
Rating: Grade 4+, narrow technical singletrack with some steep descents. Allow 4–6 hours for the 22.5km loop.
Know before you go: There is no reliable water supply on this ride until Red Hills Hut so take plenty. Carry warm clothing and spares as this is high country and remote. The track is well marked with orange DOC triangles. Allow 2-3 days of fine weather before you ride for the track to dry out, especially during winter.
Getting there: Turn left off Hwy 6 just past Belgrove and take the road to Nelson Lakes National Park. Turn left when you reach Highway 63 and drive to the bottom of the hill past the Rainbow Skifield turnoff. Watch out on your left at the bottom of the hill for the entrance to the Upper Six Mile carpark. It is 100m before a one way bridge.
Park here and ride back up the hill on Hwy 63 past Rainbow Skifield Rd and turn right on to the Tophouse Road. About 1km along here you will come to the signposted 4wd road up to Beebys Knob. The first part of the 4wd road is quite steep, then after passing through an area of beech forest Wots up Doc climbing track begins to the right. Less steep parts of the road are used as the track winds its way up to the crest of a spur at about 1100m. From here keep to the road until open tussock country and the start of Maitland Ridge Track which is signposted.



The track descends through stunted beech forest. Open area allows view down Wairau Valley
A graded climb for 800 metres brings you to a rocky knoll at about 1050m where it joins an old 4wd track that leads down to Red Hills Hut at 917 metres. From the hut follow the road right down to the locked gate beside the grassy flats at the bottom then follow the orange triangle markers south-west to the Upper Six Mile carpark. There are some challenging technical uphills on this last section of track.

Working on the uphill corners. Attaching trail markers to the trees


The ridge heading east from Beebys Rd. Climbing to spot height 1202m


Beebys ridge in the distant background. Riding through stunted beech near spot height 1202m.

Part of the technical descent from spot height 1202m

Riding through clearings in the ultramafic belt above Red Hills Hut

Descending the old bulldozed track to Red Hills Hut and the first available water


Part of the technical descent from spot height 1202m


Riding through clearings in the ultramafic belt above Red Hills Hut


Descending the old bulldozed track to Red Hills Hut and the first available water