LivingInPatagonia.com

Bariloche Trekking Circuits

Written by Shanie

One of the great things about adventure travel in Patagonia is the trekking hut circuit.

Beautiful, manicured, single-track trails connect manned and unmanned refugios (Spanish for hut). The trails wander through the protected national forests, varying in length and difficulty. The hikes can be broken up into either multi-day circuits or single-day trips.

The refugios range from beautiful, handcrafted log buildings with full-time caretakers offering homemade beer, to abandoned shacks with the possibility of being tainted with the Hanta Virus.

For that reason, it is important to have information on the various refugios that you would like to visit before arriving. The Argentinian hiking club, Club Andino, offers free information on trail conditions and the status of refugios.

Here is a small sampling of hikes in the Bariloche region. To learn the locations of the trail heads, please contact the local Club Andino chapter.

• Refugio Lopez: Located on the coast of the Nahuel Huapi Lake, this hike climbs steep, lush, forested terrain. The views are outstanding and give you a 270 degree look at the Seven Lakes Region, Chile, Lago Moreno Oeste and Este and, of course, Nahuel Huapi. This hike takes around two and a half hours. The refugio has two large dormitories, a common kitchen and bathrooms with hot water. The caretakers serve hot food.

• Refugio Manfredo Segre: Also called Refugio Italia, this refugio is accessed via the Laguna Negra trail head. The trail is immersed in a thick, enchanting, old growth forest along a rushing, bright green river. It is approximately five hours to the refugio. It sleeps sixty people, serves food and drinks, has nice bathrooms and other services. In the summer the caretakers throw full-moon parties.

• Refugio Frey: This log and stone refugio is nestled at the base of spired peaks. The area surrounding the building is a rock climbers paradise. The trail begins in a few different places, one being the Bariloche ski area, Catedral. You can ride the chair lift up helping with elevation gain. The trail wanders among the knife-like ridge giving an amazing 360-degree view of the entire area. The refugio sleeps forty people complete with mattresses and blankets. The caretakers offer food and a warm atmosphere to sit and share stories with others.

This is just an example of the amazing trail systems that lead to warm, inviting buildings with kind people and tasty food. Traveling to Argentina is a wonderful experience in itself but combining it with the adventure and beauty of the refugio trail systems, and it will be one that will never be forgotten.

For Bariloche half day hikes, click here.