Lake Steffen

Information

It is a large lake in the Argentine province of Río Negro, within the boundaries of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Its main tributary is the Manso River that comes from Lake Hess (which in turn has previously flowed through Lake Los Moscos and Lake Mascardi), and other rivers/streams such as the Martín (which comes from Lake Martín), Liveo and Giacovo. Its effluent is again the Manso River, which flows southwards.

It has transparent water (although very cold), with a natural landscape where you can take pictures of the body of water surrounded by forests and mountains.

Its access is on the National Route 40 that joins Bariloche with El Bolsón, along which there are about 11 kilometres of gravel road up to the Steffen. On the way, at kilometre 3, a secondary road opens up and after 200 metres you reach a viewpoint where you can see the Laguna Huala Hué (like a lake) below, the Steffen behind and Lake Martín in the distance. Then at kilometre 5 you go along the Laguna Huala Hué.

When you get to the Steffen you have a day-use area and large campsites. During the warm season you can usually see people with kayaks. You can observe both the shores of the lake and the Manso River, which originates there.