Best Day Hikes in Bariloche for Stunning Mountain Views

This list of the best day hikes in Bariloche is for casual adventurers who don’t want to spend multi-days on the trail. If you only have a few days in Bariloche and want jaw-dropping hikes that won’t leave you sore for a week, this guide is for you.

While there are lots of amazing things to do in Bariloche, you have to hike here – even if it’s just a short one. Bariloche is a hiker’s dream: hundreds of miles of trails through forests, mountain ridges, by alpine lakes, and countless gorgeous views of Argentina’s lake district, but it can be tough to pick just a few!

I loved all the hikes we did during our fall visit – and actually, I can’t wait to go back and explore more. As someone who loves trail time but only occasionally in a tent, I’ve found Bariloche to be the perfect mix of adventure and comfort.

Because I don’t like long lists (I find them overwhelming!) I’ve only included a few of my favorite day hikes, as well as a couple on my wish list. So many of my friends and family members have been to Bariloche over and over that I have a lot of recommendations for our next trip.

For gorgeous forest hikes, incredible lake and mountain views, and stunning end-points, here are the hikes you simply can’t overlook when planning your visit.

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Table of Contents

5 Best Day Hikes in Bariloche

Unlike hiking in El Chalten, Argentina’s hiking capital, Bariloche has a much longer hiking season. Since Bariloche is at the northern end of Patagonia, the weather is less extreme.

Except for the winter months when some of the trails are closed due to snow, Bariloche can be enjoyed most of the year!

We were there in mid April and the weather was delightful: sunny, a little breezy, and cold in the morning/at night. At times it was even slightly “hot” during peak daylight hours, so I could imagine visiting in the late fall would still be wonderful.

Bariloche has a really wide range of hikes: short, medium,and long, some with steep ascents, some with hardly any at all, dirt trails and rocky trails. This is truly a choose your own adventure kind of town.

The hikes I’ve included here vary from very short, to long, easy to difficult, but they’re all beautiful and rewarding. I’ve ordered them from shortest/easiest to longest (Castano Overa isn’t technically the longest but it requires a 2 hour drive to the trailhead). Remember, whichever option you choose, you can’t go wrong – happy hiking!

View of the lakes from Cerro Campanario in Bariloche

Cerro Campanario: quick and easy

Distance: 1.3 miles (2 km) out and back
Elevation Gain: 705 feet (215 meters)
Difficulty: Easy, but it is all ascent
Duration: 30 minutes to the summit

Cerro Campanario was the first hike we did in Bariloche, and I think it’s a great way to kick off your trip! It’s the closest hike to town, it’s pretty short, and the 360 views at the top are incredible.

I did this hike in jeans, and although it is doable, I don’t recommend it. The hike is pretty short. It took us under 30 minutes to make it to the top, but you will be ascending the WHOLE time.

The trail is a very well marked dirt trial. If it hasn’t rained in a while, it will be really dusty. (I also wore a white shirt, don’t do that either).

Once you make it to the top you can go check out all the platforms to get a different view. You can see Lakes Nahuel Huappi, Moreno, and El Trebol. Take your time here because every view is different!

Walking to one of the many viewpoints on Cerro Campanario, Bariloche

There are also bathrooms and a cafe at the top, and what’s not to like about sipping on a coffee or tea overlooking the scenery?

If you’d rather skip the hike, there’s a chairlift that will take you straight to the top. It typically runs 9 am to 5 pm, but hours of operations change based on holidays and the season.

Cerro Llao Llao: Short, but Magical

Distance: 3.5 miles (3 km) out and back
Elevation Gain: 895 feet (273 meters)
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Duration: 2 hours

This hike is within the Llao Llao Municipal Park along Circuito Chico. To hike any of the trails in this park you are required to register and pay a small fee (about $1 USD). The trailheads have QR codes you can use to register also.

The trailhead, Cerro Llao Llao via Villa Tacul Trail, is near the Llao Llao Hotel and Puerto Pañuelo. There is parking nearby, so it’s easy to access if you have your own rental car.

We did this hike as part of our Circuito Chico day. (Exploring Circuito Chico is high up on the Bariloche must-do list, so I highly recommend you go!) We actually hadn’t heard much about this trail before we started, so it was the best surprise.

The hike starts with a flat walk through the forest with only a slight upward slope. After a while, it turns into switchbacks on a dusty trail. Although there is a decent elevation gain here, it is not nearly as steep as Cerro Campanario.

All in all it took us just under an hour to reach the viewpoint. Keep an eye out for the sign that indicates you’ve arrived. The viewpoint is on some rocks on your right hand side, but we actually walked right past it and ended wandering through the woods for a little too long.

The views at the punto panoramico are incredible! From here you’ll get to see lakes Moreno and Nahuel Huapi, and the Llao Llao Hotel in the distance. It was so beautiful, it looked fake. This is a year round hike so I highly recommend you add to your itinerary.

TIP: Near the trailhead there’s the Sendero de los Arrayanes. It’s an easy walk so you could tack that on to this hike.

Cerro Lopez: Amazing Panoramic Views

Distance: 6.7 miles (11 km) out and back
Elevation Gain: 4,163 feet (1269 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: 4 hours

Cerro Lopez is another iconic hike in Bariloche with a trailhead along Circuito Chico. Everyone I spoke to who has been to Bariloche many times recommends this hike for the amazing views at the top.

We were deciding between this hike and the Refugio Frey hike and chose the latter simply because it was looking like it was going to be cloudy, i.e., no panoramic views at the top.

The trail follows Arroyo Lopez upstream until you reach a more exposed section that gives you the first views of Cerro Lopez and Llao Llao. You then enter the forest until you reach a first refugio (shelter), Refugio Boca Negra.

You then continue hiking up a steep ascent until you reach the red building of Refugio Lopez. Here you get stunning views of Bariloche and the lakes. I was told this hike is worth doing on a clear day when you get the best views.

At the refugio you can have a warm drink and meal, or even stay the night if you have made reservations in advance.

Refugio Lopez is also a starting point for many other hikes. If you started your hike early enough in the day you can choose to continue on to the Pico Turista, Cerro Lopez’ summit – but there are other hikes you can do as well, like hiking to Refugio Laguna Negra.

Leaves changing color along the hike to Refugio Frey in Bariloche

Refugio Frey: It’s All about the Journey

Distance: 13.75 miles (22 km) out and back
Elevation Gain: 2,736 feet (834 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate – Challenging
Duration: 7 hours

Refugio Frey is another of Bariloche’s four refugios. The traditional route to Refugio Frey starts at the base of Cerro Campanario, which is about 15 km from Bariloche. This is a ski resort in winter, so there is a large parking lot and the trail is very well marked.

Compared to the hike to Refugio Lopez, the hike to Refugio Frey is very long. However, the elevation gain is much more moderate. In my opinion, this hike wasn’t hard, you just have to keep moving – the way back took us about the same time as the way up.

The hike is exposed to start, with amazing views of Lake Gutierrez and the peak of Cerro Tronador in the distance.

After a few kilometers, you cross Arroyo van Titter and enter the forest. This part of the hike is absolutely magical in the fall. The light dances through the leaves and creates multicolored sparkles of colors. I must’ve taken 100 pictures here!

As you exit the forest, you only have a few kilometers left. You get your first views of the side of the mountain covered by trees.

This is also near the start of the toughest part of the hike, where the ascent is sharper and requires walking over boulders. I say it’s the toughest, but it’s not that challenging (especially not compared to the final ascent to Laguna de los Tres).

The first thing you see at the top is the Refugio, and just beyond it, Lake Toncek. It was really windy by the lake so we decided not to hike around it this time. If you do choose to do this, you’ll get views of the refugio across the lake.

At the refugio, we stopped at the refugio to eat our sandwiches, enjoy a hot drink, and use the bathrooms.

You can also buy food there, but I think it’s a good idea to bring something with you just in case. Like Refugio Lopez, you also have the option to spend the night with a reservation in advance.

This was probably my favorite hike of the trip! I loved that the scenery was so varied throughout the hike and it wasn’t just about reaching the final destination.

Mirador Castano Overa: Wow Factor

Distance: 8.6 miles (13.76 km) out and back
Elevation Gain: 1,282 feet (391 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate
Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes

This hike is sadly still on my wishlist. We didn’t make it there because the two hour drive to the Pampa Linda trailhead makes it a bit more logistically challenging. But everyone I know who has done the hike says it is so worth it! Here I’ll share what I know from friends and my research.

An important thing to note about planning for this hike is that the road that goes there limits when you can drive in and drive out. Plan on getting there before 2 pm and you’ll be fine.

If you don’t have a car, you can also book transportation to Pampa Linda.

Pampa Linda is the valley that surrounds Cerro Tronador, and is located within Nahuel Huapi National Park. Because you’ll be hiking in the park, you’ll need to pay an entry fee, which is $20,000 ARS.

The hike starts at Pampa Linda and is flat to start, and a few kilometers in you begin a moderate ascent. The hike shares the same trail as Refugio Otto Meiling initially, until a fork in the path where you need to head left to the mirador.

The main reason to do this hike, in my opinion, is for the views of the glacier hanging on the rock and cascading water streaming down from it. Bariloche has so many incredible hikes, but this one has the most unique destination!

What to Pack for Day Hikes in Bariloche

One of the best things about hiking in Bariloche is how accessible the trails are — you don’t need fancy gear or advanced skills to enjoy most of them. That said, having the right essentials can make a huge difference in your comfort (and your feet will thank you).

Here’s what I brought on our hikes — and what I’d pack again next time:

Day Pack

What I use: Osprey Daylite
Why I love it: Compact and comfortable, with both chest and waist straps. It has just enough space for layers, snacks, and water, plus a hydration sleeve for a Camelbak. I used it on every single hike and never wished for anything else.

Reusable Water Bottle

What I use: Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Bottle
Why I love it: Keeps water cold forever and cuts down on plastic. Bariloche’s hikes don’t have many refill points, so pack at least 1L.

Hiking Shoes or Trail Runners

Shorter trails (like Campanario): Brooks Ghost
Longer or rocky hikes (like Frey): Salomon Cross Hike Boots

I’ve done day hikes in both, and while good running shoes can work for easier trails, proper boots really help on steeper, rockier paths.

Hat or Cap

What I use: Outdoor Research Lightweight Running Hat
Why I love it: Lightweight, breathable, and kept me from squinting on exposed trails like Refugio Frey.

Light Jacket

What I use: Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket (Columbia and Marmot make great ones also)
Why I love it: Folds into its own pocket, surprisingly warm, and ideal for unpredictable Patagonia weather.

Wool Socks

What I use: Smartwool socks
Why I love it: These are non-negotiable. I bring both a thick and a thin pair depending on the weather. They’re cozy, prevent blisters, and they don’t smell after a long day on the trail.

Sunscreen

What I use: Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen
Why I love it: I’ve used this for years — it holds up on sweaty hikes and doesn’t feel greasy. Don’t forget to reapply if you’re out longer than a couple hours.

Tips for hiking in Bariloche

You are encouraged to register with the national park before your hike for safety reasons
While wearing hiking boots is preferable, you can do any of these hikes in tennis shoes
Bring lots of water. You won’t have a chance to refill bottles except at the refugios
Food at the refugios is typically somewhat limited. I recommend bringing something to eat just in case.
The weather in the mountains is unpredictable! Bring layers.