tasman
This walk was suggested by the community and checked against the authority quoted above before it was published. The route line comes from official track data. Nelson City Council’s own wording: “Nelson City Council Dog Control Policy 2020, Schedule One item 20: "Dogs are permitted to be off leash on the formed cycling and walking tracks within Marsden Valley Reserve, including Involution Trail. However, they are prohibited from being in the bush areas (off the tracks) in the part of Marsden Valley Reserve to the east of the Barnicoat Walkway. This part of Marsden Valley Reserve, which is largely native bush, is habitat for a growing weka population." Scout Track and Involution both sit in that eastern part of the reserve, so the dog may be off the lead on the track itself and must stay on it: the bush either side is a no-dogs area under the same item. The council's mapped zone here is labelled Dogs Prohibited because it covers the off-track bush, not the formed tracks”. Evidence: the council’s own mapped rule zone. How we check dog rules.
Good to know
Dogs are allowed here. Watch for ground-nesting birds and stock, and read the signs at the gate.
About Scout Track, Marsden Valley
Scout Track, Marsden Valley is a moderate-length walk of 4.8 km, near Nelson in Nelson-Tasman.
A short, very steep bush track that climbs the Barnicoat Range from the head of Marsden Valley, five minutes up Marsden Valley Road from Stoke. From the car park at the road end (just before the quarry, information panel and map) cross the vehicle bridge and follow the gravel Weir Track up the valley for about 800 m to the old Ngawhatu weir, passing the green picnic bench and the downhill end of Involution on the left. Scout Track starts on the far side of the stream beneath the weir with a steep, slippery bank and a rope to haul yourself up; a reasonably agile dog manages it fine, and there is a gentler way in for anyone who would rather skip the rope: turn right onto the unsigned Loop Track before the Involution junction, cross the stream, and turn left to reach the foot of the spur. From the weir the track gains about 300 m in roughly 600 m of horizontal distance, an average gradient near 50 percent that barely eases the whole way up, through kānuka and five finger. Predator traps and nest boxes line the track, maintained by the Marsden Valley Trapping Group, and weka are back in this bush, which is exactly why the dog has to stay on the formed track. At the top you meet Involution, the shared walking and mountain bike trail, and the walk drawn here turns left and comes down it, a far gentler 3 km of gradient back to the Weir Track and the car park, about 5 km all up. Turn right instead for the longer way round by the Barnicoat Range Walkway or Glider Road and Widdershins. Expect bikes on Involution and step aside with the dog at your heel. Nelson City Council's dog policy allows dogs off the lead on the formed tracks in Marsden Valley Reserve, Involution named among them, and prohibits them in the bush off the tracks east of the Barnicoat Walkway, which is the side Scout Track and Involution are on. On a track this steep most people will want the lead on for the climb anyway; on the way down keep the dog close on the bike trail.
It sits at the hard end and gains roughly 401 m, and takes about 1 hr 37 to walk.
Dogs are welcome here. This walk is on the map because Roxy & Doug suggested it, and we checked it against the source above.
