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Photos of Patagonia to Inspire a Hiking Trip

Leigh McAdam··6 min read
Hiking the O Circuit
Hiking the O Circuit

I’ve been drooling over photos of Patagonia, particularly Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks for a couple of decades – long before they became hot spots. Both parks are busy now, especially the W Circuit in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park.

I hope these 30 photos of Patagonia – all in Torres del Paine National Park, inspire a trip on your part. Fortunately for us the first four days on the O Circuit are quiet, at least in comparison. I feel lucky to have visited both parks – but what a lot of work it is to organize this end of the world experience. I understand now why people book tours.

John and I traveled with two unrelated friends, Judy and Scot, and spent a total of 9 days of hiking, one day of sightseeing in Punta Arenas and the better part of five days either flying or getting around in Patagonia – as distances are big and buses are the easiest way to go. We finished the 20 day trip at a lodge on the delta northwest of Buenos Aires.

Patagonia can throw a lot of rotten weather your way, especially as it relates to wind. We were pretty darned lucky with a surprising amount of sunshine and light drizzle on only a couple of days. We did get crazy wind at times but it could have been a lot worse.

Keep expectations in check on the hike

If you plan to hike, I would recommend keeping your expectations in check in relation to seeing the classic sights. Low clouds often block the epic views you may have come for. I know they did for us on the spur to the Britanico Viewpoint and the weather was crappy in the early morning on the last day when we should have been on the trail to see the towers.

But none of us left disappointed. What we did see each and every day was truly exceptional. When I look back I can’t even pick a favourite day – a favourite campsite yes – but there were too many high points throughout the eight day trek to choose one day over the other.

Both parks both offer a truly world-class experience with Torres del Paine the better choice for a multi-day hike and Los Glaciares for day hikes (though there is a three-day one you could do).

Read: Everything You Need to Know to do the Torres del Paine Trek

Photos of Patagonia at the check in station for the O circuit
Whether you’re doing the W or the O trek enjoy this view from the check-in station in the park
Photos of Patagonia leaving Seron Campground on route to Dickson Campground
Leaving Seron Campground on route to Dickson Campground
Superb mountain and glacier scenery on the way to Dickson Campground
Superb mountain and glacier scenery on the way to Dickson Campground
Photos of Patagonia on the O Circuit
Fall starts early on the O Circuit
Hiking towards Dickson Campground
Hiking towards Dickson Campground
Photo s of Patagonia on the way to Los Perros Campground
Beautiful forest walking on the way to Los Perros Campground
What a mountain backdrop for this interesting vegetation
Glacier viewpoint, just a 15 minute walk from Los Perros Campground
Glacier viewpoint, just a 15 minute walk from Los Perros Campground
The Ashy-headed goose
The Ashy-headed goose
Heading up the John Gardner Pass
Heading up the John Gardner Pass – it’s never that steep so you can keep a pretty steady pace going up
The view of the Grey Glacier from the John Gardner Pass
The view of the Grey Glacier from the John Gardner Pass
It's a very steep descent off the pass once you're into the trees
It’s a very steep descent off the pass once you’re into the trees
The Grey Glacier is in constant view for hours
The Grey Glacier is in constant view for hours
We have a couple of long, bouncy suspension bridges to cross to get to the Grey Campground
xceptionally beautiful hiking in view of Grey Lake
Exceptionally beautiful hiking in view of Grey Lake
Hiking just steps away from the Grey Glacier
Hiking just steps away from the Grey Glacier
Crossing one of the suspension bridges
Our friend Scot on the suspension bridge
Where Grey Glacier meets Grey Lake
Where the Grey Glacier meets Grey Lake
The woods are open and very beautiful on the last part of the trail to Grey Campground
The woods are open and very beautiful on the last part of the trail to Grey Campground
Sporting the wind-blown look on the way to Italiano Campground
Photos of Patagonia with some of the quintessential tower scenery on the way to Italiano Campground
Photos of Patagonia with a taste of tower scenery in Torres del Paine National Park
A taste of tower scenery in Torres del Paine National Park
The best we could do for a view at the Frances Lookout though we did see many avalanches
The best we could do for a view at the Frances Lookout though we did see many avalanches
Photos of Patagonia includes this Patagonia mountain finch
It’s either the Sierra mountain finch or the Patagonia mountain finch
While it was disappointing to be socked in, it was also an excuse to have an easier day so we turned back at the Frances Viewpoint and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon
Loved this patch of flowers we came across
Loved this patch of flowers we came across
Couldn't get enough of this lake on the hike to Chileno
Couldn’t get enough of this lake on the hike to Chileno Campground
One of the few photos of the four of us - still smiling on day 7
One of the few photos of the four of us – still smiling on day 7
Hiking up towards Chileno through the wildflowers
Hiking up towards Chileno through the wildflowers
Photos of Patagonia on the pretty route up towards the Chileno campground
It’s a pretty though windy route on the final approach to the Chileno campground
Photos of Patagonia of the last suspension bridge on the O Circuit
Photos of Patagonia showing the last suspension bridge on the O Circuit
And we're finished the O Circuit
And we’re finished the O Circuit with the wind blowing hard – and lots of dust

Further reading on South America

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

The O Circuit in Patagonia in photos

 

 

 

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