We hiked the Lake Alta Track in The Remarkables, the dramatic mountain range used as the filming location for Dimrill Dale, where the Fellowship emerges from the Mines of Moria. True to their name, The Remarkables are absolutely stunning – jagged, towering, and visible from nearly everywhere in Queenstown. The trail led us to the serene, glacier-carved Lake Alta, surrounded by cliffs and rocky peaks that felt straight out of Middle-earth.

Lake Alta Track

The Lake Alta Track begins at The Remarkables ski-field and is a fairly steep 2.1 mile out and back trail. The beautiful Lake Alta with the formidable Remarkables as a backdrop is a rewarding view after the steep hike.

Dimrill Dale (Exit from Mines of Moria)

Scott reenacted the entire LOTR Dimrill Dale scene where Aragorn leads the Fellowship down the slopes after losing Gandalf in the Mines of Moria. The beginning of this LOTR scene was filmed at Mount Owen, which we weren’t able to visit so this was a good alternative.

We had lembas bread on our journey and left a One Ring near Lake Alta.

One of Them Rangers

Aragorn is Scott’s favorite LOTR character so I made him a “One of them Rangers” shirts to wear to this film location.