This stunning point to point trail is the highlight of Lewis Pass. It beautifully chains together 5 river valleys while keeping you far from civilization from the first mile to the last. The footing is generally very smooth and runnable, and the climbs are quite gradual, so the times here have the potential to be very quick. Either direction works, but the most common one seems to be North to South which is a bit net downhill, but the travel time probably does not differ by much.
The start is a short well-maintained descent down into Cannibal Gorge to meet the Maruia River, then a steady climb up to Ada Pass, where you join the Ada River. The Ada Valley gradually widens until the breathtaking expanse of Ada Flat. Around 27km the second climb starts along the Henry River, and it just gradually gets a little bit steeper as you go until it tops out at Anne Saddle. From there (around 43km) it is all downhill along the Boyle River. You end back at Lewis Pass Road about 13km South of the start, and if you are lucky it is an easy hitch back.
This route combines a rich history (St. James Station) with a thoroughly decadent set of views as the valleys flow by one after another. It is a nice length for a full day of tramping, but there is nothing stopping someone from coming by one day and knocking the whole thing down before lunch!
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/st-james-conservation-area/things-to-do/tracks/st-james-walkway/
