Iron Gates Gorge via the Stoat Traps Track

Travel up Table Flat Road north of Apiti, which changes to metal road. Veer left up Petersons Road and continue to the upgraded carpark. Park your vehicle, enjoy the view and head for the new iron gates entrance (symbolic of the Iron Gates Gorge) and make your way down the marked track until you reach a wooden gate at the start of the Ruahine State Forest to the Alice Nash Heritage Lodge.
About 5 minutes later cross over the wooden-arched bridge, which crosses the Umutoi Stream and continue up the hill for a few minutes. When the track levels out the entrance to the track is sign posted on the left. The Rifle Range is past that entrance and occasionally hunters sight in their rifles, so do not be alarmed if shots are heard.
The walk takes about 2 hours return. About 20 minutes along the track there is 10 minute return no exit walk to a lookout to the Iron Gate Gorge, where there is a cliff. So just be careful. It is sign posted. On this well sign-posted track you may see a few native birds, plenty of native bush and a view of a horse-tail waterfall. It is great tramping track, though a few logs and roots still need to removed.
This track marked with Pink triangle leads down to Iron Gates Gorge. It is not an official DoC track and does not appear on any maps. It is maintained by the local community to a tramping track standard. It takes one hour to get down to the Gorge with some spectacular views along the way.
Please return via this track or by walking up stream to the camp ground. Access across farm to car park from the Gorge is not permitted.

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