This trek begins halfway up the route to the Arakur Hotel from Route 3 (call this stretch Héroes de Malvinas).

 

For reference where it is located the place to leave the car parked we can say that from the road on the way to the hotel Arakur we go about 2.1 km to where the road curves sharply to the right. There's  room to leave vehicles parked.

 

The trek begins on the other side of the road when we parked. There's a small metal bridge, where is a schematic map showing the path we will walk. Here begins a clearly marked and very wide path.

 

This path (with NNE direction) runs between forest of beech, cherry trees and ñires, is very visible at all times because it is an old road loggers. We will pass through gates, beaver dams and some sectors may be abundant mud.

 

After traveling approximately 1.9 km we leave the path and turn left (with NNW direction) to cross a bridge over the Chico river. This bridge is made of tree trunks and wood and depending on the season and the melting snow the crossing can be difficult. Be careful in this step.

 

Once we get to the other side of the Chico River we will be in a "pampita" with few trees, then we can appreciate the mountains that surround us, the Cortez Hill,  Esfinge Hill, Portillo Hill and Mount Olivia farther east. Good time to take a few minutes to appreciate the environment before starting again in the forest.

 

We continue our way along the Chico River in the NNW direction and after a short distance the path turns left approaching the Esfinge Hill (which is where the stream that produces the cascade comes).

 

When we have goes back into the forest and after walking approximately 2.7 km the trail begins to climb. We walk for about 2 km with constant gradient. We will find muddy areas, so sometimes we leave the path to surround and return later.

 

Then we walk 1 km of ups and downs while maintaining the level of altitude, when we arrive at 4.1 km of our trekking approximately, we find the cross of our path and the creek coming from the waterfall.

 

Some people take this point as the end of the trek because the forest is more open and there are place to sit and take time before returning, but the interesting thing is to reach the base of the waterfall itself.

 

To get to the base of the waterfall, as happens in many of the trails in Ushuaia, everything depends on the time of the year where we are. In winter snow is abundant and we can go through the middle of the stream seamlessly to the base (it is advisable to wear snowshoes).

 

In summer to go up to the waterfall we should be alternated between the two sides, ie, several times we must cross the stream that comes from the waterfall according the fallen trees in the previous season, so their margins squeezed, etc. In short, we must find the best way to go by ourselves.

 

In summer to go up to the waterfall we should be alternated between the two sides, ie, several times we must cross the stream that comes from the waterfall according the fallen trees in the previous season, steepness of its banks, etc. In short, we must find the best way to go by ourselves.

 

The slope that must walk from the path of loggers to reach the base is 110 m over a length of 400 m path. Somewhere we get to have 44% slope with stones and logs. Has to be performed carefully considering every step and everything is always wet. But the rewards is the best.

 

We must be very careful in the descent to reach the path. Then we take the same way back enjoying the landscapes discovered.

 

Total distance: 9 km (round trip)

 

 

 

We hope you enjoy it.

GuMo © 2015