Lago del Desierto Provincial Park

Information

Lago del Desierto is a 13 km long lake and a provincial reserve, which is a large protected area that includes the lake.

It is linked to El Chaltén by Provincial Route 41 (37 km of gravel road). This route ends at the Lago del Desierto, in a part where the Cañadón de los Toros River starts and a few metres ahead there is a pier for boats.

There are a variety of places to visit along the route 41, as well as around the lake. There are glaciers to visit, such as the Huemul or the Vespignani. There are some campsites to spend the day and/or spend the night. It is a good option for travellers who come to the region for several days, and want to visit other places besides those in Los Glaciares National Park.

For those interested in wildlife watching, this is an area where the Patagonian huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), an endangered deer, lives and is often sighted.

For those who like trekking, there is the Punta Sur-Punta Norte trail. It is a path that goes from the south end of the lake to the north end. That is to say, it goes from one end of the lake to the other end, crossing the forest that surrounds it on its east side. Although the terrain is not difficult, it is a long walk and takes about 6 or 7 hours one way, so it is recommended for people in good physical condition. If you start from the southern point, the beginning of the trail is about 150 metres before the end of Provincial Route 41 at Lago del Desierto (that is, about 50 metres from the entrance to the Huemul glacier, where the buses from El Chaltén stop). There is a sign that says 'Sendero del Bosque', where there is a bridge that crosses a river and you enter the forest. It is very important to have previously thought/arranged how to return, since the means of transport that pass through both the Punta Norte and Punta Sur operate only at certain times.