Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This hike to a high alpine tarn is a bit more strenuous (four hours one way) than the hike
to Laguna Torre. The trail starts from a yellow-roofed pack station. After about an hour
there's a signed lateral to excellent free backcountry
campsites
at Laguna Capri. The
main trail continues gently through windswept forests and past small lakes, meeting the
Lagunas Madre and Hija trail. Carry on through wind-worn ñire forest and along boggy
terrain to
Río Blanco
(three hours) and the woodsy, mice-plagued
Campamento Poin-
cenot
. The trail splits before Río Blanco to Río Eléctrico. Stay left to reach a climbers'
base camp. Here the trail zigzags steeply up the tarn to the eerily still, glacial
Laguna de
los Tres
in close view of 3405m Cerro Fitz Roy. Be prepared for high, potentially haz-
ardous winds and allow extra time.
Piedra del Fraile
At Campamento Poincenot, the trail swings west to Laguna de los Tres or northeast
along Río Blanco to Valle Eléctrico and Piedra del Fraile (eight hours from El Chaltén;
five hours from the Río Blanco turnoff). From the turnoff, the latter trail leads to
Glaciar
Piedras Blancas
(four hours), which ends with a scramble over massive granite boulders
to a turquoise lake with dozens of floating icebergs. Pass through pastures and branches
left up the valley along
Río Eléctrico
, enclosed by sheer cliffs, before reaching the
private
Lodge Los Troncos
(campsites per person AR$75, dm AR$150-230)
There's a restaur-
ant but no guest kitchen. Dorm rates are cheapest with your own sleeping bag. Visitors
must pay an entry fee (AR$150). Reservations are not possible since there are no phones
- simply show up. The campground has a kiosk, restaurant and excellent services, and
the owners can recommend trails.
Rather than backtrack, it's possible to head east, hopping over streams to RP23, the
route back to El Chaltén. You'll pass the waterfall
Chorillo del Salto
on the way.
Buses to Lago del Desierto drop hikers at the Río Eléctrico bridge (AR$60).
Loma del Pliegue Tumbado & Laguna Toro
Heading southwest from the Park Ranger Office, this trail (four to five hours one way)
skirts the eastern face of Loma del Pliegue Tumbado going toward Río Túnel, then cuts
west and heads to Laguna Toro. It's the only hike that allows views of both Cerros Torre
and Fitz Roy at once. It's also less crowded than the main routes. The hike is gentle, but
prepare for strong winds and carry extra water.
Lago del Desierto & Chile
Some 37km north of El Chaltén is Lago del Desierto, near the Chilean border - a nice
day-hike for rainy days with no visibility of the Fitz. A 500m trail leads to an overlook
with fine lake and glacier views.
