huckepack

Huemul Circuit

Circuito Huemul

Length

Stated
65 km, the stated length (APN, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Seccional Lago Viedma)
Map line
65 km, OpenStreetMap along the official track
Used for
The charts on this page, and comparing trails in the search

65km

Ascent · descent

This trail
Estimated from the terrain model (≈): no source states them
How
Every main stage's climbs and drops between samples 100 m apart
Keep in mind
In forests the model reads the treetops, so it reads high there

estimated: 2,670m ↑2,640m ↓

Difficulty

What
How hard the trail is, in three ways: the terrain, the climate in season and the length of the days
Scale
Easy to Hard, with the same thresholds for every trail; each takes its hardest measure
Keep in mind
It describes the trail, not how it will feel to you: that depends on your fitness, experience, pack and the weather you get
  • Terrain: HardPath grade: ≈ T4
  • Climate: Hard in Sep–AprCold: −7 °C at night (September)
  • Effort: DemandingLongest day: 7 h (stage 3)

All measures

Terrain: Hard; Climate: Hard in Sep–Apr; Effort: Demanding
Suggested
4days

Per stage

How
The 4 main stages' totals over their number
Source
APN, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Seccional Lago Viedma, so the averages come from one source
Ascent
The terrain model's estimate per stage (≈): the stages state no climbs

15.8km· about 670 m ↑
Season

Landscape

Source
ESA WorldCover satellite land cover, along the main route
  • Grassland and shrubs: 61%
  • Bare rock and sand: 22%
  • Forest: 10%
  • Moss and lichen: 5%
  • Water, snow and ice: 2%
  • Farmland and villages: 0%

Landscape along the route

Mostly Grassland

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons by littletroll, Fredlyfish4 and Liam Quinn; each photo's licence in the gallery

Location

Country
Argentina
Regions
Santa Cruz
Start
El Chaltén, APN visitor centre
Finish
El Chaltén, APN visitor centre
Route type
Loop
Permit
Required
Travel hubs
  • El Chaltén bus terminal0.9 km by road · 2 min
  • El Calafate Airport (FTE)200.1 km by road · 221 min
Protected areas
Los Glaciares National Park
Managed by
Administración de Parques Nacionales (APN), Los Glaciares National Park, Seccional Lago ViedmaOfficial website
Waymarking
Little or no waymarking; stakes in places, yellow marks and stakes from Bahía Túnel back to the ranger station
GPX
GPX trackOur tracing from OpenStreetMap
  • Trail
  • Start
  • Stage start
  • Finish
  • Contour lines

Difficulty

Terrain

Rates
How hard is the ground to walk: the path, the climbing, the steep bits, the ground underfoot?
How
Rated over the whole main route.
Level
The hardest measure sets it
Path grade
the trail's SAC grade, stated, converted or estimated
  1. EasyT1
  2. ModerateT2
  3. DemandingT3
  4. HardT4 to T6
Climbing
ascent of the main stages over their length
  1. Easyunder 15 m per km
  2. Moderate15–30 m
  3. Demanding30–50 m
  4. Hard50 m or more
Steep stretches
share of the route steeper than 15 %, up or down (terrain model)
  1. Easyunder 5 %
  2. Moderate5–15 %
  3. Demanding15–30 %
  4. Hard30 % or more
Natural ground
share on footpaths and trails (OpenStreetMap); never Hard on its own
  1. Easyunder a third
  2. Moderatea third to two thirds
  3. Demandingtwo thirds or more

Hard

  • SAC hiking scale

    This trail
    T4 (our estimate)
    Basis
    The APN calls it a remote area: an unmaintained path with little or no waymarking, physically demanding long days, fords, two Tyrolean traverses (harness, steel carabiner and the knowledge to use them required) and a crossing of the Túnel glacier past unstable moraine and loose rock with rockfall; days 2 and 3 rated "alta" (hard), not to be walked in strong wind, with a steep descent from the Paso Huemul. Unmarked alpine route with glacier and moraine (T4).
    Scale
    The Swiss Alpine Club's hiking scale, from T1 (easy) to T6 (very hard)
    Why
    Trails rate difficulty in many local scales, or only in words; we translate each into this one so trails compare
    Keep in mind
    An estimate: how hard a trail feels depends on your fitness, experience, pack and the weather
    T1 · Hiking
    Well-made paths, mostly flat or gently sloping. No risk of falling; trainers are enough.
    T2 · Mountain hiking
    A continuous path, steep in places, where a fall can't be ruled out. Be sure-footed; wear hiking boots.
    T3 · Demanding mountain hiking
    The path is not always visible; exposed spots may have chains or ropes, and you may need your hands for balance.
    T4 · Alpine hiking
    Often no path. Hands are needed in places, terrain is exposed, and there can be easy snowfields.
    T5 · Demanding alpine hiking
    Mostly pathless, with easy climbing and exposed, demanding terrain. Needs alpine experience.
    T6 · Difficult alpine hiking
    Pathless, very exposed, with climbing and glaciers. For experienced mountaineers only.

    The scale at the Swiss Alpine Club

    estimated T4
  • Climbingestimated 42 m per km
  • Steep stretches16 % of the way
  • Natural ground93 %

Climate

Rates
How hot, cold, wet and windy does it get?
How
From 30 years of daily weather (ERA5), rated per month. Without months picked: the trail's best run of at least two season months, each measure at its hardest month. Pick months in the search to rate it for yours.
Level
The hardest measure sets it
Heat
mean daily high at the lowest point
  1. Easyunder 22 °C
  2. Moderate22–27 °C
  3. Demanding27–32 °C
  4. Hard32 °C or more
Cold
mean nightly low at the highest point
  1. Easy8 °C or more
  2. Moderate3–8 °C
  3. Demanding−2 to 3 °C
  4. Hardbelow −2 °C
Wet days
days a month with 1 mm of rain or more, the wetter of both points
  1. Easyunder 10
  2. Moderate10–14
  3. Demanding14–18
  4. Hard18 or more
Snow
days a month with 1 cm of snow or more at the highest point
  1. Easyunder 1 day
  2. Moderate1–3 days
  3. Demanding3–6 days
  4. Hard6 days or more
Wind
mean of the day's strongest wind (hourly mean, 10 m above ground), the windier of both points; over land: a point whose 25 km weather cell is mostly sea takes the nearest mostly-land cell's
  1. Easyunder 15 km/h
  2. Moderate15–20 km/h
  3. Demanding20–25 km/h
  4. Hard25 km/h or more

Hard in Sep–Apr

  • Heat · February12 °C by day
  • Cold · September−7 °C at night
  • Wet days · January24 days
  • Snow · December19 days
  • Wind · January21 km/h

Effort

Rates
How long are the days?
How
Rated by the longest main stage; a time range counts its upper end.
Level
The hardest measure sets it
Longest day
walking time of the longest main stage, stated or by DIN 33466
  1. Easyup to 4 h
  2. Moderate4–6 h
  3. Demanding6–8 h
  4. Hardmore than 8 h

Demanding

  • Longest day · stage 37 h

Climate

Days in season · lowest point
5–12°C
Nights in season · highest point
−7 to −1°C
Wet days a month
19–24
Daylight
10.7–16.3h
SeasonSeasonDay high and night low−20 °C−10 °C0 °C10 °C20 °CWet days, at the highest point510152025Daylight15.8 h14.3 h12.6 h10.7 h9.1 h8.2 h8.6 h10.0 h11.8 h13.7 h15.4 h16.3 hJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Climate by month, 1995–2024 average
MonthLowest point, day high / night low (°C)Highest point, day high / night low (°C)Wet daysSnow daysFrost nights at the highest pointDaylight (h)
January10.7 / 6.82.6 / -1.723.617.42515.8
February11.7 / 7.33.6 / -1.118.512.219.514.3
March9.9 / 62.1 / -2.321.816.525.412.6
April7.9 / 4.20.2 / -3.921.319.128.210.7
May5.5 / 2.3-2 / -5.620.519.230.69.1
June3.3 / 0.2-4.4 / -7.920.319.3308.2
July2.8 / -0.5-4.7 / -8.520.619.6318.6
August3.4 / -0.6-3.8 / -8.220.919.53110
September4.8 / 0.5-2.2 / -718.817.23011.8
October6.3 / 2.4-0.7 / -5.32018.93113.7
November7.6 / 3.80.4 / -421.119.329.515.4
December9.3 / 5.51.7 / -2.62319.428.216.3

Climate by month

Source
ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, averages for 1995–2024
Places
The trail's lowest and highest point, adjusted to their height
Bars
From the mean night low to the mean day high
Wet days
At least 1 mm of rain; snow days at least 1 cm of snow
Daylight
Sunrise to sunset in the middle of the month
Shading
The trail's season

Stages

RouteDistanceAscentDescentElevationTime
1El Chaltén Laguna Toro15.0 km740 m ↑480 m ↓400 → 650 m6 h 00
2Laguna Toro Refugio Paso del Viento12.0 km840 m ↑570 m ↓660 → 920 m6 h 00
3Refugio Paso del Viento Bahía de los Témpanos16.0 km510 m ↑1,120 m ↓920 → 300 m7 h 00
4Bahía de los Témpanos El Chaltén (APN ranger station)20.0 km580 m ↑470 m ↓290 → 400 m7 h 00

Totals and averages count the main stages only. ≈ marks our estimates where the source gives no figure: ascent and descent and heights from the terrain model (Copernicus DEM, 30 m grid, sampled every 100 m), to the nearest 10 m.

Terrain

Highest · lowest point
1,406m high253m low

Gradient

Steepest climb
31 % (17°), 155 m up over 500 m, stage 2
Steepest descent
−55 % (29°), 273 m down over 500 m, stage 3
Gradient
Height per distance: 20 % is 20 m up per 100 m forward; 100 % is 45°, not 90°
Keep in mind
Averages over 500 m from a 30 m terrain model: steps and ladders within them are steeper
GradientAngleFeels like
10 %6°Noticeable on a road
20 %11°A steep path, slow going
30 %17°Very steep, often steps
100 %45°Scrambling

31% ↑−55% ↓

Steep stretches

This trail
5 km up, 5.4 km down: the darkest parts of the profile
Steep
15 % or more (9°, 15 m of height per 100 m), in 200 m stretches
Why it matters
Slow going uphill, hard on the knees downhill

10.4km

Surfaces

  • Natural ground: 93%, 59.4 km. Earth, grass, rock and roots: footpaths and forest trails. Can be muddy after rain.
  • Gravel: 4%, 2.9 km. Gravel, compacted and stony surfaces: mostly forest roads and farm tracks.
  • Paved: 3%, 1.9 km. Asphalt, concrete and cobbles: roads and village streets.

93% natural4% gravel3% paved
600 m1,000 m1,400 m1,406 mStage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 40 km64.2 km

Terrain along the route

Heights
Copernicus terrain model, 30 m grid, every 100 m along the main route; in forests it reads the treetops
Colours
Each 200 m by its gradient in walking direction: climbs warm, descents violet, darker when steeper (to ±30 %)
Ground
The strip below, from OpenStreetMap; the 71% without a surface tag is read from the way type (footpaths natural, tracks gravel)

Landscape

Forest10%Grassland and shrubs61%Moss and lichen5%Bare rock and sand22%Water, snow and ice2%Farmland and villages0%Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 40 km64.2 km

Landscape along the route

Source
ESA WorldCover 2021, a 10 m satellite map
Points
Every 100 m along the main route; each takes the most common class within 30 m, so the path itself doesn't count as bare ground
Groups
Its eleven classes, folded into the six shown
Keep in mind
What the landscape looks like, not which plants grow there

Sleeping

Wild camping is prohibited. Camp only at the permitted sites (Laguna Toro, Paso del Viento, Bahía de los Témpanos); camping at the Paso Huemul is forbidden. Fires are strictly forbidden and a stove is required.

20 km without a bedCamping15Huts1Hostels30Rooms11Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 40 km64.2 km

Places to sleep along the route

Ticks
One per place to sleep: 15 campsites, 1 huts, 30 hostels, 11 guest houses
Counted
Within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end (stage towns often lie off the trail); no hotels or day shelters
Shaded
The longest stretch without any, km 44.1–64.1
Source
OpenStreetMap: it may miss places or list closed ones, so book or check locally

Water & Supply

Clean water

This trail
20 km without clean water, km 44.1–64.1, stage 4
Rating
  1. Frequentup to 10 km
  2. Regularup to 20 km
  3. Scarcebeyond
Counted
Within 500 m: 4 taps, fountains and drinking springs, 2 places to sleep with drinking water, 7 refills at huts, hostels, guest houses and campsites
Refills
Guests come first and many close out of season: ask, and carry a little extra. Places marked without drinking water are left out
Source
OpenStreetMap; the counts include the approach and variant, the chart shows the main route

20kmRegular

Any water

This trail
20 km without any water, km 44.1–64.1
Rating
  1. Frequentup to 10 km
  2. Regularup to 20 km
  3. Scarcebeyond
Counted
Clean water, plus the 0 springs within 500 m
Keep in mind
Spring water's quality is unknown: filter, boil or treat it, and expect some springs to run dry in late summer

20kmRegular

Shops

This trail
63.5 km without a shop, km 0.6–64.1
Counted
15 supermarkets, convenience and general stores and petrol station shops, within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end
Keep in mind
Small village shops are often missing in OpenStreetMap, and opening hours vary: check before relying on one

63.5km
Water · 20 km withoutPublic drinking water · 25.6 km withoutSprings (treat before drinking) · 64.2 km withoutRefills at places to sleep · 20.5 km withoutShops · 63.5 km withoutSupermarkets · 64.1 km withoutConvenience and general stores · 63.5 km withoutStage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 40 km64.2 km

Water and shops along the route

Ticks
One per place along the main route
Counted
Drinking water and springs within 500 m; refills at huts, hostels, guest houses and campsites within 500 m; shops within 1 km, or 3 km of a stage's end
Shaded
Each lane's longest stretch without. "Water" counts every kind and opens into one lane per kind, each with its own
Source
OpenStreetMap: it may miss places or list ones that have closed or run dry, so check locally

Wildlife

Wildlife

Shows
Animals that can be dangerous to hikers on this trail: large animals, venomous snakes, scorpions and spiders, ticks, and plants that harm on touch
Level
Ours, read from the official source
High
A bite of a species it calls common can be life-threatening within hours
Moderate
It warns of attacks or serious harm, or places the trail in a risk area for tick-borne encephalitis
Low
The harm is mostly minor or treatable, or avoidable by how you behave
What to do
From the official source: APN, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares
Pictures
Silhouettes from PhyloPic, not to scale, each maker named with its advice; the landscape is the trail's own, drawn by us

Puma Low

Puma

Low danger

The APN names the puma, Patagonia's largest predator, among the north zone's native fauna and says what to do when you meet one; encounters are rare.

If you meet one

  • If it looks aggressive, raise your arms and yell

Don't

  • Run or turn your back to him

Advice: APN, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Level: ours. Silhouette: Margot Michaud (Puma concolor), PhyloPic, public domain.