Grey Lake In Chile Will Surprise You With Its Beautiful Mountain And Glacier Views
The Patagonia region in South America is packed with tons of bucket-list destinations including El Chaltén, El Calafate, and the nature lover's dream, Torres del Paine National Park. If you're going to Patagonia, though, chances are you aren't looking to trek the same trails as every other backpack-lugging hiker between here and Tierra del Fuego. Nope — you're looking for an experience you can gleefully bring home to your other hiker friends and say, "Yeah, maybe you hiked Mount Everest this summer, but have you been to Grey Lake in Chile?"
Okay, in all honesty, it's hard to beat Everest. But Grey Lake is pretty incredible, too. Located within the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, Grey Lake will absolutely make your jaw drop with its incredible views. It's also a great trip for people seeking unique experiences you can't find anywhere else in the world. This is the place that will make all the rocks in your shoes, the whipping wind, and the cold nights worth it.
Why Grey Lake needs to be on your bucket list
When one imagines South America, images of glaciers and tundra-like landscapes are not what usually first come to mind. However, as you approach Grey Lake, you will find it is set against an incredible backdrop. Part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, Grey Glacier (aka Glacier Grey or Gray Glacier) is a giant glacier that dominates the view as you approach the lake, per Swoop Patagonia. According to Vertice Travel, Grey Lake is also surrounded by the largest mountain in Torres del Paine National Park, Mt. Paine Grande, making for a stunning postcard-worthy scene. One of the best things to do at Grey Lake (other than snapping a thousand photos) is to take a kayak out onto the lake and maneuver through the giant icebergs that are cleaved from the glacier wall. If you're a novice kayaker, this is a great place to get your hours in as the waters are fairly calm and easy to navigate.
For those seeking an even more unique adventure, take an ice hike tour of Grey Glacier with Bigfoot Patagonia. The company writes that they are the only company permitted to take groups onto the glacier, so you will essentially have the whole place to yourselves. The hike is physically demanding and takes around five hours to complete, but you will get absolutely unparalleled views of the glacier and Lake Grey.
How to get to Grey Lake and where to stay
Laidback Trip writes that getting to Grey Lake without a tour can be tough, but well worth the effort. To get there, you can take a bus from Puerto Natales that makes three stops within the park. You get off at the second stop in Pudeto and here you can wait for the ferry that will take you to the Grey Glacier trailhead and begin your trek.
However, you should keep in mind that DIY-ing your trip to Grey Lake might be for the more experienced traveler and hiker. The ferry schedule changes often, you will require special gear for the hike, and it can take seven to eight hours roundtrip from Puerto Natales to Grey Lake. If you feel like this is a little overwhelming, you might want to consider booking a tour. If this is the case, consider booking a room with Hotel Lago Grey. They offer an all-inclusive program that will help you plan your trip to Grey Lake. There is a list of excursions to choose from, with several inclusions that will make your trip to the Torres del Paine National Park a breeze.