The Bealey Spur Track is a hard 13.4 km out and back trail from the car park off the SH73 at Arthur’s Pass village, a township in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand and is a 2-hour drive from the city of Christchurch. The spur trail is well-marked and covers a range of terrains as it climbs gradually towards the Bealey Spur Hut at around 1200 m, passing through a Beech forest offering views down to the Bruce Stream and ending at the hut itself, rewarding with 360-degree views of the Waimakariri River valley and surrounding mountains. A popular alpine trail due to its steady gradient compared to other trails in the area, it is suitable for fit hikers equipped for inclement mountainous weather year-round. The terrain is a mix of forest track, boardwalk, mountain path and grassland, and hikers are advised to watch out for roots and rocks on paths. Many hikers recommend ensuring there is extra time to venture past the hut and along the ridgeline to reach the peak of 1907 m. The Bealey Spur Hut offers basic accommodation with six bunks and works on a first come first serve basis. There is heating, non-flush toilets and untreated water available (boiling is advised) and booking is not required. Based on our data, the trail is graded as hard . For information on how we grade trails, please click here. Also, check our latest community posts for trail updates.This trail can be completed in approx. 5 hours. Caution is advised on trail times as this depends on multiple variables. For more info, click here.
