Hiking Glaciar Huemul From El Chalten: Everything to Know

Date
Feb, 04, 2025

El Chalten is considered the hiking capital of Argentina, and for good reason. This little hiking outpost is located hundreds of miles from the nearest town, and rests right at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy, the mountain featured on the Patagonia clothing brand logo. While there are plenty of awe-inspiring hikes within walking distance of El Chaltén, Glaciar Huemul is an intriguing option for those looking to get even further off the beaten path.

This post will highlight everything you need to know about visiting Lago del Desierto and the Huemul Glacier from El Chalten, including some things you should really know before you go.

While the Laguna de Los Tres hike is the biggest attraction in the region, Glaciar Huemul offers a much shorter, stunning alternative that properly shows off the best that the South Patagonian Ice Fields have to offer.

When we drove from El Calafate to El Chalten, we already couldn’t believe how remote we were. When our Airbnb host recommended we visit Glaciar Huemul in our spare time, we couldn’t even begin to imagine what the day would entail.

young family on the top of a mountain on a rainy day

What Is Glaciar Huemul?

Glaciar Huemul is a glacier located in the heart of Argentine Patagonia’s Los Glaciares National Park. Right beneath the glacier there is a fluorescent blue glacial lake, and the hike to this lake is largely considered one of the best hikes in the region. This out and back hike is short in distance, but is pure elevation gain on the way in and descent on the way out. 

Be careful not to confuse Glacier Huemul with Cerro Huemul, which is a snow-capped mountain fifty miles to the south. In Spanish, a Huemul is a type of deer that is very common in Patagonia. This is why the name appears so frequently throughout the region. 

How to Get to Glaciar Huemul and Lago del Desierto

Glaciar Huemul is a glacier located very close to the Chile/Argentina border, about 175 miles north of the regional capital of El Calafate. In my travels to over 50 countries, Glaciar Huemul is without a doubt the most remote place I have ever been.

El Calafate sign and white christmas tree

First, Fly to El Calafate

To get to Glaciar Huemul, you first need to fly to the city of El Calafate. This city is the gateway to most of Argentine Patagonia, and can be reached in about 3 hours in the air from Buenos Aires. There are several direct flights most days of the week, depending on the time of year.

Next, Get to Lago del Desierto

From El Calafate, you can either join a guided tour to Glaciar Huemul from El Calafate, or head first to El Chalten. The drive from El Calafate to El Chalten takes around 3 hours, with absolutely nothing along the route except for lots of Guanacos, a few ranches, and one gas station. We chose to rent a car and drive to El Chalten, and visited Glaciar Huemul as a day trip from El Chalten.

The trailhead for the Huemul Glacier hike is located on the shore of Lago del Desierto, which is a small lake that offer boat tours, hikes, and other outdoor recreation. From what I understood, the Glaciar Huemul hike was by far the biggest attraction at Lago del Desierto.

I Recommend Stopping in El Chalten

If I were to visit Lago del Desierto again, I wouldn’t do it any other way. Traveling from El Calafate to Lago del Desierto and back in one day would be way too much mental anguish and time in the car. I mean, the drive just from El Chalten to Lago del Desierto was one of the most stressful drives of my life, and I’m a pretty optimistic guy.

Family standing in front of lake and patagonia logo Laguna de Los tres mountain range
We loved our time in El Chalten and would recommend it to others.

Rental Car vs. Private Transfer to Lago del Desierto

The two main ways to get to Glacier Huemul are to drive yourself or hire someone to drive you. There is no public transportation from El Chalten to Lago del Desierto.

We opted to drive our rental car from El Chalten, and it was one of the most harrowing drives of my life. Hiring a private transfer would have been a much more comfortable option, and I may recommend that as the best option for anyone planning a trip.

The biggest challenge of driving to Lago del Desierto is just how desolate it is. I had never been further off the grid in my life, and with no cell signal and no other cars on the road, this drive was really mentally taxing. Now that I have done it once, and I can attest that there really are people and things to do at Lago del Desierto, I would be comfortable doing the drive again.

view of mountain range through the windsheild of a car on a rainy day
This photo from our car may look cozy, but in reality the roads were very treacherous and we were concerned about damage to the car the whole time.

Driving from El Chalten to Lago del Desierto

One day in El Chalten, our Airbnb host excitedly advised us to take a trip to Lago del Desierto to hike Glaciar Huemul. I should add, we were traveling with our two very small children (2 years old and 8 months old), and our host mentioned how relaxing of a day it would be with the family.

Based on the way he described it, I was imagining a relaxing family day on the lakeshore. Maybe there would be a couple little restaurants, a nice little trail to walk around, and a nice area for a picnic.

This guy was out of his mind. We had a really nice time, but relaxing certainly isn’t the word I would use!

The drive from El Chalten to Lago del Desierto isn’t very far, but it feels like an eternity. Just 25 miles, one would expect the drive to take well under an hour. After all, the road connecting El Calafate to El Chalten was wonderful, and we could easily drive 60mph the whole way.

deep blue glacier huemul on an ovecast day

The Drive to Lago del Desierto Is Emotionally Taxing

5 minutes into the drive, I strongly considered turning back. 15 minutes into the drive, I started to sweat. 30 minutes into the drive, I almost had a mental breakdown.

The road is pretty rough. We were visiting in the spring, and there had recently been a fair amount of rain. The entire road was gravel or dirt, and the potholes at certain points were like the surface of the moon.

I handled the drive finely until we encountered the first bridge. In total there were about four of them. These bridges looked ready to collapse, with largely unsecured wood slats being the only thing between us and the rushing water of the De Las Vueltas River below us.

Being So Remote Made Me Worry

Getting over the first one was an experience, for sure, but my confidence slowly grew with each of the river crossings. The same can be said with the rocky terrain that we encountered in many places.

The biggest mental hurdle for me, apart from the road conditions, was that we would encounter some sort of awful calamity. There was very little cell phone signal on the route, the bridges were treacherous, the route just kept continuing, and there were very few other cars on the route. If our car was to breakdown, or we were to crash, it would likely be hours until help arrived – if it even arrived. After all, there are few places on Earth more remote than this.

The Views Are Stunning If You Can Relax

Depending who you are, this might not be an issue. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and if you can afford some time to step out of the car and soak in your surroundings while waiting for someone to pass by, then this is a non-issue. But for me, with two kids under 3 years old in the car, I was terrified that something was going to go wrong.

Don’t Trust the Google Maps Time Estimate

When we set out from El Chalten, Google Maps said the drive would take about an hour and 15 minutes. It took about an hour longer than that.

Now, I can’t really fault Google here – there are very few cars on this route, very little cell phone signal, and it is in the absolute middle of nowhere. I’m sure estimating the time is a crapshoot. However, we went about as fast as one could conceivably go, and it took us closer to two hours and fifteen minutes each way.

While the road conditions weren’t great, they aren’t likely to ever be much better unless the road gets paved. I would expect the drive to take at least two hours, and if you arrive sooner, consider it a win.

There Are Little to No Amenities Along the Route

If you decide to make the trip to Lago Del Desierto, I recommend packing everything you need. There are a couple of small ranches along the way that have restaurants, but given the small number of travelers along the route, I’d expect their operation to be spotty. During the high season you might have better odds, but if you visit in the offseason or a shoulder season, I think the chances are a bit slimmer.

There are no gas stations or stores between El Chalten and Lago del Desierto. Make sure you have enough water, food, and gas before you leave town. 

Try to Rent a Larger Car

We did this drive in a little sedan, and that is a big reason why the drive was so miserable. In an SUV or crossover, this would have at least been less harrowing. 

While a sedan can make the trip, the extreme winds in the region and rough roads make upgrading to a larger, heavier vehicle a worthwhile investment. We chose to upgrade to a large SUV for our next rental car a few days later in Torres del Paine, and we were very happy with that choice.

father putting toddler son in hiking carrier before a hoke
Surprisingly enough Lago del Desierto was developed and there was an information booth and even restaurant and hotel.

What to Expect at Lago del Desierto

After such a harrowing adventure to get there, I was pleasantly surprised by Lago del Desierto. There is a hotel/restaurant that appears to be closed and under renovation, a parking lot, as well as a fairly well-stocked convenience stand and decent bathroom facility. If you need snacks, water, or other drinks, you’ll find it here. This booth is also where you can pay for entrance to the Glaciar Huemul hike or for a cruise on Lago del Desierto. 

Hiking Glacier Huemul

While the lake and surrounding area are beautiful, the clear main draw to the area is Huemul Glacier. Every group we ran into came solely to hike up to the panoramic views of this beautiful glacier. There are some important things to know before you go, which I have broken out below.

father carrying son in a hiking carrier in green woods by running creek

Glacier Huemul Hike Entrance Fee

The popular Glaciar Huemul hike, which is considered one of the best day hikes in Argentine Patagonia, isn’t free. Since the whole route is located on private property, the owner collects an entrance fee from all hikers. At the time of publication, that fee is $10,000 pesos per adult, and children are free. This equals roughly $9.50 per person.

Glacier Huemul Hiking Trail Information

For as remote as this place is, the Glacier Huemul hike follows a very well-marked trail. It is very difficult to get lost on this short hike. The starting point is very clear, and the employee in the kiosk will direct you to the short walk toward the trailhead once you pay your entrance fee. 

mother with baby in hiking carrier in the woods

Glacier Huemul Hike Difficulty

The Glacier Huemul hike is pretty short in terms of distance, but it is nearly all uphill along a pretty steep slope. While not incredibly difficult, it does require at least moderate physical fitness, and it is not handicap accessible in any way.

The beginning of the hike passes by a farm with some animals. It then continues into the woods, which feel like they belong in Lord of the Rings. The terrain in this part of the hike is mystical and enchanting, and fairly flat.

After a short while, the terrain becomes very steep. While there is a clearly defined trail, hikers must climb steep rock and soil stairs. At times the route is so steep that there are guide ropes to pull on. 

The danger level is low, as the hike is nowhere near any cliffs or steep edges until the very end. However, navigating the steep incline is definitely tricky and takes time and strength.

I did the hike with a 30-pound todder in a backpack carrier and was fine. While winded at times, it really isn’t a tricky hike. I’d expect it to take around an hour up and 30 minutes down.

Highlights of the Glacier Huemul Hike

This is one of my favorite hikes in recent memory. The woods in the early part of the hiking trail are so whimsical, reminding me of stories like the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings. The trees at points are massive, and the initial part of the main trail is wonderful.

Along the route, there are also a few pretty waterfalls that you can observe. These are just quick deviations from the trail and don’t really take any time to get to.

As is the case with most hikes, the top is the best part. The panoramic views of Glaciar Huemul are gorgeous, and the fluorescent blue of Laguna Huemul below it is breathtaking. It was very reminiscent of Banff National Park, except with much more unique peaks in the distance.

There is a flat area at the top of the hike where you can relax, take pictures of the surrounding snow-capped mountains, or even have a picnic. The hike is an out-and-back, so once you finish at the top, you can head back the way you came.

selfie of bearded man with beautiful blue lake in background

Glaciar Huemul Weather

Patagonia as a whole is known for its wild weather conditions, and Glaciar Huemul is no different. However, as most of the hike occurs under thick tree cover, you may not experience the crazy weather until you enter the opening at the top. It was a little chilly during our springtime hike in November, but not terribly cold.

When we got to the top, we experienced pretty intense wind and it began to rain. This is extremely common in this area, and it’s important to plan accordingly. Weather conditions change rapidly in Patagonia, and you can rarely predict what’s coming.

young family on the top of a mountain on a rainy day
The weather is crazy. This is us trying to withstand hail at the peak!

The best time to hike Glaciar Huemul is definitely in the spring or summer months. We encountered only a handful of other hikers, and the weather was pretty moderate. While the weather in the region is never predictable, you’re much more likely to have good luck in these months than in the winter.

What to Wear for the Glacier Huemul Hike

While temperatures vary greatly depending on the season of your visit, one thing is always true: weather conditions change very rapidly in Patagonia. The key to dressing properly in Patagonia is wearing layers. We did this hike in late spring, and temperatures ranged from chilly to warm during the three hours we were outside. We also experienced a rain shower and strong winds, which ended abruptly.

The terrain isn’t the easiest, and you should definitely wear study hiking shoes. While some hikers we saw wore sneakers, the vast majority wore sturdy hiking boots.

I wore a sweat-wicking base layer with long sleeves, one pair of pants, a flannel, a sweatshirt, a jacket, and a beanie. At points, I shed both the sweatshirt and jacket, and later put them both back on. While umbrellas can be inconvenient to hike with, it would be a good idea to bring a poncho or a waterproof jacket, even if the forecast calls for good weather.


Hopefully this post answered any questions you have about hiking the Huemul Glacier in Argentinian Patagonia. If you have any questions, let us know by dropping a comment below!


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Greg

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.

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Meet The Author - Greg

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.