Parking
Park at the Remarkables Skifield Car Park at the top of the access road. The access road has a toll, and the final 3 km are gravel with steep drops; check road and weather conditions before driving.
Overview
About Lake Alta Track
Lake Alta Track is a short but demanding alpine climb from the Remarkables Ski Area car park to Lake Alta, a glacial cirque lake beneath the Remarkables. The mapped corridor is about 1.0 mile each way; the visitor distance is about 2.1 miles return. DOC lists a 1 hr 30 min return walk and grades it an advanced tramping track.
Why go
- High-elevation glacial lake beneath the Remarkables
- Short return route with alpine wetlands and dramatic cirque views
- DOC-identified 1 hr 30 min outing from the ski-field car park
Heads up
- Advanced tramping route with a sustained climb and exposed alpine weather
- Road toll and steep access road; final 3 km gravel with steep drops
- Deep winter snow may obscure the route through a working ski field
A short but demanding alpine walk with a high-elevation lake and Remarkables views; allow extra time for weather, road access, and conditions.
Parkwolf’s verdictWorth it?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapElevation1,589–1,809 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
1 active Queenstown-Lakes District alert
- ClosureSkippers Bridge closed to all trafficSkippers Bridge is closed to all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians; do not cross.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide
Your drive to Lake Alta Track, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Queenstown-Lakes District, New Zealand. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Queenstown-Lakes District audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
The Remarkables Ski Area: Home of FreerideListen
“You're heading up to The Remarkables Ski Area, which is famous for its freeride terrain and three big alpine bowls.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Remarkables Market: A Saturday Staple
- Jacks Point: A Dramatic Alpine Golf Course
- Kawarau Falls Historic Bridge and Dam
- Reading the Sky: Nor'westers and UFO Clouds
- 164 audio storiesacross Queenstown-Lakes District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Kākā, Kererū, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 37 trails, 111 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Lake Alta Track
RouteStart behind the Remarkables ski-field buildings and follow the ski-field road to the top of…
Start behind the Remarkables ski-field buildings and follow the ski-field road to the top of the Alta Chairlift. Cairns and flagstones then lead through alpine wetlands to the lake. This line follows the continuous mapped Lake Alta Track to the cirque; return by the same track. Keep to the formed route to protect rare alpine plants.
Access and conditionsDrive the Remarkables Ski Field Access Road from SH 6; a road toll applies, and the final 3 km…
Drive the Remarkables Ski Field Access Road from SH 6; a road toll applies, and the final 3 km are gravel with steep drops. The trailhead is the Remarkables Skifield Car Park. DOC says the route starts near 1,600 m and ends near 1,800 m; route samples here range from 1,589–1,809 m.
Safety and dogsThe high route can be cold and snowy at any time.
The high route can be cold and snowy at any time. May–November generally brings deep snow over the formed track; contact NZSki for the route through the working ski field and carry snowshoes, poles, warm waterproof layers, and navigation skills. Avalanche risk exists near Lake Alta. Dogs are allowed on a leash; carry out all waste. Stay on the route to protect delicate alpine plants.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Queenstown-Lakes District
189 sightingsKeaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
18 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
195 sightingsKererūMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
48 sightingsWekaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
239 sightingsTūīMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
97 sightingsBellbirdMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Queenstown-Lakes District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
