On-leadHard
St. James Cycleway via Lake Guyon and Fowlers Camp
Hanmer Springs · Canterbury · Loop
↑ 929 m gain↓ 928 m descenthigh 1312 msteepest 27 %
DISTANCE45.2 km
ASCENT929 m
DURATION13.5–14.5 hr
STEEPEST27 %
ROUTELoop
RATING · HIKERS 5.0 · 3
DOG EFFORT4.4 /5 paws
Nearest emergency vetNelson Vets - Saxton (after-hours on-call), Nelson
03 544 5678
The route
Good to know
On the lead here. Keep it to two metres or less and watch for ground-nesting birds, as on most NZ tracks.
Lake swimRiver swim spotsOpen track, carry water for the dogUsually a quiet trackBest in summer; snow and ice at altitude in winter
Check the water before the dog swims. Toxic algae blooms in NZ rivers and lakes can kill a dog within hours. Scan the LAWA water quality map in warm months and keep dogs away from dark slime on rocks.
A multi-day expedition, not an afternoon walk. Plan for huts, weather and full backcountry gear.
About St. James Cycleway via Lake Guyon and Fowlers Camp
St. James Cycleway via Lake Guyon and Fowlers Camp is a loop of 45.2 km, near Hanmer Springs in Canterbury.
Expect hard going, with around 929 m of climb, pitching up to 27 % at its steepest, and takes about 13.5–14.5 hr to walk.
Walkers come for lakeside stretches, river frontage, wildflowers, and wildlife. Dogs are welcome here on the lead. Hikers rate it 5.0 / 5 across 3 reviews.