Wild Things - New Zealand's trail running community
New Zealand's trail running community

Login



don't have an account?

Remarkable Run, Otago

Trail Directory proudly supported by Further Faster

Update Your Header Picture

Remarkable RunExperienced

Submitted by Mike Steel

Info Info
Map Loading

Trail Information

12.00km

800m

800m

 

Otago

Queenstown

Back country - remote

Out and Back

Mountainous

Lakeside
Open ridges/tops

Experienced

Not Suitable (Slow)
4:30 (Moderate)
3:00 (Fast)

-22.0%

+22.0%

Download PDF Guide

Fastest Known Times (FKTs)

Please set your gender to see your position on the FKT leaderboards.

Men

There are currently no male FKTs for Remarkable Run.

Women

Filter FKTs

The more , the harder the FKT will be to beat. Learn about Fastest Known Times.

Missing your time?

Register or login as a VIP and get yourself on the FKT leaderboard!

Register Now

Description

A short, sharp mountain run to an alpine lake and up to the airy summit of the highest point of The Remarkables (Single Cone 2319m).

On a clear day there's awesome views of the Queenstown area and the long sweep of the southern alps from Mt Tutoko and Aspiring to Mt Cook. As a run-climb-run, this is a summer-only outing in fine weather. Mostly straightforward, except for one short/steep/exposed section near the top (trail running shoes are fine).

From the end of the ski-field road, run up the trail to Lake Alta, then follow up the Wye Creek route to the col above the lake. From here climb west a little and follow a pleasant wide terrace that heads south and then sidle west across toward the ridge below and slightly south of Single Cone. Climb up easy slabs of schist rock between snow patches directly towards the skyline ridge aiming about 200m south of Single Cone (if it starts to gets too step tend left).

Continue up towards the skyline ridge until you can easily traverse right on a rocky ledge below a semi-permanent snow field, with an increasingly exposed drop below you, towards an obvious steep snow-filled gully (an alpine route requiring ice axe/crampons - this is not your route!). To the right of this is a less obvious chimney (wide at the bottom) of blocky rock. Head up this way - it's short, steep and exposed, but there's good friction and the rock is solid. Some bridging moves with your feet higher up help. Break out at the top of this (by a cairn) and tend right and up - the summit and its airy viewpoint boulder (overlooking the 1500m west face of the Remarkables) are close at hand.

Once you've soaked up the panoramic views, head back the same way to the cairn near the top of the chimney. Climbing down the steep bit is no harder than climbing up, though the sight of the drop below will no doubt focus your attention! Once down this steep bit, you can run much of the way back (including some sliding on short soft snow patches on the way down towards the col).


Trail Community

Find people who are interested in this run.

You must register or login to view this content.

Features of interest

Spectacular summit views


Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 50%

Technical Single Track: 10%

Easy Single Track: 40%


Route Data

Reviews:

You must register or login to view this content.


Overlapping Runs

The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each


Photos:

You must register or login to view this content.

Your Trail Wishlist

All the runs that are on your To Do list (no limit).

Add to wishlist view wishlist

Your Trail Dreamlist

The runs you most want to do (limited to 10).

Add to dreamlist view dreamlist

Wild Explorers

I did it!
  • Access

    Drive (or if you are need a warm-up then bike) from Queenstown up to the Remarkables Ski area carpark

    Plenty of parking

    24 km

    38 minutes

    No

    No

  • Staying Safe

    Moderate.

    Only attempt this route in clear and settled weather. Carry a compass and map in case cloud comes in.

    Patchy.

    Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Compass, Map.

    Carry water from the start.

    As a 'run' without ice axe/crampons, this is definitely only feasible once snow has cleared from the ridges (typically mid-summer to autumn).

    Attempt this only in fine, settled weather when the ridges are clear of snow, and carry a jacket and some warm gear.
    Avoid climbing up anything that you aren't confident you can down-climb, and don't be tempted to shortcut the descent of the chimney by sliding/jumping onto patches of snow (too steep/compacted).

  • Sponsor this trail

    If you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch below:

    Submit

Got a favourite trail? Tell us about it.

Share the love and add your favourite trail(s) to our growing trail directory.

Submit A Trail

Become a member today

Start enjoying the many benefits to becoming a member of our thriving community.

Become a member

Great brands at great prices with our VIP member's discount

Stay up to date

Sign up to our newsletter for latest offers and trail guides

Share this trail with a friend:

VIP Membership

Please register as a VIP or login to your VIP account to view this content.

Cancel Login Register

Membership Required

You can see up to three trail guides without being logged in but after that we require you to be logged in to your Free or VIP account. If you don’t yet have an account you can register here.

Login Register