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Young Forks Campsite

Young Forks Campsite sits on the North Branch of the Young River within Mount Aspiring National Park, Otago region, roughly 4–6 hours' walk from the Blue Pools trailhead.

It is a key stop on the Gillespie Pass Circuit and can also serve as a staging point for routes into the Upper Wilkin. The nearest township is Makarora. Basic facilities include a covered seating area and a toilet.

The campsite is free and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Trampers should be aware of a significant natural dam formed upstream in 2007 when a large slip created a roughly 70-metre barrier across the North Branch valley.

DOC advises against entering the Young Valley during or immediately after heavy rain, and campers should avoid the valley floor in wet conditions, move through quickly, and retreat to higher ground at any sign of a rapid or unusual rise in water levels.


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