This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.
Observation Hill Trail and Loop, McMurdo Station
The best-known walk at McMurdo Station: a trail up Observation Hill, the volcanic cone above the station, combined with the Ob Hill Loop around its base. The summit carries a memorial cross to Robert Falcon Scott's polar party, erected in 1913, and looks over McMurdo Sound, Scott Base and the Ross Ice Shelf.
Trail Map
Initialising Map Engine...
Trail Profile
General Instructions
About 4.6 km on the mapped trail and loop, 2–3 hours. Walkable mainly in the austral summer station season. Sign out with the station before leaving, carry extreme-cold-weather gear, and turn back if the weather deteriorates; the upper slopes are loose volcanic scree.
Weather check
Sampling Micro-Climate...
-77.8482, 166.6782
Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: -77.8482, 166.6782 @ 83m
Quick Stats
Highlights
- Visit the 1913 memorial cross to Scott's polar party
- Look out over the Ross Ice Shelf
- View Mount Erebus on clear days
- See Scott Base and the McMurdo Ice Shelf from above
- Walk the loop around the base of the hill
Field Radio Protocol
VHF-UHF Communication
Propagation Telemetry
Ridge Line
92%Gorge Floor
18%Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range
Regulatory Compliance
VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.
Technical Analysis
Total Ascent
+97 m
Total Descent
-106 m
Ruggedness Index
Terrain Roughness Index
Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).
44.1
Tortuosity Index
Route Curviness Index
Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).
1.83
Gradient Distribution
Surface & Hydrology
Surface Spectrum Analysis
Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.
Difficulty Analysis
Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.
Bounding Box (WGS84)
Point Spacing: 18.6 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0
Reviews & Discussion0
Expedition notes, route modifications, and surface updates shared by the community.
Log Expedition Notes
You must be signed in to contribute reviews
Authenticate IdentityBe the first to review
No reviews registered for this technical sector yet. Share your experience, surface observations, or gear recommendations!
Plan this trip
Before you go: Observation Hill Trail and Loop, McMurdo Station
More like this
Navigate it offline
Download this trail and its map in the free TrailX app for turn-by-turn guidance, off-route alerts and GPS recording without signal.
Open in TrailX appNearby