From Scotts Road, a stile crosses the fence and an information sign is located just before the bridge over the Kahuterawa Stream.

The walk commences following the metalled forestry road alongside the Kahuterawa Stream with a mix of mature Pinus radiata and other conifer species alongside the road. It soon leaves the stream and on an easy gradient passes through mature pine forest. After approximately 40 minutes there is an open clearing where the forest roads fork. The trail is clearly marked taking the right road and passing remains of former farm buildings and yards. Several old bridges in the vicinity cross streams but are marked as closed to the public. Continuing through mature forest, the ground vegetation includes regrowth fern and a variety of inedible fungi.

An hour from the start, a second locked gate is passed, the track then climbs steadily and the plantation forest gradually changes to regrowth native bush. Following along the forest park boundary, views of Kaihinau, the Tokomaru Gorge and the Manawatu Plain are visible to the West. The gradient increases until the signpost and stile marking entry into Tararua Forest Park are reached.
The clearly marked track then descends 300m in altitude down to No 1 Stream, taking about an hour.

The track crosses the No 1 stream, sidles downstream a short distance and then begins to follow up the Tokomaru River. Remains of an old campsite with rusting iron are passed. After descending to the river and crossing No 2 creek, the track crosses the Tokomaru River, clearly marked with large orange triangles.

The track continues on the true left bank of the Tokomaru River for 15-20 minutes. The trail here is on private land. Firearms are not permitted and dogs must remain on a leash. This area is marked with orange poles through open clearings and on a fine day provides spectacular views of the virgin native bush on the eastern side.

The Tokomaru River is crossed for a second time and re enters the forest park and the start of the original Burtton’s Track. Five minutes further on the former Burtton’s Whare site is reached. Considered as midway, it is an ideal site for a lunch break and to absorb something of the history, well described in Ian Argyles book Burtton’s Track.The site of the former swingbridge that crossed to his farm on the western side of the river, that collapsed leading to the death of Jim Burtton in 1941 can be seen.
 
From here the track is the historical trail built by Jim Burtton almost 100 years ago. Mostly benched and of good width through regrowth bush, it follows up the Tokomaru River passing some attractive open clearings. Remains of old bridges and other structures can be seen along the way.

After another 1½ hours, a stile is crossed as the track passes out of Tararua Forest Park and a cairn commemorating the opening of the trail by the Prime Minister in February 2006 can be seen.

The final hour of walk is 3.2 km is along the former Tokomaru Valley Road (now closed to unauthorized traffic but is sometime used by registered 4WD vehicles) to the junction with  Mangahao Rd.

Carparking: There is a carpark on Scotts Road. Vehicles may not be parked on the forest road where there is a locked gate at the track. Any vehicles parked on the forest road risk being towed away or damaged.

Section Walking Times:
To DOC Boundary - 1.5 hours
To Tokomaru River - 3 hours
To Burtton’s Whare site - 3.5 hours
To Mangahao Rd Carpark - 6 hours

Direction: Walking south from Scotts Road is easiest for the steepest gradient is then downhill. For walkers going from south to north, an extra 1½ hours is recommended due to the uphill climb from the Tokomaru River in the latter part of the walk.

Local attractions: From the track end at Mangahao Road. it is 7.7km to the Mangahao Power Station. Also there's the National White Water Slalom Course at Mangaore, 3 km East of Shannon.