Last updated November 2026
The Coppermine Track is a 6.2 km return walk through lowland forest to an area where copper was once mined, in Ruahine Forest Park about 27 km from Palmerston North.
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC listed this track as closed: “Coppermine Track, from the carpark to the first junction, is closed due to a large slip. This is a long term alert.” DOC grades it as an advanced tramping track and times the return trip at 2 hours. It starts from the end of Coppermine Road near Woodville and also gives access to the Wharite Peak Track. Check DOC before you go for the current state of the closure, and tell someone your plans.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Coppermine Track on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Practical Information
- Start
- Coppermine Road end, off Pinfold Road near Woodville
- Distance from the city
- About 27 km from Palmerston North
- Walking time
- 2 hr return
- Track length
- 6.2 km return via the same track
- Grade
- Advanced (DOC: advanced tramping track)
- Dogs
- Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only
- Connects to
- Wharite Peak Track
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Closed when checked on 18 October 2026 (large slip; closed from the car park to the first junction, long-term alert). Check DOC for reopening.
- Track markers
- On marked bush tracks, DOC and most councils use orange triangles for the walking route. Triangles or tape in other colours, usually pink or blue, mark pest-control lines and traps. They can lead off the track, so don’t follow them.
About Coppermine Track
DOC describes this as a pleasant, popular walk through lowland forest in Ruahine Forest Park, near Woodville. Its destination is an area where copper was mined, and you return the same way you came in.
The Coppermine Track is also one of the ways onto the Wharite Peak Track, which climbs to the leatherwood tops at the southern tip of the range. That makes it part of a small network of tracks from the same road end, along with the more strenuous Coppermine Loop Track.
The short return time makes it a manageable outing, but DOC still grades it as an advanced tramping track, so it’s best suited to walkers with some backcountry experience.
The Slip Closure
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC’s alert (first published in March 2023) listed the closure as long term: the section from the car park to the first junction was closed because of a large slip. DOC also notes that slips are common in this unstable, erosion-prone area and sometimes lead to track closures.
Before you head out, read the current alert on the DOC page. Use Plan My Walk to check conditions, and tell someone your plans.
Getting There
DOC places Coppermine Road 10 km from Woodville, which is 85 km from Napier on State Highway 2. From Woodville, travel north east along Pinfold Road for 9 km, then turn left into Coppermine Road. The track is reached from the road end.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Coppermine Track: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Ruahine Forest Park: the wider park, its tracks and huts, and current alerts.
Plan My Walk: plan your trip, check track alerts and weather, and share your plans with someone you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Coppermine Track open?
Not when we checked on 18 October 2026. DOC’s long-term alert said the track was closed from the car park to the first junction due to a large slip. Check DOC before you go.
How long does the walk take?
DOC times the 6.2 km return walk at 2 hours.
How hard is it?
DOC grades it as an advanced tramping track.
What is at the end of the track?
An area in the forest where copper was mined. You return the same way.
Are dogs allowed?
Only dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes.
Where does it start?
At the end of Coppermine Road. From Woodville, take Pinfold Road north east for 9 km and turn left into Coppermine Road.
Can I reach Wharite Peak from here?
DOC says the Wharite Peak Track can be accessed from this track. When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC had this track closed from the car park to the first junction, so check the DOC page first.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Track Facts: Track facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.