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Hiking

Lake Marian: the steep climb beyond the waterfalls

ReGear

Lake Marian is a 6.2 km return alpine tramp beyond the falls. Plan the steep terrain, Hollyford Road start, spring hazards and essential gear.

Lake Marian beneath steep mountains in Fiordland.

At a glance

  • Distance: 3.1 km one way; about 6.2 km return.
  • Walking time: about 3 hours return, plus breaks.
  • Grade: advanced tramping beyond the waterfalls.
  • Best suited to: fit walkers with backcountry and navigation experience.

Find the start

Turn from SH94 at Marian Corner, a few minutes beyond The Divide towards Milford Sound. This junction is about 87 km from Te Anau. Follow unsealed Hollyford Road for 1 km to the Lake Marian car park. Leave room for the drive back when planning your day.

Follow the route

  1. Cross the swingbridge. The waterfalls are roughly 10 minutes from the car park. They make a shorter outing if the full tramp is unsuitable.
  2. Climb beyond the falls. The route becomes steep and can be muddy. Follow the marked tramping track rather than expecting the easier approach to continue.
  3. Reach the hanging valley. Lake Marian sits above the bushline beneath steep mountains. Return by the same track, allowing time for the descent.

Location and route maps

The wider map places the walk in its region; the closer map highlights the track in orange. Tap either map to enlarge it. Open DOC’s official track page and map for current notices.

Lake Marian location relative to Te Anau on real aerial imagery, with north up.
Lake Marian mapped walking track highlighted orange on real aerial imagery, with its entrance marked and north up.

Effort and facilities

The modest distance can be misleading: the climb demands fitness and confident footing. DOC expects moderate to high backcountry skills, including navigation. A first-time hiker should choose an easier walk, or go with suitable experienced support after assessing conditions.

Carry food and water for the whole outing. Make your toilet stop before starting and carry out rubbish. Plan to be back at the road end with daylight to spare.

What I would bring

I would bring sturdy grippy footwear, long trousers, waterproofs, an insulating layer, lunch and extra food. Add a headtorch, offline navigation, first-aid kit and distress beacon. Keep spare clothing dry, and leave your route and overdue time with someone who can act.

Before you go

Winter and spring: DOC says not to walk around the lake edge during the snow and avalanche season. Check current track and alpine conditions before committing to the climb. Ongaonga (stinging nettle) is present: wear long trousers and keep children away from it. No dogs.

Read next: Organise your walking pack.

Sources and photo credits

Sources checked 5 October 2026.

Maps: LINZ Basemaps and imagery contributors, CC BY 4.0. Track geometry: Crown copyright, Department of Conservation, DOC Tracks dataset, CC BY 4.0. Location labels and route highlights added.

Photo: Glimpse of Lake Marian in front of Mt Crosscut.jpg — Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia. Public domain. Resized for display.