The hardest hikes in Fiordland National Park, by the numbers
Of the 34 trails in Fiordland National Park in our dataset, 10 (29 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; all 10 are listed here, highest rating first.
Kepler Track leads with 4,096 ft of gain over 22.2 miles, 185 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 29 percent.
Across the 10, gain runs from 1,657 to 4,738 ft and distance from 5.4 miles to 22.2 miles; the median gain is 3,027 ft and the median distance 11.4 miles.
5 of the 10 are out-and-back routes; the rest are point-to-point (5).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kepler Track | 22.2 | 4,096 | 185 | 29% | 589 to 4,581 | 426.5 | |
| 2 | Routeburn Track: The Divide to Routeburn ShelterSouth Island | 19.2 | 3,841 | 200 | 41% | 1,567 to 4,206 | 384 | |
| 3 | Kepler Track | 11.6 | 4,738 | 408 | 45% | 883 to 4,626 | 331.5 | |
| 4 | Hump Ridge Trail - 01 car park to Okaka Lodge | 11.7 | 3,105 | 265 | 48% | 11 to 3,031 | 269.5 | |
| 5 | Hump Ridge track | 11.3 | 3,017 | 267 | 45% | 52 to 2,865 | 261.1 | |
| 6 | Milford Track: Pompolona Lodge to Quintin LodgeSouth Island | 9.8 | 3,037 | 310 | 64% | 826 to 3,743 | 244 | |
| 7 | Milford Track: Quintin Lodge to Sandfly PointSouth Island | 14.6 | 1,657 | 113 | 43% | 0 to 825 | 220 | |
| 8 | Milford Track: Glade House to Pompolona LodgeSouth Island | 10.9 | 1,899 | 174 | 32% | 483 to 1,357 | 203.5 | |
| 9 | Hump Ridge: Flat Creek to Okaka HutSouth Island | 5.4 | 2,859 | 529 | 36% | 62 to 2,869 | 175.7 | |
| 10 | Gertrude SaddleSouth Island | 5.4 | 2,121 | 393 | 52% | 2,571 to 4,681 | 151.3 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "Fiordland National Park" here means the 34 trails in Fiordland National Park in our dataset, not every trail in Fiordland National Park.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with Kepler Track.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other parks in our dataset.