Day hikes near Bariloche
Bariloche is the main hub for the north of Patagonia. This city is perfect to use as a base to visit the lake district and places such as El Bolso, Lago Puelo, or getting to Parque Nacional Los Alerces.
Nevertheless, this city is a beautiful destination, where the main attractions are outdoor activities. Hiking in Bariloche is beautiful and there are plenty of options for different hiking levels. Here you will find a list of some of the most beautiful day hikes in Bariloche. If you’d also like to check for hiking in other destinations, please click on our Patagonia trekking page.
Important fact: these hiking trails are located in the outside of Bariloche City. You will need to find transportation when staying here. It can be car rental, taxi or even public bus.
Cerro Bella Vista
From here you will get a beautiful 360-degree view. You will enjoy 10 km (return) of amazing views. At first, the trail climbs through the forest on a steep trail before getting steeper as you reach the tree line and arrive at the ridge. When reaching the ridge you will have to continue walking until you get Bella Vista summit. The return is through the saim trail. During this Bariloche hiking, you will ascend 800m and reach 1750m.a.s.l. at the peak.
Cerro Chall – Huaco
This trail is less accessible since there is no public transport to get you anywhere near. The trail starts and ends in Refugio Neumeyer, a refuge that burnt down in 2014. The first part of the trail goes through a dreamy forest where you will enjoy amazing views of Laguna de Los Patos and Laguna Verde. As the forest ends, it gets steeper. From this summit, you can continue your way up onto Cerro Blanco, the mountain behind Cerro Chal. You will walk 10 km return ascending 700 m until reaching the 2088 m.a.s.l. summit.
Refugio Frey
When hiking in Bariloche, this trail is a must. We have two trail options from Villa Catedral, the ski resort. The normal route starts right from the Villa and it is a well-marked trail. This easy trail has 12 km (one-way) in which you will ascend 750 m.a.s.l. It takes around 4 hs one way.
The second option from Villa Catedral is by using the cable car of the ski resort. First, take the “Amancay” lift and then “Diente de Caballo” lift. You will enjoy amazing views of Rucaco Valley and Monte Tronador in the distance. From here you 10 km until reaching Refugio Frey through a medium-difficult trail. You can go down through the first option (12 km) and do not repeat trail.
The third alternative starts from Lago Gutierrez Camping and takes 12 km (return). You will ascend 1000m through an easy rail.
It is probably the most popular hike in the area and it can be pretty crowded. Access by public transport is easy.
Refugio Otto Meiling
This hike is in the Tronador section, so you will need to transport to Pampa Linda to begin. This small refuge is located at the edge of Castaño Overa Glacier and is a great place to enjoy a day hike but also to spend the night. To get there you will walk 14 km one way and ascend 10502 m through an easy trail.
By Morena Domsch – Beyond BA LATAM team
We invite you to discover Bariloche! It has plenty to offer besides hiking. Navigating, road tripping, fishing, rafting, golfing, and more.
Beyond BA LATAM offers tours and experiences for all these alternatives, where we stand out in tailor-made vacations, designed around your interests and travel style. Contact us, learn about more things to do in Argentina, and let’s plan your next beautiful journey together!
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