Hiking in the Argentine Lake District

Types of Hiking
Map

Hiking through a volcanic river bed, Lanin NP

Vast waters and high peaks, Bariloche

Hiking Hut to Hut in Bariloche, Nahuel Huapi NP

What should I expect?

The main hikes of the Argentinian Lake District are split between two National Parks - the Lanin and the Nahuel Huapi. Stretching a distance of nearly 400km north to south, the hiking opportunities are endless.

The main access towns of Bariloche and San Martin make great bases for day hiking if you’d prefer to have a comfy bed in the evening; for those looking for even more home comforts then there are some extraordinarily located lodges dotted across the region which vary in style and price which also make great day hiking bases.

The Nahual Huapi National Park, taking it’s name from the enormous lake of the same name, has a network of refugios which can be connected with a challenging multi day hike or used just for an overnight stop on a stunning but easier 2 day hike.
The Lanin National Park's centrepiece is the magnificent Lanin Volcano - towering over any of its neighbours at 3,728m. As well as the challenging summit hike, the whole park houses lush forests of monkey puzzle trees (the araucaria), beautiful lakes and other volcanos. Multi-day hiking is much easier in this area but the park does not have refugios so camping is the only option.

Multi Day Hiking

Multi Activity Hiking

If you want to get a taste of everything the Lake District has to offer, then a multi-activity trip could be right for you. Starting from a base in Bariloche, spend the morning kayaking in the hidden bays of Lago Nahuel Huapi and Lago Moreno. After a relaxing lunch on the lake shore, swap your kayak for hiking boots and trek up to a panoramic viewpoint of Nahuel Huapi lake and the glaciers and peak of Mount Tronador.

Challenging Treks

Volcano Hiking

Day Hiking

Day Hikes from Bariloche

Mount Bella Vista

Be rewarded with spectacular views of the Argentinian Lake District from the summit of Mount Bella Vista on this off-the-beaten-track day hike. You'll begin climbing through transition forest, which gives way to bamboo-like trees and then to lengas. Whenever the cover of these trees breaks, you can enjoy far-reaching vistas. The latter part of the ascent is quite steep and on the way back down, you follow the same path.

Tronodor Valley

After a short drive from Bariloche along the shore of the Mascardi Lake, hike the valley under the shadow of the mighty Mount Tronador with its cracking glaciers and cascading waterfalls. This is an easy day hike to allow yourself to be absorbed in the verdant landscapes of this region of Argentina.

Day Hikes from San Martin de los Andes

Cerro Falkner

After an hour's scenic drive from San Martin, you begin your ascent of Cerro Falkner, trekking through dense forest. When you emerge from the trees you are greeted by stunning views which, on reaching the summit, open up to 360 degree views, taking in Cerro Tronador and Lanin Volcano.

Achen Ñiyeu Volcano

This day hike near San Martin takes you through unusual landscapes to the crater of the Achen Niyeu Volcano. You'll trek from the beach of Laguna Verde in the Lanin National Park, through forests and then onto black sand in a desert-like landscape. On reaching the volcano, a demanding 45 minute ascent takes you to the edge of the crater, from where panoramic views include Lanin Volcano and its expansive glacier.

Swoop says

The refugios of the Nahuel Huapi are older and more rustic than the refugios of Torres del Paine - they tell tales of hardened climbers and magnificent feats of engineering just to get the structures in place.

Trekking landmarks in the Argentinian Lake District

Sally says

I first hiked up to the Otto Meiling Refugio in 2010; I can remember as if it was yesterday, as I popped out above the tree line, higher than the peaks around, the feeling of being totally surrounded by the Andes - that view and feeling has been hard to beat in all the years I've spent hiking in the Patagonian Andes since.

Sally Dodge Patagonia Specialist