Best trails in Alerce Costero National Park
The Alerce Costero National Park is located in the Los Ríos Region, between the communes of La Unión and Corral, in the provinces of Valdivia and Ranco, Los Ríos Region. It was created in 2010 as a result of public-private collaboration, integrating the areas of the former Valdivia National Reserve, the former Alerce Costero Natural Monument, Quitaluto's fiscal properties, and the donation of land from the Valdivian Coastal Reserve by The Nature Conservancy.
The park represents valuable natural environments because of the presence of ancient alerce forests in its northernmost distribution. Its temperate-rainforests have not been affected by massive disturbances such as volcanic eruptions, so the area has high levels of endemism in flora and fauna, for example, about 60% of the flora species are endemic.
Its main attraction is the Grandfather Alerce Milenario, a specimen with more than 3500 years on our planet. The species is the second longest-lived on the planet, only surpassed by the long-lived pine (Pinus longaeva), which grows in the mountains of California and Nevada, United States.
The trunk of the Grandfather Larch measures 4.2 m in diameter and a perimeter of 11 m, with an annual growth of less than 1 mm/year.
Top trails
- 4.7 (13)·Moderate·3.2 mi·Est. 1.5–2 hrThis pleasant forest trail leads to the main attraction of the Coastal Alerce Park: the Abuelo Alerce Milenario, which with its more than 3500 years old is an impressive specimen of larch, undoubtedly a natural monument. The trail descends gradually in altitude to the sector and has resting places with comfortable benches that allow you to contemplate the majestic larches. When you reach the foot of the Alerce Milenario, there is a kind of steps to appreciate this beautiful specimen. There...
- 5.0 (3)·Moderate·0.9 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrThis trail invites you to witness the future of a giant. The "Sendero Renovales de Alerce" trail takes you into an area of the Coastal Alerce National Park where a new generation of these ancient trees is growing. Unlike the majestic, ancient specimens for which the park is famous, here you will see the vitality of young alerce trees. The road immerses you in the dense Valdivian Rainforest, a wildlife refuge where you might encounter local fauna, such as the pudú or the black woodpecker.
- 4.8 (4)·Moderate·0.7 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrExplore the "Selva Valdiviana" trail in Alerce Costero National Park, a gateway to one of the world's oldest and most biodiverse ecosystems. This hike takes you into a temperate rainforest that is a living fossil, home to species found nowhere else on Earth. As you go, you will feel the humidity of the forest, see giant ferns and moss-covered trunks, and perhaps hear the song of the chucao, a bird that, according to tradition, predicts the traveler's luck.
- 3.8 (6)·Moderate·5.7 mi·Est. 2.5–3 hrFollow in the footsteps of science on "Darwin's Trail". This trail commemorates the amazement felt by naturalist Charles Darwin as he explored this type of temperate rainforest during his 1835 journey through the region. The park is a haven for native wildlife: keep your ears open for the song of the chucao or the tapping of the black woodpecker. With luck, you might be close to a pudú (the world's smallest deer) or the "living fossil" known as the monito del monte. This hike offers a...
- 5.0 (3)·Moderate·0.9 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrThis pleasant short trail that is recommended for the whole family leads through a Valdivian jungle path and allows you to find species such as coihues, lengas, mañíos, and myrtles. In the fauna that inhabits this area, the pudu and the puma stand out. Wear good shoes and keep in mind that during the rainy season there can be mud.
- 3.6 (2)·Moderate·9 mi·Est. 5–5.5 hrExplore the Altos de Quitaluto, a low-difficulty trail that immerses you in the heart of the Valdivian Coastal Range. This route takes you through the lush Valdivian Rainforest, a unique ecosystem recognized worldwide for its biodiversity. Walk through temperate rainforests and discover a protected environment that serves as home to a great variety of native flora and fauna species. It is an ideal destination to connect with nature and breathe the pure air of the Los Ríos Region.
- 5.0 (1)·Moderate·1.1 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrGet ready for a landscape that will give you goose bumps. This trail takes you on a walk among "ghosts": massive white trunks of ancient Alerce trees that remain standing, silent witnesses to the great fires that ravaged the area in the last century. The contrast between the dead silver wood and the vibrant green of the reborn forest is melancholic and breathtakingly beautiful. It is a reflective and photographic walk. As you walk along the boardwalks and forest trails, you will feel the...
- 2.0 (1)·Easy·0.2 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrOne of the most popular trails within the Alerce Costero National Park is the one that goes to the Mirador de Chaihuín. In this short route, you will cross a native forest with characteristic trees of the Valdivian jungle such as coihues, lengas, mañíos and arrayanes. Among the native fauna, pumas and pudues stand out. The viewpoint itself is a wooden tower that allows panoramic views of the entire park.
- Moderate·1 mi·Est. 0.5–1 hrA short circuit trail that runs through part of a beautiful temperate rain forest in the beautiful Alerce Costero National Park. The route offers the opportunity to see a wide variety of endemic flora and fauna that exist in the park. The park is home to a large number of larch trees, in their northernmost distribution on the continent; some specimens are over 3,000 years old. Among the flora in the park, the beautiful copíhue stands out, and among the fauna, the woodpecker, the condor, and...
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Visitor info
Hours & contact
Open 6 days a week
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Fee required
General park hours
Phone
(64) 224 4101
Visitors must purchase their tickets in advance at pasesparques.cl
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to hike in Alerce Costero National Park?
According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Alerce Costero National Park is Sendero Alerce Milenario, which has a 4.7 star rating from 13 reviews. This trail is 3.2 mi long with an elevation gain of 790 ft.
What is the longest trail in Alerce Costero National Park?
According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Alerce Costero National Park is Ruta la Estopa. This trail is estimated to be 12.7 mi long.
How many trails are in Alerce Costero National Park?
There are 13 trails in Alerce Costero National Park.These trails have an average 3.9-star ratingfrom 34 AllTrails community reviews.
Which trail has the most elevation gain in Alerce Costero National Park?
Ruta la Estopa has the most elevation gain with 3,710 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Altos de Quitaluto, which has 2,004 ft of elevation gain.
