Swampy Summit, Burns Creek, and Leith Saddle Loop
Dunedin · Otago · Loop
The permit requirement shown here is DOC’s own published rule for this land. The DOC office and signs on the day have the final say. DOC’s own wording: “Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve: "Dogs with a DOC permit only." and "Dogs are allowed in this block with a hunting permit. If accessing the block over private land, you must have landholder permission to take your dog." About 730 m of the Swampy Ridge leg runs inside the reserve. The Leith Saddle Track leg is "Dogs on a leash only" on DOC's Leith Saddle Track page”. Evidence: a hand-checked correction against the authority. How we check dog rules.
Good to know
A DOC dog permit is required before any dog walks here. DOC codes this land for the hunting-dog permit, so it is not a casual dog walk. Ask the DOC office before planning to bring a dog. Steward run 24 Aug 2026, Dunedin sweep page 2: the page said Dogs allowed from licensed walk data only. Three rule-setters share this loop. DOC's Public Conservation Land layer puts about 730 m of the Swampy Ridge leg (in several stretches between 170.494,-45.785 and 170.476,-45.790) inside Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve (CU I44039), and DOC's Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve hunting page (fetched 24 Aug 2026) says 'Dogs with a DOC permit only' and 'Dogs are allowed in this block with a hunting permit'; DOC's Tracks layer carries no dog rule for its Swampy Ridge Track record, and DOC's general rule makes dogs on unlisted conservation land an offence without written approval. DOC's own Leith Saddle Track page says 'Dogs on a leash only'. DCC's Dog Control Policy 2024 Schedule C lists the 'Flagstaff track network that is managed by the Dunedin City Council - from Leith Valley (to the east) to Silverstream (to the west) and Green Ridge (to the north)' as off leash, which covers the council-managed Burns, Pipeline and Swampy Ridge legs. Restrict-fast: the reserve stretch decides the loop, so it is a permit walk. DOC publishes no dog rule for its Swampy Ridge Track record, and on conservation land an unpublished rule is not permission.
Opens your email app, addressed to [email protected]. You can also call DOC on 0800 275 362.
About Swampy Summit, Burns Creek, and Leith Saddle Loop
Swampy Summit, Burns Creek, and Leith Saddle Loop covers 10.6 km, near Dunedin in Otago, walked as a loop.
Three rule-setters share this loop, and the strictest one decides. Part of the Swampy Ridge Track north of the summit, about 730 m in several stretches, sits inside DOC's Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve, where dogs are allowed only with a DOC hunting permit, so the loop as drawn is not an ordinary dog walk. The Leith Saddle Track climb is a DOC track with dogs on a leash only. The rest, the Burns, Pipeline and Swampy Ridge tracks that Dunedin City Council manages, is in the council's Flagstaff track network, off leash under the Dog Control Policy 2024. If you want the Swampy Summit tops without the permit question, the Leith Saddle Track to the microwave station and back is on lead the whole way. DOC publishes no dog rule of its own for the Swampy Ridge Track, and on conservation land that is not permission, so the permit stands for the full loop.
Expect moderate going, with around 424 m of climb, pitching up to 33 % at its steepest, and takes about 4–4.5 hr to walk.
The track takes in native forest and big views. A DOC dog permit is required before any dog walks here. Arrange it with the managing DOC office ahead of your trip. Walkers rate it 4.3 / 5 across 54 reviews.
