Ben Lomond is a peak that stands above Queenstown, New Zealand.   It is a popular hike and we saw a number of “trampers” on our day up to the summit and back.   The trail can be started from the bottom, right in Queenstown, or hikers can take the Skyline Gondola up and avoid an hour of hiking in the forest.   We chose the ride up.

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The trail winds up through Douglas fir forest for a while, but then emerges above the treeline at about 800m elevation into a tussock and shrub environment.   Looking behind on the north-bearing trail is Lake Wakatipu, with the rugged Remarkables farther south.

The summit of Ben Lomond is visible for much of the hike, pulling us upward for a couple of hours.

At 1326m elevation, we arrive at the Ben Lomond Saddle and views to the north are offered.   The dark Richardson Ranges stand to the north in front of the higher, snow and ice-covered Aspiring Range.

The final section of the trail is steep section that climbs an open ridge, then winds through rock bands to the summit.

The views from the top are a 360° wonderland.   I was pleased to spot Mount Earnslaw (Pikirakatahi) which was Cardharas,  the peak in the Misty Mountains that the Fellowship faced on the failed attempt to cross into the eastlands.

We also spotted 3033 metre Mt. Aspiring (Tititea), the highest peak outside the Mt. Cook region of New Zealand.   It is a climbers’ destination and Aspiring National Park has a number of hikes and climbs to offer.   In Lord of the Rings, the Aspiring Range was the background range used for the southern Misty Mountains behind Isengard and Lothlorien.   There were also scenes from the Hobbit shot in the area.

From the summit of Ben Lomond at 1748, we could also look down to the lakelands of Otago and the Remarkable Ranges to the south.

The route was about 10 km out and back and the trail was excellent all the way.   This is a rewarding hike, a recommended destination for hikers traveling to New Zealand.