Huemul Circuit

^{Photo Credit: Walk Patagonia}

The Huemul Circuit near El Chaltén in Argentine Patagonia is not your average trail.

This four-day loop covers around 40 miles (64 km) and takes you through some seriously wild and remote landscapes—think glacier views, crazy mountain passes, and big stretches of untouched wilderness.

The first day isn’t too bad, just a long hike through forests and open valleys until you reach the first campsite at Laguna Toro.

But from day two on, things get real.

You have to cross rivers (one with a pulley system!), scramble up windy passes, and navigate some pretty sketchy terrain. The views from Paso del Viento are insane. You're looking straight out over the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

This isn’t a beginner’s hike, you need to be confident with a map and compass and ready for any kind of weather. But if you’re up for an adventure and don’t mind getting a little uncomfortable, the Huemul Circuit is seriously epic.

Explore more:

• Patagonia’s Lesser Known Backpacking Gem (article)

• Huemul - Patagonia’s Best Loop Nobody Does (video)