Up the gravel road to a long forest-ringed lake near the Chilean border: a short steep climb to a lagoon beneath the hanging Huemul glacier, then a boat to the far end of the lake and a view back to Fitz Roy.
The gravel road north of El Chaltén follows the Río de las Vueltas through forest and past waterfalls to its source, Lago del Desierto, nine kilometres long and walled in by mountains.
From the south shore, a trail climbs 40 minutes through lenga forest to a lookout over Laguna Huemul and the Huemul glacier, hanging in a cirque above the turquoise water. Back at the shore, a boat runs the length of the lake to its northern end, from where the view back south frames Fitz Roy above the water.
The northern end is also the start of the border crossing on foot to Chile and the Carretera Austral at Villa O'Higgins, a famous adventure for cyclists and trekkers. Stop at Chorrillo del Salto on the way back.
A gentle day out with one short climb.
Take a shared transfer north along the Río de las Vueltas, through forest and past ranches, about an hour.
Climb steeply through the forest to the lookout over Laguna Huemul and its hanging glacier.
Board the boat to the northern end of Lago del Desierto, with the mountains rising straight from the water.
Look back south down the lake to Fitz Roy before the return boat.
Ask the driver to stop at the Chorrillo del Salto turn-off for the forest waterfall on the way home.
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Shared minibuses leave El Chaltén in the morning and return in the afternoon; book at agencies in the village.
The lake boat runs a few times a day in summer and can be combined with the transfer in one ticket.
The Huemul trail crosses private land and a small fee may be charged at the start.
Calafate & Chaltén practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences.
