Backpack your way towards Cerro Castillo’s towers and ice
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 27.57 mi
- Elevation gain
- 6,404 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 7,884 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,508 ft
- TrailRank
- 58
- Min elevation
- 996 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Coordinates
- 1987
- Uploaded
- June 30, 2014
- Recorded
- June 2014
near El Blanco, Aisén (Chile)
Viewed 2393 times, downloaded 88 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Waypoints
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Day 1 - Las Horquetas – Turbio River Camp (16 km)
The trail starts in the sector known as Las Horquetas, along the Carretera Austral (68 km from Coyhaique). The initial trail follows an old logging road still used by local gauchos to herd their animals to the valleys during the summer months, thus make sure you close any gates as you pass through their farms! You’ll alternate between forested areas that were burnt in wildfires that swept the area decades ago, and vibrant lenga forest, all the while bordering a crystal-clear stream that you’ll wade across on three occasions. The crossings are shallow but you should wear sandals so that your hiking boots don’t get soaked. After walking approximately 14 km, you’ll arrive at the Conaf shelter and post, where you will register and pay the National Reserve’s entrance fee. Two kilometers further you’ll find the Turbio River Camp, where you can assemble your tent, cook dinner and appreciate a well-deserved rest.
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Day 2 – Turbio River Camp - Bosque Camp (8 km)
The second day of this hike starts along the river that flows down from the Turbio Glacier. Little by little you'll climb, first through forests, and then along a steep section of rock scree to cross the saddle of El Peñón (1,460 m). Depending on the time of year, you may be crossing this section on snow, but, one thing is certain, your legs will be ready for a break upon reaching the next campsite! Luckily, the views are incredible, offering a great excuse to stop and catch your breath while photographing the magnificent glaciers of the Cerro Castillo range, which seem just an arm’s reach away. This is also a great spot to view condors drifting and gliding through the peaks. Once you’ve descended from El Peñón, the trail borders the Peñón Glacier Stream for a while, during which you’ll get your first amazing views of the “castle” before climbing a bit more through the woods to your camp.
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Day 3 – Bosque Camp - Porteadores Camp (9 Km)
You’ll start day three with a strong initial climb along the banks of the river that pours down from the Cerro Castillo Glacial Lagoon, until you reach a small plateau at the base of the “Castle” itself. Once you’ve had a break (and filled your camera’s memory card), you’ll begin to climb the moraine surrounding the lagoon to an overlook so spectacular, we swear you won’t want to leave. The mountain seems so close you can almost touch it and provides a perfect contrast for the turquoise lagoon as you listen to the sound of ice sliding down the mountain and shattering into the water. The trail continues along the rocky terrain to a vantage point that (on a cloudless day), shows the entire Ibañéz Valley, all the way to General Carrera Lake and Argentina. You’ve really got to see it to believe it. Next, you’ll cross the saddle of Cerro Castillo (1,600 m), and begin a slow descent back to the forest and the Porteadores Camp, accompanied by impressive views of Cerro Palo.
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Day 4- Porteadores Camp - Villa Cerro Castillo (10 km)
The descent to Villa Cerro Castillo begins by bordering the edge of the Parada River Canyon, where you'll have excellent panoramic views of the Ibañéz River and Valley. You’ll exit the reserve walking through a typical Patagonian ranch, amongst grazing sheep and cows, and then hike back to town along a rural road.
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Villa Cerro Castillo
• Reservations: There are several regional companies that offer this trek. It is important to choose a guide with significant experience working in the reserve, good equipment, practice hiking in adverse weather conditions, and training in first aid and search and rescue. Some options include: o Cristian Solis, Expediciones GeoSur – Coyhaique: Simón Bolívar 521; (067) 2221990 - (09) 92648671; www.geosurexpediciones.com; cristian@geosurexpediciones.com o Cristian Vidal and Mary Brys, Senderos Patagonia - Villa Cerro Castillo: Carretera Austral s/n; Km 100; (09) 62057166 - (09) 62244725; senderospatagonia@gmail.com o Hugo Castañeda, Alma Patagónica Expediciones – Coyhaique: Ignacio Serrano 621; (09) 76183588; contacto@almapatagonica.cl; www.almapatagonica.cl o Manuel Medina, Aventura Tehuelche – Coyhaique: Pimpinela 723; (09) 84118736; aventuratehuelche@gmail.com; www.aventuratehuelche.cl
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