Laguna Torre (Cerro Torre)

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.

Technically Stage 10 of the Swiss Via Alpina (Route 1), this long-distance traverse connects two of the Bernese Oberland's highly recognizable valleys. The route climbs out of Meiringen, passing the historic Reichenbach Falls (famed for Sherlock Holmes), and enters the Rosenlaui Valley—a place of mythic beauty featuring the Wellhorn peak and glacier. The final ascent to Grosse Scheidegg (1,962m) reveals a remarkable profile of the Wetterhorn and the Eiger, before the long descent into the bustling mountaineering hub of Grindelwald.