Laguna Torre

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Wildflowers

There are several well-marked trails that leave from El Chalten. The trail begins with a strong uphill for the first 1.5 miles. You'll make your way through dry open terrain with some rhyolite (volcanic rock) walls. As you gain altitude, the forest of Southern Beech trees begins to thicken, and you can see some parrots and other birds.

Soon, you'll notice that the Rio Fitz Roy is far below you in the gorge, and you come to your first overlook of the southern towers in the Fitz Roy range. Next you drop back to the river valley where you skirt the north side of a broad river plain while cutting in and out of the forest. After close to 5 miles, you come to undulating fields of boulders and glacial till. Soon you pop over the rim of a well-defined moraine with the powder blue waters of Laguna Torre, and the striking wall of ice that makes up Glaciar Torres. Continue along the rim to a great view of the glacier at the Mirador Maestri.

Once you've enjoyed the view, you'll return to the trailhead via the same route.

Birds include Condor, Buzzard- Eagle, Magellanic Woodpecker, Torrent duck, and Burrowing Parrots. In addition, you can see the Huemul (tiny elusive deer), the Patagonian fox and puma.