Mountain hut in Bariloche

Hiking is one of the most widespread adventure activities in the Nahuel Huapi National Park. The network of enabled paths and mountain refuges make up their own destination to connect with nature, since many visitors come especially to tour the network of refuges and the locals usually recommend them. The natural environment receives thousands of walkers every year.

When preparing the departure, it is essential to complete the trekking record of the national park and check the weather conditions. Another recommendation is to choose a shelter that, given its difficulty, is according to the physical conditions of each one.

Agostino Rocca Refuge (Paso de las Nubes)

It is one of the newest shelters, opened in 2012. The name is due to the founder of Techint, who regularly visited the mountain. The hike begins in Pampa Linda and runs several kilometers along the Castaño Overa River and the Alerce stream. The terrain has little slope, until the area called Caracol, where the effort increases a little. The last stretch is quite flat until you reach the refuge.

Built with modern techniques, this refuge has all the comforts and capacity for 80 people, distributed in 10 rooms. It has a restaurant and kitchen to prepare your own food.

The views are privileged and you can see the hills Constitución, Parque, Tronador, the Frías glacier and the valley of the Alerce and Frías rivers. From the refuge there are short trails, such as the Paseo de las Cascadas, and others that require more experience such as the crossing to Laguna Ilón. 

• Difficulty: medium-low
• Distance: 14.3 km
• Gradient: 530 m
• Walking time: 4 to 6 hours
• Season: November to April

Berghof Refuge (Cerro Otto)

Berghof was the home of a pioneer from Bariloche, Don Otto Meiling, one of the founders of the CAB. Therefore, part of the walk is the old house and ski factory converted into a museum. It is the closest refuge to the urban center, which can be reached in several ways: by car, walking from the upper station of the Cerro Otto Cable Car,by the picada that begins at kilometer 4.8 of Los Pioneros Avenue, below the towers of the Cable Car.

It is a daytime destination, quite accessible to enjoy with the family. It has a dining room and several nights a year music and gastronomy cycles are organized. 

It can be combined with the walk to the Habsburg Stone, which starts from the rotating confectionery and goes into a wide and well-marked path.

• Difficulty: medium-low
• Distance: 6 km
• Gradient: 600 m
• Walking time: 2 to 3 hours
• Season: all year round

Frey Refuge (Toncek Lagoon)

This refuge is one of the busiest, especially for backpackers and climbers attracted by the needles of the Frey and the surrounding rock towers that surround the Toncek lagoon at 1700 meters above sea level. It is a perfect destination for lovers of sport climbing. Inaugurated in 1957, it is named after the engineer Emilio Frey, linked to the Boundary Commission and Perito Moreno. He was another of the managers of the CAB and also mayor of the National Park.

It can be accessed from the Cerro Catedral ski center, which is the most traditional trail,the park ranger section of Lake Gutierrez, by the so-called Slovenian bite, which takes a little more effort. The shelter is open all year round and has the capacity to house 35 people. 

One of the most frequent crossings is the connection with the San Martín refuge, with incredible landscapes between mountains and important slopes. In this case, it is advisable to have experience and good physical condition.

• Difficulty: medium
• Distance: 10 km
• Gradient: 700 m
• Walking time: 4 to 6 hours
• Season: all year round

Lopez Refuge

In Circuito Chico the picada is born to the López refuge, next to the homonymous stream, one of the most chosen by walkers, since it can be done in the day and the best panoramic views of the Nahuel Huapi are obtained. The hill was baptized by Francisco P. Moreno, in homage to Vicente López y Planes, the author of the national anthem. The trail passes through forests and shrubby areas, has several steep slopes, borders and crosses the stream and cuts the snails of the car road. 

The prize for the constant march is the great view of the national park, the Tristeza arm of Lake Nahuel Huapi and Cerro Capilla, among others. It is the largest shelter with capacity to accommodate up to 100 people.

From the parador you can continue and ascend to La Hoya, which preserves snow all year round. Another option is to take different journeys to other shelters, whose routes are more technical.

• Difficulty: medium-low
• Distance: 4 km
• Gradient: 1300 m
• Walking time: 3 to 4 hours
• Season: November to April

Refugio Italia "Manfredo Segre" (Black Lagoon)

Opened in 1969, the parador is named after an Italian in love with Bariloche. Better known as Laguna Negra, the path to this refuge begins passing Colonia Suiza, before crossing the Goye stream. It is a long road, quite accessible at first, bordering the stream, but with greater demand in the upper part, the so-called snails, just before reaching the refuge. Several forests, mallines and canyons are crossed. After the last steep climb, nature gives a panoramic view of the Black Lagoon at 1620 meters above sea level, at the foot of Cerro Negro.

It has the capacity to accommodate 45 visitors, with a kitchen for personal use and a restaurant. It is an unparalleled experience for mountain lovers, especially because of the attention paid by the shelters.

You can connect with the Lopez refugethe circuit of the 5 lagoons and descent to Pampa Linda, only for expertswith a mountain guide.

• Difficulty: medium
• Distance: 14 km
• Gradient: 800 m
• Walking time: 5 to 7 hours
• Season: November to April

Otto Meiling Refuge (Cerro Tronador)

In the park ranger section of Pampa Linda the trail begins. After crossing the Castaño Overa River, the path ascends the slope of the Tronador to the refuge. This destination is an operational base for many excursions in the context of the hill and glaciers, at 2000 meters above sea level, such as the crossing to the old Tronador refugethe ascent to the La Motte edge.

It has capacity for about 60 people, with kitchen and wide range of dishes. From downtown Bariloche, transportation to Pampa Linda departs daily in spring and summer.

It can be connected to the Agostino Rocca refuge, door to door, crossing the Alerce glacier. This tour between refuges takes about 4 hours, with incredible views of the Frías and Alerce glacier valleys.

• Difficulty: medium
• Distance: 14 km
• Gradient: 1050 m
• Walking time: 5 to 7 hours
• Season: November to April

Refugio Gral. San Martín (Jakob)

The original construction was from 1952, but a fire consumed it in 2017, and it was rebuilt. Its name is General San Martín, although it is popularly known as Jakob, in honor of the professor and explorer Dr. Christofredo Jakob, who was a frequent visitor to the Tronador and Pampa Linda area. 

The bite begins on Route 79 to Colonia Suiza, at the entrance known as Tambo de Báez. It runs along the bed of the Casa de Piedra stream until you reach the refuge, on the shores of the Jakob lagoon, at 1600 meters above sea level. The shelter can accommodate about 60 people with different meal options.

From there you can take a short walk to the Témpanos lagoon, continue to the Laguna Negra refugeconnect with Los Césares on the shores of Lake Mascardi. This last trail is quite long, ideal to do in 2 days.

• Difficulty: medium-low
• Distance: 18 km
• Gradient: 800 m
• Walking time: 4 to 6 hours
• Season: all year round

Laguna Ilón Refuge

It shares the first meters with the beginning of the road to the Otto Meiling refuge, at the base of Pampa Linda. It is a quiet march to the bridge over the Alerce River and continues with a steeper climb. After crossing a lenga forest, you reach the refuge on the shores of the Ilón lagoon, about 1380 meters above sea level. 

The overnight stay is deployed in domes with capacity for 30 people and in camping sites. From the lagoon you can reach a viewpoint located 4 km away, called "Doctor's Look",connect with the Creton lagoon, a path of high difficulty.

• Difficulty: medium
• Distance: 8 km
• Gradient: 600 m
• Walking time: 4 to 5 hours
• Season: all year round

Neumeyer Refuge (Cerro Challhuaco)

In the valley of Challhuaco, you can live the experience of a mountain refuge, reconditioned with domes, after the original construction of 1971 was destroyed by a fire. It can be reached by car, enjoy the gastronomy in prepared spaces and leave for different guided walks. They are trails of little difficulty for all audiences. 

The valley is a Strict National Reserve, a region inhabited by a microendemic species of amphibian, the Challhuaco frog. Therefore, the places to walk are demarcated in favor of the care of this species, especially the path that leads to Laguna Verde.

In summer it is possible to stay in the eco-dormis and enjoy a dinner and guided walk with flashlights.

Tips

The Intendancy of the Nahuel Huapi National Park and the Club Andino Bariloche remind that it is mandatory to carry out the Trekking Registration before traveling any authorized trail.

Registration is free and aims to receive information in the event of an accident, to be able to carry out a safe and effective evacuationrescue operation. Since it is mandatory, both for residents and tourists, anyone who does not register may be liable to be infringed and fined.