View S-SW across the lower Mangatepopo Valley. Mangatepopo Hut in foreground, Ruapehu on far left, Hauhungatahi on far right. Photo NC.

A number of valleys in the park, especially around Ngaruhoe, retain the imprint of glaciers of the last ice age. Mangatepopo Valley is one of them. The glacier-sculpted lateral moraine can clearly be seen extending across the middle of the photo.
The track from Whakapapa Village stretches approximately 10 km (6 miles) S-SW across the open tussockland that is seen here reaching to the foot of Ruapehu (on left) and Hauhungatahi (on right).