Moderate walk
Essons Valley: Barnes Dam Track
The longer of the two dam walks up the valley behind town.
Photo: Avenue / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
2.7 km and about 45 minutes one way from the Garden Terrace car park to Barnes Dam. Moderate, out and back.
The track at a glance
- Distance
- 2,716 m one way
- Time
- 45 min one way
- Grade
- Moderate (Marlborough District Council)
- Route
- Out and back
- Starts
- Garden Terrace car park
- Dogs
- Not stated by the council
- Cost
- Free
About Essons Valley: Barnes Dam Track
The second Essons Valley track, to Barnes Dam, is a little longer than its neighbour at 2,716 m and 45 minutes one way. Same start point, same valley, same Moderate grade.
Sources for this page
Location: OpenStreetMap contributors via Nominatim (Barnes Dam; feature).
Facts on this page were checked against the sources listed on 5 Sep 2026.
Nearby
Straight-line distances from Barnes Dam.
Essons Valley: Humphries Dam Track
A valley walk from the Garden Terrace car park to the old town water-supply dam.
Tirohanga Track
The climb from the edge of town to a hilltop lookout over Picton.
Picton Library
The town's modern library and service centre, on High Street.
Picton Foreshore
The lawn, the palms, the marina and the war memorial — where the town meets the water, and where everything starts.