Sendero Lago Chico | Tourist Attraction

December 24th, 2023 by Takethelastflightout.com

Campsite and road closed so annoyingly had to hike nearly 7 km up to trail head although easy enough (1.5 hrs) but makes it a long day with this 12 km hike on top (4.5 hours with stops) Designed to do clockwise with finish at Doug Tompkins mirador. Superb views throughout - this country is stunning!

November 28th, 2023 by Gatogoesglobal

road is closed atm so you will have to walk all the way.

February 4th, 2022 by leandradiane

18km RT from 2WD lot, although we couldn't make it up to the lot in our rear-wheel drive furgon. Steep, heavily and irregularly rutted portion with loose gravel prevented us from proceeding, so we parked about 1.5km below in a spot big enough for one car before the problem area (21km from this point RT). Beautiful views from the trail, saw some guanacos and ducks. Dead guanaco near the lake, probably wouldn't drink the water.

February 4th, 2022 by lynnis2005

More details for 2wd cars: First, it is 5.5km from the Alto Valle campground to the trailhead. We didn’t know how far up the road the 2wd parking would be so we walked from the campground. As of February 2022, there is a very rough short steep section that comes about 1km after the campground, and this is before the signed 2wd area, which is about 2.2km up the road. This first rough section is impassable by a 2wd or low clearance vehicle. There is one small parking spot at that area, where other camper van hikers were already parked. If and when that section gets repaired, you can potentially drive to the 2.2km 2wd parking area, space for 2 vehicles. The road is not the worst we’ve seen, but much of it would be slow and arduous in a 2wd, so better just to walk. From the campground and around the loop is 23km hike. We did it in a little under 7 hours. It was wonderful, and Mirador Douglas Tompkins is indeed spectacular.

February 9th, 2021 by smidovi.wordpress.com

Beautiful hike. 3,5 hours in easy pace from 4WD parking. To acces 4WD parking we recommend at least high clearance because of deep tracks. (we made it without much problems in our 2WD toyota 4runner)

February 3rd, 2021 by sixwheelseast.com

Not a lot of shade and most of the streams we crossed were dry, so bring plenty of water. (Not sure if I would drink from the lake without filtering or boiling.) Oh, and don’t forget to climb the big rock at the far end of the lake for an amazing view of two lakes and the San Lorenzo in the distance.

January 29th, 2021 by transhumances.eu

It's a very beautiful hike! You get a great view on the surrounding mountains and the huge lake! The Lago Chico is nice too. It took us 4h-4hours and half from the 2WD "parking".

February 25th, 2020 by michaelwild86

Amazing views and few tourists. We just met 4 hikers and enjoyed the trek a lot.

February 10th, 2020 by JenS1963

if you don't want to hike the whole 12 km loop you could make a shortcut after around 1.2 km. Check on Maps.me for the shortest cross to the other path. Just 200 meters on a flat area. On the other path just go back on the road towards the very beautiful Mirador.

January 16th, 2020 by evifoulaki

We loved the hike! Relatively easy and the sendero offers great views and panoramas of the lake Cohrane! It took us totally 5 hours from the 2WD parking, then the actual trail and back to the parking with a normal pace and many breaks for photos! Absolutely recommended trail!

December 30th, 2019 by chillsandmills.com

We cycled here from Casa de Piedra campsite as a day trip to do the loop. We found the 5km track from Alto Valle up to the parking very difficult by bike - the first half to the 2wd parking is ok, but from there it gets very rocky and steep - we pushed both ways. We’re on touring bikes with 2” tyres - it might be easier on a mountain bike with good clearance, but you’re probably better off walking the track. The cycle ride along the road to Alto Valle is fine - mostly flat, but again the road isn’t in very good condition - lots of washboard. We hitched back as it was quite late by the time we’d finished the hike. The hike is stunning and despite a tricky ride to the trailhead it was so worth it for the epic panoramic views.

May 6th, 2019 by unterwegs.photography

We loved this hike!! Pure nature with a lot of wildlife. Due to the campground and the road being closed, we parked our camper at the entrance and started from there. All in all it was 24km up and down, but it was totally worth it. Don’t let the closed road hold you back and enjoy the silence!

April 17th, 2019 by mikey.morriso.89

The Parque is closed for 3 months as they hand it over to CONCAF.

This means you cannot drive off the main road (Paso Roballos) to any trails or campsites. You are still able to hike the trails just be wary as it added 12km to the LAGO CHICO hike. Others it doesn’t affect.

We didn’t have to pay to be in the park. The Drive to the border is simply stunning, a must!

You can probably still sleep in the campsites no one would notice

March 12th, 2019 by stevebaker43

Ignoring the helpful sign about 2wd parking halfway up.... We drove to this point in a 2wd vanagon. One challenging bit, but YOU CAN DO IT.

January 2nd, 2019 by Adriaan&Isabelle

The signs are under construction. The coordinates for the trailhead are correct; the trial starts in easterly direction, where there is an arrow.

We were informed that the trail had 130 meters of altitude difference. Our GPS clocked 560 meters of total altitude gain, making this a moderately difficult hike.

We enjoyed this hike tremendously. Great views, nice passages in forest, big meadows, ridges to be climbed.

The best place to take a break is after the 6 kilometer mark, close to the water and well protected from the wind.

October 23rd, 2018 by carrothospital

Awesome 12km loop to Lago Chico which finishes at the mirador just up the road. It's a fairly easy hike over rolling hills and is incredibly gorgeous. Took us about 3-3.5hrs total. Definitely recommended.