The Mount Burns Tops Track is at the east end of the Borland Saddle parking area on Borland Road, deep in a remote part of Fiordland National Park. This track provides relatively easy access to the area's mountains with a 200-metre climb to a ridge southeast of Mount Burns. The hike starts through a magical stunted mountain beech forest, shrouded in white and green lichens and moss.
Then, it is an open section through tussocks, alpine shrubs, and flowers with fabulous views. Although steep, it is only about a km to the ridge, and on the top are several tarns.
The forest section is worth doing by itself and only takes a few minutes. The walk to the ridge and back takes about 45 minutes. If you want to explore the ridge and area around Mount Burns, ensure you have suitable clothing, as it can be icy cold and wet, even in summer.
