Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Meads Wall
Easy 1.0 km 20–30 min return
Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Skyline Ridge Trail
Advanced Half day
A high, exposed summer trail from the gondola to a 2,300 m ridge with the widest panorama on the mountain.
2.3 kmreturn
1.5–2.5 hr return from Knoll Ridgewalking time
↑ 236 mclimb
2,236 mhigh point
Skyline Ridge Trail © Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 
© Kesara Rathnayake · CC BY-SA 2.0 
© Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 Elevation profile
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What you’ll see
- 1 Viewpoint· 2,020 m Sky Waka & Knoll Ridge
- 2
Viewpoint· 2,300 m Skyline Ridge - 3
Summit· 2,797 m Ruapehu Summit Plateau
High volcanic rockGlacier viewsSummit panorama
The walk
Only open when the Sky Waka runs in summer and the route is snow-free. From the chalet the trail climbs scoria and rock steps along a ridge above the Whakapapa Glacier, with Ngāuruhoe, Tongariro, Lake Taupō and sometimes Mount Taranaki in view. The upper section is unmarked and rough.
Start. Knoll Ridge Chalet (top of the Sky Waka gondola)
Snow & season
Snow & ice route
Snow patches persist well into summer; the trail closes whenever snow or ice is present.
Best season: Roughly late December to April, gondola days only
- Altitude and weather
- Unmarked upper section
Combine with
© Kesara Rathnayake · CC BY-SA 2.0 Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Waterfalls Descent Trail
Intermediate 2.4 kmone way 1–2 hr descent ↑ 7 m
© Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0 
© WolfmanSF · CC BY-SA 3.0 Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Ruapehu Crater Lake (guided climb)
Expert 4–7 hr return from the top lifts