Mount Crichton Loop Track, Queenstown

by

Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Jon Algie

There’s a great variety of sights on offer on the Mount Crichton Loop Track, a two-three hour hike on the road between Queenstown and Glenorchy. You’ll walk by a clear river surrounded by native bush, an old goldmining hut, a waterfall and plenty of hills. Keep reading for all the details!

Mount Crichton Loop Track

As with any loop track, you have two options when starting the Mount Crichton Loop Track. Which way to walk it? The answer for this walk is clockwise, so cross the bridge and then head up the left side of the river. If you go anticlockwise you’ll have a massive hill to climb straight away – I wouldn’t recommend it.

With the right decision hopefully made, the first part of the track is quite relaxing. It slowly climbs above the river and is mostly shaded, which is key on a hot summer’s day. There aren’t many views on this part of the track but it’s a pleasant bit of forest to walk through.

Sam Summers Hut + Waterfall

After a steady climb you’ll eventually reach Sam Summers Hut. This hut was built by Mr. Summers, a depression era goldminer, in 1930. It has survived nicely to this day (lots of repairs I’m sure) and is quite a cool thing to see amidst an otherwise deserted forest.

READ MORE: Queenstown Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip

Just around the corner from the hut you’ll see a waterfall (12 Mile Creek Falls). From there you cross the bridge and then head back down the hill on the other side. At least I thought that’s what would happen.

More Climbing

But the track didn’t head back down the hill. It kept climbing for at least another 20 minutes or so.  We figured we were climbing up to a grand viewpoint, but eventually it just started to meander down.

The Final Stretch

Once we were properly on the way down it was much more relaxing (it was a hot day, so hiking uphill gets tiring). You’ll get a great view of Lake Dispute and Lake Wakatipu on the way down, as well as some views of the forested hills and low mountains of the area you’ve been walking through for the last couple of hours.

Mount Crichton Loop Track Details

  • Where does it start? The track starts at the 12 Mile Delta car park. You then have to walk down and cross the road. There are a couple of parks right next to the road, which means you could cut out the maybe 10-minute return walk from the car park to the road, but it’s really not that bad.
  • How long does it take? It took us just over two hours. We walked quickly, so if you’re a bit slower or if you have kids, it might be closer to three hours.
  • Is it hard? With an elevation gain of 300 metres, it’s no walk in the park. The track is in great condition though and if you’ve done a bit of uphill hiking before it shouldn’t be a problem.

Other Walks in Queenstown

There are so many hiking options in Queenstown that it can be hard to choose the best one for you. I think the Mount Crichton Loop Track is ideal for people who have already done Queenstown Hill or Ben Lomond, or just want to do a pleasant, sight-filled walk. You don’t get the iconic views of Lake Wakatipu, but there are plenty of other hikes for that. Check out our post about the best walks in Queenstown, it might make your decision on which ones to do a little easier.

Are you planning a trip to Queenstown? Check out our list of the best things to see and do!

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Instagram profile

Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.