A Guide to Hiking to French Ridge Hut in New Zealand

I saw it. Finally! It was peeking out from just over the last hump in the ridgeline, I saw the bright red roof.

It was the toilet.

I wanted to collapse right there and cry tears of joy!

I did it. I finally made it!

Seeing the little red toilet when I did saved me. Just moments before I was ready to give up, I was exhausted, hurting all over, my legs didn’t want to move one in the front of the other.

My hands were dirty, grime was wedged under my nails, my sunscreen had sweated off my face and I was turning red, I could feel my skin tightening.

My shoulders no longer wanted my pack on it; my feet were aching, I wanted this hike to be DONE wth.

When I finally saw that toilet, I was just moments away from screaming on the mountain top in frustration. I knew I took much longer to do this portion of the hike. The last hour was a struggle, and I was annoyed with myself. I wanted to be better, but I nearly gave up.

Hiking to French Ridge Hut nearly broke me. Physically and mentally!

Funny enough, after I saw the toilet, all my pain, worries, and panic melted away.

I didn’t even go inside the hut to put myself down before I started taking pictures of the hut and that toilet with the best view in the world. I was smiling ear to ear and totally forgot about the arduous hike I just completed.

If you’re thinking of tackling the French Ridge Hut hike in Aspiring National Park, here’s everything you need to know before you go.

Here’s Garrett’s video for more visuals:

A Guide to Hiking French Ridge Hut in Aspiring National Park

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Table of Contents

A Guide to Hiking to French Ridge Hut
Hiking to French Ridge Hut
What’s French Ridge Hut Like?
Tips and Main Points for Hiking to French Ridge Hut
More New Zealand Hikes

A Guide to Hiking to French Ridge Hut

I randomly stumbled upon French Ridge Hut while looking at huts to stay in South Island.

As soon as I saw the adorable red hut with a single, bright red bathroom perched on a mountain top with the most exceptional view ever, I wanted to hike it. I was on a kick for staying in huts now after my hike to Mueller Hut just a week ago!

I looked into the hike a bit, decided we were fit enough, and that was about it.

French ridge hut bathroom — French Ridge Hut bathroom

Pretty pictures and a decent level of fitness—I’m there!

There’s so much more to know about this hike though, so I hope this comprehensive guide to hiking to French Ridge Hut helps you tackle it better and be more prepared!

French Ridge Hut Specifics

Distance: 17km one way (10.5 miles)

Difficulty: Hard

Time: 6-7 hours one way

Facilities: 20 bunk beds, small kitchen with nothing but counter tops, water, single drop toilet.

Hiking to French Ridge Hut

This hike is deceptively difficult, and its challenging parts are at the very end after you’ve depleted a lot of your energy.

French ridge hut with sunset in the clouds — A fiery sunset

I would NOT try this hike if you don’t have a decent level of fitness. I consider myself decent-ish… And it was hard on the way there.

Here’s what your hike will look like…

Note: I completed this hike March (summer)

The Hike to Aspiring Hut

You’re going to hike to Aspiring Hut first, and it will be a welcomed relief from the sun. So far, your hike to the hut was about 9km (5.5 miles), and you’ve encountered a few stream crossings but nothing that will get your shoes soaked (unless you suck at hopping from rock to rock).

There has been zero shade and you’ve been roasting in the valley the entire way so far.

Your only saving grace? The trail so far was pretty much flat. Apply sunscreen again while you’re here, take a rest, and a snack a bit.

Shovel and Pearl Flats & a River Crossing

The flats are luckily… FLAT.

Again, this is why this hike is so deceptive in its difficulty, up until now; you’re only sweating because it’s hot out. This flat walk is mostly exposed although you’ll have a few moments of relief when you get a tree canopy to walk through — a few ups and downs along the river and a few bridges.

River on French ridge hut — Walking through the valley, you can see the exposed but flat path to the left.

At the very end, just before you begin your ascent to French Ridge Hut, you’ll need to cross a river. And not a rock hopping river… A real river crossing.

I suggest taking off your shoes to get across the river and to ONLY cross where the sign says to cross. We checked, this is the safest spot. The other areas are deceptively deep, and this is the most shallow area to cross.

The water got up to my knees, and the water moves fast. Be careful not to step anywhere too deep.

Despite it being summer, the water was so cold; I was literally in pain. It stung bad and breathing in, and out quickly and loudly was apparently my way of dealing with this. Good to know I’d never survive if I fell in an icy lake!

After thawing out a bit on the other side and getting my shoes back on, this is where the French Ridge hike really begins.

French ridge hut river crossing — The river crossing—It was up to my knees on the second half of the crossing!

Yep, about 14km (8.5 miles) into the hike is when you’re finally “getting started,” after you’ve been baking in the sun and walking all day… I was already a bit tired but also ready for this!

The Rock and Tree Scramble

This is the craziest part of the whole trek. immediately, you are greeted with a vast mountain, and you’re about to go straight up. Literally.

You’ll be using your entire body for this part of the hike.

For the next two hours, you’ll be grabbing on to tree branches and rocks to hoist yourself up this mountain. At some points, you will be literally rock climbing a few feet up with no ropes. Slip and fall here, and you’ll be injured. So… don’t.

French ridge hut forest climb — A crazy climb to the top!

French ridge hut hard climb — A crazy climb to the top!

You’ll be putting your life in the hands (?) of tree roots and boulders. Your ascent is steep and challenging. Your only relief this time is that you’re under trees and shaded.

This part is dangerous, and it’s not advisable for just anyone to do. take your time and be careful.

The Ridge Line to French Ridge Hut

I thought the challenging part was the tree and rock scramble and then I got to the ridge… Nobody told me the ridgeline would take another hour. In my head, after the forest part, I figured I’d pretty much be there.

This is the part where I wanted to die. My energy was completely depleted. I barely had an ounce of oomph left in me, and I genuinely think it was because I didn’t realize there was still about an hour to go.

The worst part? We’re walking the ridgeline of a mountain, and were fully exposed again.

This part isn’t that challenging although you are still going up a hill, in the sun, and have been walking all day but this hike had taken so much out of me already, I struggled on the ridge about halfway in (as I slowly realized we were still not there).

The ridgeline is a mix of a rock scramble and trail, some parts are dangerously close to the cliff’s edge and I literally refused to look left at some points as I didn’t want to know how long my drop was. I was practically hugging the rocks to the right.

French ridge hut on ridge line — Me secretly dying on the ridgeline.

Save some energy; the ridgeline is about another hour or more if you’re already tired. Every orange marker pole I told myself, this has to be the last one, and when it wasn’t, I wanted to die. I was in a bad mental space at this very dangerous point! I’m telling you this, so you’re prepared, I didn’t prep for this part of the hike. I thought after the forest I was done.

It’s a funny thing; your mental space can be so crucial when you’re up on a mountain. I think I would have been better off knowing I had further go.

Don’t ever think you’re almost there on a hike… always expect there to be more. Lesson learned.

I can’t describe the relief I felt when I saw that tiny red bathroom peep out from the hill.

French ridge hut New Zealand — So happy to see you, French Ridge!

You don’t see the hut until the last second so you never really know how close you’re getting.

Coming Back Down

The next morning I was okay to head down. Luckily, you get the hard part done first. The ridgeline was easy this time around, I’m heading downhill, and I didn’t have 17km under my belt for the day yet. We made it down in no time.

The forest scramble was almost more challenging coming down as slipping down is far easier than slipping up! You’ll need to be seriously confident in your monkey skills to get down this track.

The hike back through the valley, although flat, was again, scorching my skin. With little relief from the sun, I was getting crispy no matter how many layers of sunscreen I was slapping on.

The hike seemed never to end, and my legs were jello by the time I made it to the car. I immediately collapsed in our bed in the van, not even caring that I was one filthy human.

Final numbers:

We took about 7 hours to make it up, and we made it back down in about 5.5 hours.

The estimates from DOC were pretty on point with how long the trek takes, and we double-timed it on the way back which is the only reason we made it back so quickly. That includes a 20-minute lunch break at Aspiring Hut too.

What’s French Ridge Hut Like?

There were only eight of us in the hut on the day we hiked making it a quaint gathering.

There are 20 beds with simple mats and counter space in the kitchen, but no cooking supplies or fire.

French ridge hut kitchen — French Ridge kitchen

Dorm beds in French ridge hut — French Ridge kitchen

We scattered around taking pictures, exchanging travel stories, and getting to bed early, around 9 pm. I can’t sleep in dorms, so I waited the hours out with my eyes closed and for the sun to rise.

When it finally did, it was spectacular, as one would expect. It’s the only way to see this area at sunset and sunrise—hike and stay in a hut. Despite it being difficult, I’m sort of addicted to these little mountain huts!

There was an avalanche in the distance, some cheeky keas flying around, and some insane oranges, pinks, and purples coming out of the sky.

French ridge hut sunset reflection — French Ridge reflection

But we knew we wanted to head down before our bodies realized that they hurt…

Tips and Main Points for Hiking to French Ridge Hut

Before the Hike:

The road to the trailhead (Raspberry Creek) is about an hour long and gravel. There are ford crossings, and it’s potentially impassable if it’s been raining without a four-wheel drive. If it’s been dry, regular cars can go but double check if you’re renting a car as some rental companies don’t allow their cars down this road!
Go shopping for food, preferably food that doesn’t need to be cooked to keep your pack light and life more manageable.
Sleeping bags are a must, bring one!

About the Hike:

There are numerous stream crossings with one big stream crossing. Take off your shoes for the big one because the trek up the forest will be more dangerous with wet shoes. Make sure to cross where the sign is posted; other areas are too swift and deep, we checked! There’s also a bridge that is easy to reach for those who don’t want to cross the river, but that adds 1km to your hike.
You are fully exposed most of the time which means extra water is needed and lots of sunscreen!
You can fill water at Aspiring Hut so no need to bring gallons of water. The water at the huts is drinkable.
The last three hours are the hardest, keep morale up, don’t eat up your energy too early, and keep moving!
The last three hours are about a two-hour scramble up through rock and tree roots, but at least your shaded, you’ll have about one hour left to walk the ridgeline. The scramble is a little steep and requires your full body, as in hands are hanging on the branches and you’re hoisting yourself up. The ridgeline takes a while and seems never to end. The hut isn’t in sight until the last minute.

About French Ridge Hut:

Bring toilet paper and antibacterial; there’s none.
There are no gas stoves so bring your own portable one or just don’t bring food that needs to be cooked as we did. (You’ll need to bring your own cooking utensils, plates pots, etc. as well if you want to cook which means more weight.)
There are 20 bunk beds with simple mats and a small kitchen to cook and eat in. There’s one drop toilet with the prettiest view in town!
You can pay for your night in the hut at Aspiring Hut. You have to pass this hut anyway and the ranger can give you some info about the rest of the hike and the weather the next day.

Packing

Keep it small and light, the tree and rock scramble will be extra challenging with a large bag particularly on the way down.
Breathable, quick dry clothing is essential.
Extra socks! There are no boots allowed in the hut so you may want to walk in (cleanish) socks or flip flops.
A hat for some shade
Sunscreen
Sleeping bag (there is no bedding in the huts)
Actual hiking shoes, no runners.
Bug spray for the sand flies (they are only in the valley not at the hut).
Food—We brought PB&Js because they are the easiest and most filling thing to bring on a hike, tuna, fruit, trail mix, and a beer to share (wish we brought two)

HIking the French Ridge Hut was nothing short of epic and I felt great after taking on the challenge (and even greater after showering, eating, and resting upon my return). I can’t recommend this hike enough! Just make sure you are prepared—mentally and physically.