Torres del Paine W Trek
Circuito W
Byline
- The Hiking World editorial · author
Desk byline for seed records. Named surveying editors replace this once a trail is verified.
Four-to-five day traverse of the Paine massif, linking the Torres viewpoint, the French Valley, and Grey Glacier.
Figures marked provisional are seed data and still need verification. Source and last-checked date sit under each cited value.
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The W follows the southern flank of the Cordillera del Paine. The name comes from the three arms the route traces on a map. Huts and campsites serve the walk. Distance is rarely the limiter: campsites must be booked in advance with two operators plus the park, and a catamaran links Paine Grande to Pudeto.
Patagonian weather is constant context. Winds over 100 km/h are common near Grey. The exposed climb to Mirador Las Torres is often hard because of wind, not grade.
Water
- Río Ascencioyear-round
- Refugio Greyyear-round
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Permits & fees
- Permit
- CONAF park entry + campsite bookings
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Getting there
- Laguna Amarga / Las Torres car-free: seasonal
- Pudeto (catamaran) car-free: yes
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Hazards
- Extreme, sudden wind
- Hypothermia in exposed sectors
- River crossings after rain