West Coast · Hiking

Potholes Track (Sphinx Valley)

1.0 mi
round trip
494 ft
climb
3,714 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Potholes Track (Sphinx Valley) is an out-and-back trail, 1.0 miles each way (1.9 miles round trip) in West Coast, New Zealand, inside Kahurangi National Park. It runs between about 3,580 ft and 3,710 ft above sea level, with roughly 260 ft of climbing one way. It is a well-made walking path, fine for most hikers. The nearest town is Ngātīmoti, about 12 miles west of the trailhead. Peaks within about 3 miles include Gordons Pyramid, Tableland and Balloon Hill. For camping, Cobb River Campsite is within about 6 miles. There are 7 other mapped trails within about 3 miles, so you can combine or extend the outing. Distances, elevations and the route shape here come from OpenStreetMap and the Copernicus 90 m elevation model. Trails, access rules and conditions change, so check locally before you go.

  • Nearby · Lodestone track · Lake Peel Track · Cobb Lake Track

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lodestone trackPhoto: logan watson, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lodestone track

~7 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 0.4 miles each way (0.9 miles round trip) in Tasman, New Zealand.

Lake Peel TrackPhoto: Schwede66, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lake Peel Track

~7 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 3.0 miles each way (6.0 miles round trip) in Tasman, New Zealand.

Cobb Lake TrackPhoto: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cobb Lake Track

~19 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 4.7 miles each way (9.4 miles round trip) in Tasman, New Zealand.

Lost Creek TrackPhoto: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lost Creek Track

~35 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 2.1 miles each way (4.2 miles round trip) in West Coast, New Zealand.

HIKE

Dragon's Teeth High Traverse Route

~30 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 4.9 miles each way (9.9 miles round trip) in Tasman, New Zealand.

Chummies TrackPhoto: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chummies Track

~27 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 4.5 miles each way (8.9 miles round trip) in West Coast, New Zealand.

HIKE

Gordons Pyramid Track

Next door

An out-and-back trail, 1.3 miles each way (2.5 miles round trip) in West Coast, New Zealand.

HIKE

Ellis Basin Route

~5 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 1.4 miles each way (2.9 miles round trip) in West Coast, New Zealand.

HIKE

Old Takaka Track

~4 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 9.3 miles each way (19 miles round trip) in Tasman, New Zealand.

Rameka TrackPhoto: nut.in.a.hut, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rameka Track

~36 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 4.4 miles each way (8.8 miles round trip) in Tasman, New Zealand.

Conditions and forecast

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at Potholes Track (Sphinx Valley) for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors