Sendero Lago Verde

Huerquehue [1] is a hiker’s park, with a good network of trails beginning at the north end of Lago Tinquilco. From here, the well-watered Sendero Lago Verde (Lago Verde Trail) zigzags from 700 meters altitude at the trailhead to 1,300 meters at its namesake lake. Light gaps in the coigüe woodlands yield glimpses of Volcán Villarrica [2] across the Liucura and Pucón [3] valleys to the south, while the surrounding ridges sport araucaria forests.

From Lago Tinquilco, it’s about two hours-plus of steady hiking to Lago Chico, where the terrain levels off; at a trail junction beyond Lago Chico, the left fork goes to Lago Verde, while the right fork goes to Lago El Toro and continues to Conaf’s simple Refugio Renahue, where camping is also possible. From here an eastbound trail continues to Termas de Río Blanco, a thermal springs linked by gravel road to Cunco [4], Lago Colico, and Lago Caburgua’s north end.