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→Season 2025/26
==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'''
*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