Alto Del Naranjo from San Carlos De Apoquindo

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Views

A family-friendly, mildly challenging hike at the doorsteps of the city, that offers great views.

The Alto Del Naranjo plateau offers panoramic views of the Santiago Valley and the higher Andes peaks. There are few really steep areas which is ideal for people getting started with mountain hiking.

No water the whole way, unless descending towards Puente Ñilhue.

The trail starts at the Universidad Catolica Stadium where there is plenty of parking. To reach the actual park entrance, you'll pass a few football fields and horse stables. There is a fee of 3000 pesos.

From the administration building, the trail follows an old vehicle dirt road, always following the signage as there are various offshoot trails. At the 1.5km mark, follow the northern road and it is at this point that the incline begins increasing.

At the 3.4km mark, the trail has already narrowed and comes to a junction, with the correct path rising towards the east following the curves of the hills. Around the 4.6km mark there is an opening called Cancha de Carrera and a short 300 meters further the trail finally reaches the ridgeline.

Following the ridgeline as it ascends to the 5.5km mark, the trail reaches arguably the hardest part: 200 meters of switchbacks which will take you 100 meters in elevation up to the pass. Upon reaching the pass, there is another junction, south leading much higher to Cerro Provincia but the northern one more or less flat to the Alto Del Naranjo Plateau. It is here that you can connect towards the Puente Ñilhue park (Alto Del Naranjo Trail) and descend to the north or return the same way.

On weekends, there are usually a lot of hikers, but during the week you can usually be in absolute solitude.

Sclerophyllous vegetation typical of the central Chilean regions. There will usually be curious/hungry eagles trying to get food from hikers at the plateau. Occasionally condors are visible soaring hundreds of meters above in the sky, but they stay away from highly frequented trails.