Cirque of the Towers

The Cirque of the Towers, located deep within the remote Wind River Range of Wyoming, is arguably the most spectacular alpine amphitheater in the entire Rocky Mountains. Reaching the Cirque requires a grueling backpacking approach, but the payoff is legendary: a massive, semi-circular basin of jagged, sheer granite spires (including Pingora, Wolf's Head, and the Shark's Nose) rising vertically out of high-alpine meadows dotted with pristine, trout-filled glacial lakes like Lonesome Lake. It is a legendary destination for spectacular technical rock climbers and serious backpackers seeking the raw, roadless, untamed wilderness that the 'Winds' are famous for.

One of the most frequented day hikes from El Chaltén, the route to Laguna Torre leads to a glacial lake at the base of the Torre massif. The 18 km out-and-back trail follows the Fitz Roy River valley, moving through sub-antarctic forests of ñire and lenga. The terrain is primarily well-maintained gravel paths and packed dirt, with a short initial ascent followed by mostly level walking through the glacial valley. The destination offers direct views of Cerro Torre (3,128m) and the Adela range, with icebergs frequently calving from the Torre Glacier into the lake.