Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lago Tromen
This northern approach to
Volcán Lanín
(3776m), which straddles the Argentina-Chile
border, is also the shortest and usually the earliest in the season to open for hikers and
climbers. Before climbing Lanín, ask permission at the Lanín national park office in San
Martín or, if necessary, of the
gendarmería
(border guards) in Junín. To prove that you
are adequately equipped, it's obligatory to show equipment, such as plastic tools, cram-
pons, ice axe and clothing - including sunglasses, sunblock, gloves, hats and padded
jackets.
From the trailhead at the Argentine border station, it's five to seven hours to the
CAJA
refugio
(capacity 20 people), at 2600m on the Camino de Mulas route; above that point,
snow equipment is necessary. There's a shorter but steeper route along the ridge known
as the Espina del Pescado. Trekkers can cross the Sierra Mamuil Malal to Lago Huechu-
lafquen via Arroyo Rucu Leufu.
Contact Andestrack (
Click here
)
or the park office in San Martín to organize guides
for climbing Lanín. The hike usually takes two days: you leave early the first and stay at
the RIM
refugio
(shelter)
,
rise before dawn the following day, hike to the summit and
walk down. If you want to go up in winter, Andestrack can set you up with guides to hike
up and board or ski down.
Lago Quillén
Situated in the park's densest pehuén forests, this isolated lake is accessible by dirt road
from Rahué, 17km south of Aluminé, and has many good
campsites
. Other nearby lakes
include
Lago Rucachoroi
, directly west of Aluminé, and
Lago Ñorquinco
on the park's
northern border. There are Mapuche reservations at Rucachoroi and Quillén.
Lago Huechulafquen
The park's largest lake is also one of its most central and accessible areas. Despite lim-
ited public transportation, it can be reached from San Martín and - more easily - Junín
de los Andes. RP61 climbs from a junction just north of Junín, west to Huechulafquen
and the smaller Lago Paimún, offering outstanding views of Volcán Lanín and access to
trailheads of several excellent hikes.
From the ranger station at
Puerto Canoa
, a good trail climbs to a viewpoint on
Lanín's shoulder, where it's possible to hike across to Paso Tromen or continue climbing
to either of two
refugios:
the
RIM refugio
belongs to the army's Regimiento de Infantería
de Montaña, while the
CAJA refugio
belongs to the Club Andino Junín de los Andes.
