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==Season 2025/26==
''' GPT23/2026-01-18 to 2026-01-21/4 days/ SOBO/Variant A-RR-O7-O6-RR-variant E/Denis, Robert '''
We tried to get some information in Lago Puelo about Fires, but nobody could tell us anything. We slept in camping close to the back entrance to park (12 000 pesos). So we started with variant A, close to the reconnecting to RR was last water until Rio Epuyén. During the first day we smelled a strong smoke smell and all the valleys were weakly visible. At km 6 there is sign saying, Turn around, trail is closed due to maintenance. We kept going and there were some fallen trees and bushes so we proceeded slower and we lost the trail few times, but it wasn’t too bad, blue and white marking pretty often helped a lot( bush difficulty 3/5).
At camping Desemboque we got an advice to get to lago Cholila by Option07 and Option 06 to skip the fires on RR and to avoid fallen trees. It supposed to be visible trail for whole time. We didn’t pay any entry fees there.
Traverse of Lago Puelo is nice trail and we slept in camping El Turbio for free.
On day 2 we started with Option 07, but on 2,2 km we got off the GPX line because we followed nice trail instead. At S 42.258726° W 71.668491° there is junction, first we went to the left uphill, but at the very top when we supposed to go down, we lost the trail completely and we didn’t see signs of any trail going down only uphill. So we decide to get back to junction and go straight instead and it led us to GPX line on perfect trail. From here we followed some Track from Wikiloc (I really recommend it, because GPT track is not realistic, just straight lines). Then the trail was kind a fine, sometimes slightly overgrown (bush difficulty 1/5) until S 42.324736° W 71.682444°. Then the bushy part started until we got out of the Forest. (Bush difficulty 3/5).
We camped in the pass with beautiful view on Cerro Tres picos.
Day 3 started on meadows for 500 m but then we lost the trail completely, I believe there is no trail at all. We just kept going down easiest way but after 1 km it got extremely dense and slow (bush difficulty 4/5). From here S 42.365487° W 71.698956°, we decided to bail on navigation and we only wanted to stay in river, because it was the easiest way how to get down.
One more bushy part starting S 42.370382° W 71.694247° for 400 meters through burned trees. And then again in river. In total we forded the river 42 times until we got on great trail for last 5 km until we joined the road.
We have done 23 section on GPT and this was the most challenging part so far, because of intensity but mostly because of long duration of bushes and slow progress and difficult navigation. We planned to do option 7 and 6 in one day but it took us 2 days instead.
Because of fires we couldn’t get to section 24 so we finished in Town Cholila and we have to hike around the fires on road RP15 and RN15, to join the GPT again in Trevelin.
Attractiveness 3/5
Difficulty 5/5
* <span style="background-color:red;">'''2025-12-06 / Daniel.s'''</span>
!!! AS OF 2025-12-05 THE SOUTHERN PART OF LAGO PUELO - INCLUDING RIO TURBIO AREA AND CERRO PLATAFORMA - ARE CLOSED FOR PUBLIC ACCESS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - DUE TO A FOREST FIRE !!!
Check local news for updates!
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2025-12-06 to 2025-12-7 / 1 day / Packrafting / SOBO / RP / Daniel.s'''</span>
Due to the closure of the Rio Turbio and Cerro Plataforma area I took a Colectivo from El Bolson (elbolsonguia.com.ar/transporte/colectivos/) to Cholila and hitchhiked to the nearest access to Rio Carrileufu (-42.504795, -071.523069) where I camped ("Agrocamping" next to the road, no facilities, 5K ARS, ask lady 200m up the road towards Lago Cholila). Next day I paddled the river all the way to Lago Rivadavia to continue with GPT 24. The river is very easy, no significant dangers.
==Season 2024/25==
* '''2025-03-17 to 2025-03-23 / 7 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR plus La Plataforma OH2 / Dorota'''
I decided to enjoy this section and I walked it very slowly. Lakes, rivers, and forests where there is almost no one. The cherry on top is the exceptional La Plataforma.
Day 1:
From the village of Lago Puelo, I walk on asphalt to the lake. There, I follow the Huella Andina path marked with white and blue signs. The path is visible up to 8.5 km. Then, sometimes I get lost, and on the descent to the river, there is a bit of bushwalking. The hike is made difficult by a very strong wind. But it does not rain. Overnight by the river -42.14145, -71.59334, 2 km before el desemboque.
Day 2:
A beautiful sunny day, but cold in the morning. The next section leads along a comfortable path through the forest. It is deserted by the lake, and I do not see a guard. The signpost informs that the summit of La Plataforma is 22 km from the lake. There are also signposts to La Plataforma along the way. Overnight stay by the El Turbio river -42.26096, -71.72069.
Day 3:
The path is still visible. Overnight stay in a designated place with a campfire -42.26096, -71.72069, just before the approach. There is a house nearby, but there was no one there. In the evening, three little pigs from a nearby farm came. They entered the tent and tried to take my food.
Day 4:
The approach begins on a clearly visible path. I pass the skeleton of the refugio, and a kilometer further, I come across a lake. I pitch my tent there.
Day 5
I spend the whole day on La Plataforma. An amazing place. The path from the refugio sometimes gets lost. I follow the horse tracks, which do not always match the track. At the final approach to the cliff, there are red-letter P markings on the stones. At the top, I meet a German tour group with a nice Argentinian guide. I climb up next to the Titanic-shaped La Plataforma peak. Night in the same place.
Day 6:
A day of bushwalking. I go down to the refugio and from there I follow a visible path. When I come across meadows, I walk almost parallel through the forest on a path. When the path turns right with the river, I go down to the second lake and catch the track. On the way I come across a nice lake. When the trail goes down, I walk mainly on the path. However, after crossing the river, bushwalking begins. Only every now and then I find a path, but I thought it would be worse. Then I find myself on the path again, when the trail turns left. I climb through the bushes to a house on the other side of the river. I wanted to buy some food, my supplies were dwindling. Belen comes out and gives me cereal and apples. At the same time, she informs me that these are private areas and even where the track goes, tourists are not welcome and you have to ask for permission. I pitch my tent a km further on. The river level is up to mid-calf.
Day 7:
A long day with an easy route to Cholila with a stop at the lake. The rivers are very shallow, up to mid-calf. At the lake, I meet Juliette and Luciano, who invite me for a mat and a meal. Overnight at the Piuke Mapu hostel (-42.51401, -71.43513), 20,000 ars per night, 5,000 ars for laundry. Cozy place, I'm completely alone here. In the village shop (-42.51284, -71.43260), pharmacy, ATM (-42.50941, -71.43159), tourist information.
*'''2025-JAN-31 to 2025-FEB-4 / 5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Ivan, Jakub, Daniel, Martina'''
A beautiful and moderately challenging section that showcases a stunning Lago Palena and its surrounding area, featuring the meandering Río Turbio. The newly established trail around Cerro Plataforma can be somewhat difficult to recognize in places, but overall, it’s very pleasant.
Challenges: The main challenge in this section is navigation on the overgrown trail. After the fire in 2015, the vegetation in the section from [8.5/730] to [14.1/205] has been rapidly recovering, making the trail less visible in the landscape. We got lost several times. The same applies to the section from [50.6/1325] to [59.8/738]. Expect to proceed at a slower pace in these areas.
Bivouacing: There are plenty of beautiful spots to camp along the entire route. We particularly recommend a location by the Lake, Port {23} [16.6/196]. It offers a lovely view of the lake, a flat area, and a table with benches. We even met a ranger from the national park there, who was very nice and only interested in our journey and hiking gear. He also emphasized the strict prohibition of campfires. Another nice camping spot with views and by a stream is located at -42.30499, -71.76827 (marked as a camp icon on OSM maps). For a fee of 10,000 ARS, you can also camp at Camp $ {23-09} [0.5/543], where there’s also the option to purchase some basic food and drinks.
Water: No problem; the trail frequently crosses streams or rivers.
Resupply:
1) In Lago Puelo, there is a very good supermarket called Todo, where you can stock up well and pay by card.
2) Camp $ {23-09} [0.5/543] (more info above).
3) Villa Lago Rivadavia has a small shop {23} [107.4/541] with all the essentials. However, you cannot pay by card there.
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2025-01-29 to 2025-02-02 / 5 days / Packrafting / SOBO/ RP, Option 02 and a new loop extension of it, info on option 04 / Tomáš&Natalie'''</span>
Ferry {23} [85.9/530] exists and works. It is some metal fixed road contraption meant for cars. Not sure how it works. Its ropes obstruct the way but can be avoided on the right. Beware when it moves! Camp $ {23} [90.0/536] wants 7000 ARG for a day stay. You do not need to go through it to leave the river there, there is a public road. At eleven, we got strong wind with rain that made even going down the river almost impossible, so we stopped paddling (gusts of 65 km/h were predicted, local said 90 km/h). OSM knows two restaurants in Villa Lago Rivadavia: Ruta Kitai is posher, more expensive (main courses 20mil+) and kicks dirty packrafters out after two hours. Pilarica Lodge was cheaper, a bit less fancy, set menu for 20 thousand. No Claro internet, good free wifi here: -42.56219, -71.59596. The two supermarkets in town were sufficient for Thijmen and Nat, but for as picky a person as I am, it was better to hitch to Cholila, plus it is mostly cash-only in Ridadavia. Cholila had gas cartridges in the petrol station, a proper bakery and fruit shop and a bigger supermarket. There was a national grilling day (fiesta de asado?), which takes place on the weekend at the beginning of February - something to consider if you are into such things, Cholila was super crowded. Thirty carcasses being grilled at the same time is not to everyone's taste, though. Hitching back was harder, 90 minutes, 60 km and 50 cars.
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2025-01-29 to 2025-02-01 / 4 days / Packrafting / SOBO / RP+plataforma / Thijmen Scholten'''</span>
==Season 2021/22==
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2022-01-05 to 2022-01-11 / 7 days / Packrafting/ SOBO/ RP, what is in 2025 Option 7 / Mikhail Bogdanov&Masha Ovchinnikova'''</span>
Spoiler: Trail steel in very bad condition.
Recommend:
- satellite map in good resolution (river, any river's feeders, couloir, ravines - very helpful);
- no heavy backpacks;
- neoprene socks 2-3mm for long & cold river walks;
- no leggings (thorny bushes).
Hi! It's my 1st post here. Sorry for my English and for visual points - haven't PC now (can't export my tracks from Garmin).
We had full equipped and experience for WW packrafting/rescue (plan - scout rapids/portage of Rio Frey GPT25P)
Get started on Rio Azul near camping Puelo Rústico
https://maps.app.goo.gl/784hgD2TAvatH5bs8
Area Lago Puelo:
1. Lower Rio Azul: be careful then main stream of the river goes under the branches of trees.
2. Relax paddling in ideal weather is 5h00m for cross lake.
3. Settler {23} [27.5/202] (42°13′43.82′′ S 71°40′05.95′′ W) is house of rangers. We met friendly ranger. Easy registration and recommended for us Option 1 - Rio Derrumbe to Lago Cholila. Sayed it took 4-5 days and need send him SMS then finish.
Option 1 (Rio Derrumbe):
4. First 7km ideal horses trail. 3 Gates, 1 house.
5. Next 4km 20-40% move up on river's water and sometimes bad trail. In this area no problem with find place for camp.
6. When river splits need to resume right on stream of feeder(!) Rio Derrumbe. We find trail, whose move up to Rio Derrumbe. Understand our mistake after we gained altitude 30-50m higher feeder. Traverse back on feeder via bushes of old bamboo spent much energy. Not recommend it!
7. Back on feeder of Rio Derrumbe starts blockages of wood on river. 80+% of 3km moves up in cold water.
Bush-bashing:
8. When GPT23 Option 1 end, we dropped our backpacks in Camp {23} [45.0/1005] and spent next 1/3 day for scout.
In bushes near camp we find fresh wooden cuts trail (S 42.326167° W 71.691081°). Very wide. Look like trail for cows. Didn't know. But in 350m trail end (S 42.327150° W 71.693988°). 50m before couloir: start really bush-bashing required machete. Any attempts to find new wooden cuts was failed. But after couloir we find easy bush-bashing way, there no need machete. S 42°19.6970' W 71°41.7178' 100m bushing on West and start good coniferous forest. Before back to river, we had 50m bush-bashing.
9. Paso gives options for climbing to Cerro Tres Picos in good weather. Will take 1-2 days.
Down from paso we find old (maybe dry) river's stream. Then resume move down river's water.
10. 42°21′18.22′′ S 71°42′20.16′′ W trail goes up in bamboo bushes on left side of river. Detour mini canyon of river. Don't miss it.
Most hard part for us:
11. After back on river route seems easy and thought we would get next 5km in 2-3 hours and reach Camp {23} [54.3/933]. Haha! We got this Camp only next day.
12. When river go in next mini canyon on trail start bush-bashing with big area of blockages of wood 42°22′03.03′′ S 71°41′54.50′′ W We made short scout. And didn't find any option when go near river. Sometimes we dropped our backpacks, hugged and saids: "we could do it".
Now I thinking, that we didn't find better way to detour this blockages of wood. I recommend spent time to scout this part of trail without backpacks.
After 200-300m it was end. All took 2,5-3 hours. We was happy resume move down on cold water of river. 42°22.1355' S 71°41.8298' W
13. Next mini canyon of river easy detour on right up hill with burnt forest and young bamboo. Must be careful then moove down of hill - cliff break.
14. After hill find fresh trail in bamboo bushes 42°22.3894' S 71°41.4524' W But after 400m lost trail and moved down to river by dry small feeder about 100m.
15. We reach Camp {23} [54.3/933], split backpack with packrafts and went to scout. Find trail on right side of river.
Next 10km:
16. Trail start often used. Less fords. Little problem with wooden blockages in burnt forest. One new gate.
Lago Cholila, Rio Carrileufu:
17. After hard tracking it's really relax paddle. Upper speed of Rio Carrileufu average 7km/h. Middle, Lower 3km/h.
Be careful then main stream of the river goes under the branches of trees.
18. No bread, frutas, vegetables in shop (La Negra) in Villa Lago Rivadavia.
Taken from: https://web.facebook.com/groups/222224388283455/posts/1272265576612659/
==Season 2020/21==
*The closest resupply option is the small town of Cholila. The largest grocery store here, which takes credit cards, is located in a building a block off the central park with “Autoservicos” written on the side. There are several smaller stores that offer snacks, a couple of ferreterías (hardware stores), good restaurants, and lodging/camping options.
*La Anonima supermarket in El Bolson.* In El Bolsón there are (at least) two great options for buying foods that are ideal for hiking (seeds, nuts, flours, etc.): El Molino Tienda Naturista and Nutriverde. They both have an excellent selection of foods and at the latter you can buy different seeds, flours, nuts, etc. unpackaged (i.e. you weigh how much you want to buy which is ideal).
*Epuyen has a few small shops & a cafe
*There is a good shop 3KM outside Cholila just before the new paved RP71 joins the old gravel RP71