Cerro Castillo Traverse
Sendero Las Horquetas
The longest trail in Cerro Castillo National Park in Chilean Aysén, a 53.5 km crossing of three to five days beneath the 2,318 m Cerro Castillo and its hanging glaciers, marked with yellow posts.
At a glance
- Starts in
- Las Horquetas
- Ends in
- Villa Cerro Castillo sector
- Length
- 54 km
- On foot
- 3–5 days
- Countries
Chile- Best months
- October–April
About the trail
Cerro Castillo was protected as a national reserve on 19 June 1970 and became a national park in 2018, covering about 143,500 hectares of mountains, forest and glaciers south of Coyhaique. Las Horquetas is its longest and most demanding trail, crossing mountain passes beneath the 2,318 m Cerro Castillo and its hanging glaciers, and at one point it can be combined with the viewpoint over Laguna Cerro Castillo.
Chile's official tourism site describes a route of about 53 km and three to five days, with four camping areas, yellow marker posts and bridges over the rivers, reached from the Carretera Austral. It warns that snow and strong winds can come even in summer.
CONAF gives the length as 53.5 km and requires every walker to register at the park administration by Laguna Chiguay, at km 57 of Route 7 South. The trail closes from May to September, and by park resolution it may currently be walked only with a certified guide.