The Huemul Circuit

The huemul circuit a trek that visits some forgotten corners of los glaciares offering great viewpoints of the icecap with challenging sections like the battering climb through the aptly named viento windy pass the huemul pass ascent to a campsite high above the sparkling lake viedma and the zipline crossing of the river tunel.

The huemul circuit.

The huemul circuit in el chaltén is a lesser known route for experienced hikers and absolutely worth the efforts as you are able to experience real adventures and see massive ice fields and panoramic views that will blow your mind. The huemul circuit was my warm up for the breathtaking 85 mile 140 kilometer trek of the o circuit in torres del paine national park. They are just piles of rocks and sometimes little sheds that you ll see along the way. The sun is shining the walking is a breeze the terrain fairly gentle.

Viedma glacier face falling into lago viedma. It is a 4 day trek 40 miles 65km but you can do it in 3 days too or 12 5 hours if you re a seasoned trail runner. There s the faintest whisper of early autumn in the lenga or southern beech forests their leaves starting to turn russet and gold. The huemul circuit ranks as one of patagonia s most demanding treks but the first day is almost deceptively easy.

Huemul circuit is a 41 3 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near el chaltén santa cruz argentina that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The huemul pronounced wey mool circuit is a challenging 40 mile trek located in parque nacional los glaciares just outside of the patagonia trekking mecca of el chaltén argentina the trek starts in el chaltén and ends on the banks of lago viedma journeying through meadows and forests across rivers and up windy passes along rocky moraines and beside iceberg laden bays. Only fifteen more minutes away in a cliff of 500 meters we find condors nesting. Huemul circuit during my time in el chalten i began to hear more and more about a lesser known hike one where you could get a rare view of the third largest ice cap in the world walk along argentina s largest glacier 4x larger than perito moreno and see oceanic aqua blue lakes all far far away from the tourist crowds.

Walking down and some bush waking make us reach huemul pass camp. The huemul circuit is notorious for its wild wind and relentless rain so give yourself a few days of wiggle room and start the trek when the weather looks favorable. To get here fly or bus into el calafate argentina and then take a 3 hour bus to el chalten. The trail offers a number of activity options.

After pitching camp a five minute walk delights our eyes. Weather on the huemul circuit. For the huemul circuit there aren t really maintained sites.