[[Archivo:Perfil-greater-patagonian-trail.png|thumb|center|1050px|Greater Patagonian Trail profile. The name of the tracks are shown at the extreme left of each one. Click to enlarge]]
==Trail Types==
[[Archivo:GPT02-P0063.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Greater Patagonian Trail Section 2: Laguna Dial. Image: Jan Dudeck]]
When planning the Greater Patagonian Trail the first choice were the hiking or horse trails that traverse the remote valleys and mountain passes in the heart of the Andes close to the border between Chile and Argentina. Most of these trails are created and maintained by local herdsmen to drive animals to their summer pastures.
The second choice were unused or rarely travelled dirt roads. Such often neglected roads typically provide access to isolated settlements or villages without atracting any transit traffic. Some of these roads are not maintained anymore and not accessible by vehicle but passable for hikers.
In some areas the Greater Patagonian Trail crosses through open terrain without a visible trail. Some of these cross-country parts lead through steep and exposed terrain but do not require technical climbing. The cross-country routes also do not pass very dense vegetation and can be hiked without a machete to cut a trail. Valdivian and Magellanic temperate rainforests is very dense and is not suitable for hiking cross-country.
Public roads with transit traffic were avoided wherever possible. Paved roads were the last choice of all.
In the Chilean River- and Lake-District the Greater Patagonian Trail incorporates one river downstream float and several lakes crossings with a [[#Packraft|packraft]]. If not carrying such a light-weight inflatable boat all these water sections can be bypassed on foot, by ferry or with private boat transfers.
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2" | Trail Type
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Hiking Option
! style="text-align: left;" " colspan="2" | Packraft Option
! style="text-align: left;" " rowspan="2"| Comment
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | Distance
! style="text-align: left;" | Percentage
! style="text-align: left;" | Distance
! style="text-align: left;" | Percentage
|-
| Minor Dirt Road
| -
| -
| 532 km
| 40.6%
| No or light traffic only. Can also be an abandoned road or a private road that is not open for public use.
|-
| Hiking or Horse Trail
| -
| -
| 486 km
| 37.1%
| Mostly visible trail on any terrain.
|-
| Lake (Packraft)
| -
| -
| 95 km
| 7.3%
| Lake crossing with packraft. Alternative options are available if not carrying a packraft.
|-
| Mayor Dirt Road
| -
| -
| 83 km
| 6.3%
| Public dirt roads with moderate traffic.
|-
| Cross Country
| -
| -
| 73 km
| 5.6%
| Track that pases through open landscape without a visisble trail.
|-
| To be verified
| -
| -
| 15 km
| 1.2%
| Remains to be hiked and recorded by GPS to update the trail file. Alternative option available if not in explorers mood.
|-
| River (Packraft)
| -
| -
| 15 km
| 1.1%
| River downstream float. Alternative hiking options are available if not carrying a packraft.
|-
| Paved Road
| -
| -
| 11 km
| 0.8%
| Only few shorter segments at the start or finish of a sections.
|-
| Complete Trail
| -
| -
| 1500 km
| 100.0%
| -
|}
==Expected Duration==
