The Río Eléctrico bridge, where the Piedra del Fraile trail begins

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On foot
By van · 15,6 km

Eléctrico Valley and Piedra del Fraile

The north face of Fitz Roy, up the valley hardly anyone walks

distance: 14.2 km
elevation gain: +150 m
highest point: 541 m
duration: 6 to 7 h
difficulty: Moderate

Trail conditions: Take care · today

BookUSD 250

Stretch by stretch

The trail cut into stretches, measured on the track. Tap one to see it on the map and the profile.

On foot
By van

6.8 km · height 448 a 543 m

Approximate route: the OpenStreetMap trail up the Río Eléctrico valley to Piedra del Fraile. In blue, the transfer from town.

The numbers

Measured on the OpenStreetMap route (approximate), with heights from the Copernicus GLO-30 model.

Walking: 14.2km
Transfer by vehicle: 15.6km
Total ascent: +150m
Total descent: −150m
Lowest point: 449 m
Highest point: 541 m
Steepest stretch: 3 %average grade over 1 km
Steeper than 15 %: 0 km
Walking time: 6 to 7 h
Difficulty: Moderate

The trek

From the same bridge where everyone starts for Laguna de los Tres, we go the other way: up the Río Eléctrico valley, no big climbs and no crowds.

We take the transfer to the Río Eléctrico bridge, 16 km from town on route 41. There we leave the Los Tres trail and walk west along the river, through tall lenga forest. With luck, a Magellanic woodpecker shows up.

The Piedra del Fraile sign by the bridge · Photo: rodoluca, CC BY-SA 3.0

The valley opens and suddenly, on the left, there is Fitz Roy from a side few people see: the north face, with the Mermoz and Guillaumet spires. Ahead, the Marconi range and its glacier.

We reach Piedra del Fraile, a mountain refuge by the river, the old climbers’ route to the Southern Ice Field. We have lunch there and walk back the same way to the bridge. About 14 km, almost flat.

How the day goes

Transfer to the Río Eléctrico bridge
Río Eléctrico valley and lenga forest
The north face of Fitz Roy
Piedra del Fraile
Back the same way

Wind on the way

It is the first thing we check in the morning. Town can be calm while the lake is blowing hard, so we show both heights.

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Eléctrico Valley and Piedra del Fraile: questions

How far do you walk?

About 14.2 km there and back from the Río Eléctrico bridge, almost flat: 150 m of climbing in all. 6 to 7 hours with the transfer.

Can you go? Is it private land?

Yes. The valley is outside the National Park and the trail crosses private land that lets walkers through. Piedra del Fraile is a private refuge: we confirm when you book whether it charges for access that day.

What do you see?

The north face of Fitz Roy, the Mermoz and Guillaumet spires, the Marconi range and its glacier, and the tall lenga forest of the valley.

What is included?

A mountain guide, in Spanish or English, the transfer to the Río Eléctrico bridge and back, and a VHF radio.

Is it hard?

There are no big climbs, but it is about 14 km. You need to be able to walk 5 or 6 hours at an easy pace.

The best hikes in El Chaltén · 2 to 5-day itineraries · When to visit El Chaltén · The National Park and its fee · How to get to El Chaltén · Short hikes

Photos

Lenga forest with Fitz Roy behind, on the way

What happens when you book

The full policy →

01Written confirmationYour place is confirmed once we receive payment and send you the confirmation.
02Meeting point and timeThey come with the confirmation. Depending on the trek, we meet in town or pick you up.
03What to bringWe send you the list: hiking boots with good grip, warm layers, a waterproof jacket, water and food.
04If the weather says noThe guide decides. If we cannot go, we move you to the next date or give you credit for another trek.
05If you need to cancel30 days or more before: full refund; 15 to 29 days: 50%; under 15 days: no refund.

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