Tracks

Ball Pass

Ball Shelter
Ball Shelter
Track 1 – 2 days. Easy/medium. Return via same track.
Follow the old Ball Hut Road from the Blue Lakes car park along the moraine wall of the Tasman Glacier near Aoraki / Mount Cook. Although this track approaches Mount Cook, the peak is never visible.

Track grades

Easy
Unusually smooth, well-marked track, easy gradients. Up to about 4 hours per day.
Easy-medium
Typical lowland track. Generally easy walking and well marked. Ascents of up to 1000m. Some easy river crossings, unmarked travel along rivers.
Medium
Typical tops track. Experienced trampers only. Rough, muddy and poorly marked or unmarked. Ascents of up to 2000m. River crossings, open tops, passes. Up to about 8 hours per day.
Medium-hard
Navigation and snow skills (use of ice axe and crampons) required. Glaciers, exposure to falls.
Hard
Rough or non-existent tracks. Following ridges, bush spurs, and rivers. Steep ascents, arduous travel, hazardous conditions, snow and navigation skills essential.