The Glacier Grey ice hike was the absolute highlight of my trip to Torres del Paine National Park. Walking on ice in other parts of the world pales in comparison to trekking across a glacier in the wilds of Patagonia. Glacier Grey, with its impressive 6 kilometers in width and 30 kilometers in length, flows from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world’s second-largest contiguous extrapolar ice field. The best part? Absolutely no experience is necessary to undertake this adventure – it’s open to all. In this blog post, I will lay out exactly how to book your Glacier Grey ice hike and equip you with all the crucial information needed to maximize this incredible experience.
How do I get to Glacier Grey?
Glacier Grey is situated on Lago Grey in Torres del Paine National Park. To learn more about Torres del Paine National Park check out this blog post! Here are the primary ways to reach the glacier:
Closest Refugio and Campsite:
The nearest refugio and campsite to Glacier Grey are in the Grey Sector. You can reach this area by hiking or taking a boat.
Day Hike to Grey Sector from Paine Grande
The hike to Glacier Grey starts at Paine Grande, about 12 km (7.5 miles) from the Grey Sector. Paine Grande is on the west side of Torres del Paine National Park. The closest park entrance to Paine Grande is the Serrano entrance (western entrance). From the Serrano entrance, drive to Pudeto Pier and take a boat to Paine Grande. You can also reach Pudeto Pier from the Sarmiento entrance (southeastern) and the Laguna Amarga entrance (eastern).
The day hike to Glacier Grey takes about 4-6 hours in total, depending on your speed. This time doesn’t include the ice hike and the return trip. The hike is considered difficult and strenuous, with an elevation gain of 573 meters.
The trail starts with a gradual elevation gain, but towards the end, you will encounter some very steep climbs. These climbs reward you with incredible views of the landscape. You will also be exposed to the terrifying beauty that is Patagonia’s winds.
As you approach Lago Grey, you’ll start to see icebergs in the distance. About halfway through the hike, you’ll reach Mirador Lago Grey, which offers the first spectacular glimpse of Glacier Grey. Past this point, the trail descends through woodlands. Once you reach sector Grey, you will continue past the campsite and turn left where you see a sign for Big Foot Base Camp. This is where you will meet your guides for the ice hike on Glacier Grey.
As I mentioned above, the day hike to reach Glacier Grey is strenuous. So while you can technically complete your ice hike and head back to Paine Grande on the same day I would be hesitant to do so. The better option would be to book a night at Refugio Grey or a campsite rather than trying to complete the ice hike and return on the same day.
Reaching the Grey Sector on the W or O Trek
The Grey Sector is a stop on the O Trek, situated between Paine Grande and Campsite Paso. If you are on the O Trek, figure out which day you will pass through the Grey Sector, book your excursion, and add a night at the Grey campsite or Refugio. If you are on the W Trek, Paine Grande will be either the starting or ending point. From there, you will complete the same hike to Glacier Grey as described above.
When we did the Glacier Grey ice hike, we added it as an excursion to the W Trek. Starting our trek from east to west, we did the Glacier Grey ice hike on the second to last day. If you are adding this excursion to the W Trek, I recommend staying a night at Sector Grey and doing the ice hike either in the afternoon after arriving or the next morning. The hike from Paine Grande to the Grey Sector takes a couple of hours, depending on your speed. Adding the ice hike on the same day might be too much, and you’ll enjoy it more without rushing.
Grey Sector via Boat from Hotel Lago Grey
Another way to visit Glacier Grey is by taking a boat from Hotel Lago Grey to the Grey Sector. From there, you can walk to the excursion meet-up point. You can book a return trip on the boat to Hotel Lago Grey or stay the night at the Grey Sector. Alternatively, you can choose to hike the 12 km back to Paine Grande and then take a boat back to Pudeto Pier.
Fiordo del Sur is the company that offers boat rides across Lago Grey. You will find updated prices and departure times on the Fiordos del Sur website. They have various navigation options including a round trip that will bring you up close and personal with Glacier Grey. It is important to note that this boat ride will not drop you off at the glacier or the Grey Sector. You have to choose the navigation which will drop you off at Sector Grey.
How Do I book the ice hike on Glacier Grey?
There is only one company currently offering ice hike excursions to Glacier Grey, BigFoot Patagonia. You can book directly through their website. If you’re booking the W or O Trek through Las Torres Patagonia, you can add the ice hike to your package.
It’s important to check in with the BigFoot Patagonia Adventure excursion office in Puerto Natales or call before heading to Torres del Paine if your travel company is making the reservation for you.
When I arrived to check in for the W Trek at Puerto Natales, they had no record of my reservation for the ice hike. The Big Foot representatives were able to add us on for the day we had originally booked.
Will I have to pay any extra fees after booking the ice hike in torres del paine?
The Ice Hike with BigFoot only includes the guided hike. You will still need to pay the entrance fee into Torres del Paine National Park, find transportation into the park, and pay for the catamaran across Lago Grey if you choose to go that route.
What should i wear when hiking glacier grey?
The best part of the Ice Hike with BigFoot is that you do not need to worry about bringing any technical gear because it is all provided for you. They provide you with a helmet, ice axe, harness, crampons, and backpack. They also teach you how to use the equipment so don’t worry if this is your first time.
As for clothing, layering up is the key, similar to dressing for any part of Patagonia. It gets pretty chilly on the boat ride to the glacier but once you’re out walking around on the ice you start to warm up. Most important is applying sunscreen before the trek and bringing sunglasses to protect from the sun’s reflection. A beanie (winter hat) and gloves will also come in handy. Don’t forget to bring shoes with good grip. For the ice portion of the hike, your crampons will serve as your grip but before reaching the ice you will have to hike on rocky terrain. The rock can be slick so you must have appropriate footwear for this portion.
What can I expect on the Glacier Grey ice hike?
The Glacier Grey ice hike lasts about 5 hours. Your adventure starts at the meet-up point just past the Refugio at Sector Grey. After a safety briefing, you will walk down to the beach and board the boats that take you to the glacier. The boats drop you off on rocky terrain at the bottom of the glacier. From there, you will hike for about 45 minutes to reach the ice. This hike is on an incline and can be slightly strenuous, so be sure to wear footwear with good traction and be physically fit for strenuous activity.
Before stepping onto the ice, the guides will help you put on your crampons and harness, and show you how to walk with the crampons and use your ice axe to steady yourself. Don’t worry if it’s your first time; after a couple of steps, you will get the hang of it. Then, you are off to the ice hike.
At least two guides will always accompany you. It is important to follow their steps during the hike and never go ahead of them. They will steer you away from areas where the ice can be thin. Our guides did an incredible job, ensuring safety at all times. When one of the group members started to wander across a thin portion of ice, they quickly redirected her to the correct path. They truly made this an enjoyable experience.
When is the best time to do the ice hike on Glacier Grey?
The Ice Hike with Big Foot only operates from September to April weather permitting. During winter the excursion does not operate.
Where do I stay when hiking Glacier Grey?
If you are planning to do only the ice hike excursion, staying at Hotel Lago Grey is a great option. If your journey on the W or O trek includes a stop at Sector Grey, I recommend booking a night at Refugio Grey or a campsite at Grey. For those planning a day hike to Glacier Grey, booking a one-night accommodation at Sector Grey or Paine Grande is also a good idea. You can book these accommodations through the Vertice website, which owns the lodging at both Sector Grey and Paine Grande.
Can I see the Grey Glacier without doing the ice hike?
Yes! If you want to experience Glacier Grey without doing the ice hike, you have a few options.
First, you can get up close to this natural wonder by taking the roundtrip navigation with Fiordos del Sur, which departs from Hotel Lago Grey. This allows you to marvel at the glacier from the comfort of the boat, sipping a pisco sour as you enjoy the view.
If you are hiking the O or W Trek, or planning a day hike in Torres del Paine, you can walk the hanging bridges just north of Sector Grey. There are three hanging bridges: the first is 2 km (1.2 miles) from Refugio Grey, the second is 3.5 km (2 miles), and the third is 6 km (3.7 miles). If you are on the O Trek, you will cross these bridges when coming from or heading to Campsite Paso.
These hanging bridges offer incredible views of the glacier from above. They can be a bit frightening in windy conditions, but if you cross on a sunny day, you’ll get some spectacular shots of Grey Glacier.
Lastly, BigFoot offers a kayak excursion on Lago Grey that brings you right up to Glacier Grey. While I have not done this myself, my wonderful experience with this company makes it a top addition to my list for when I return to Patagonia.
My experience hiking Glacier Grey with Big Foot
The Glacier Grey Ice Hike is a must-do when visiting Torres del Paine National Park. This was such a one-of-a-kind experience and it is truly one that I will never forget. Our guides were professional and informative, ensuring everyone in the group stayed safe, which allowed us to enjoy our hike even as nervous first-timers on the ice. They even provided us with warm tea and cookies! If you have a little extra time this is an excursion you don’t want to miss!
If I missed anything in my post BigFoot Patagonia has all the information you need on their website. For additional information, including age restrictions, booking details, and contact information, visit the Big Foot website.
**This is not a sponsored post
Buen trabajo Sofy , esta el paquete completo