The Routeburn

Southland District, Southland, New Zealand / Aotearoa

20.3 miles (32.7 km) · 4,120 ft elevation gain · Point to Point · trail · Route

The Routeburn covers 20.3 miles across Southland District, Southland, New Zealand / Aotearoa. Runners face 4,132 feet of climbing with 4,259 feet of loss. The longest climb spans 5.3 miles with 1,571 feet of gain. Elevation gain averages 205 feet per mile. The course is 54% runnable, with the remainder requiring hiking on steep or technical sections. Trail comprises the majority of the course. The course features mountainous terrain. The course difficulty of 15.3 puts it in the top 20.7% of challenging routes at this distance. Popular among trail runners and hikers seeking Southland adventures.

Route facts

Distance	20.3 mi (32.7 km)
Elevation gain	4,120 ft (1,256 m)
Average gain	203 ft per mile (38 m per km)
Longest climb	5.3 mi, 1,572 ft of gain
Steepest climb grade	22.7%
Runnable	54% of the route
Climbs / descents	3 climbs, 2 descents
Profile shape	Up, then down
Difficulty score	12.9 of 100
Surface	trail
Route shape	Point to Point
Type	Route

Grade breakdown

Grade band	Share of route
Flat	10%
Mild uphill	12%
Moderate uphill	11%
Steep uphill	20%
Mild downhill	22%
Moderate downhill	11%
Steep downhill	15%

Questions about The Routeburn

How much elevation gain does The Routeburn have?

The Routeburn has 4,120 ft (1,256 m) of elevation gain over 20.3 miles (32.7 km). That averages 203 ft of gain per mile.

How difficult is The Routeburn?

The difficulty score for The Routeburn is 12.9 of 100. That is harder than 78.7% of routes at a similar distance. About 54% of the route is runnable at typical trail effort; the rest is steep enough that most runners hike.

What is the longest climb on The Routeburn?

The longest climb on The Routeburn runs 5.3 miles (8.5 km) and gains 1,572 ft (479 m). The steepest climb grade on the route is 22.7%.