Río Simpson National Reserve

Forest · Aysén — Northern Patagonia

The highway between Coyhaique and Puerto Aysén threads this steep river canyon, ñirre and lenga turning gold on the valley walls through April. Peaks above 1,600 meters frame the Simpson River's rapids and waterfalls, a half-day stop on the Carretera Austral's approach to Aysén.

Best for: a scenic stop along the highway

Don’t miss

  • Simpson River canyon drive
  • ñirre and lenga color
  • roadside waterfalls
Typical year

Peak: April 1–May 31

Climatological window from published records — the weather model’s elevation extrapolation isn’t reliable on this terrain, so this is the long-run normal rather than a season-specific forecast.

Source: https://www.chileundiscovered.com/itineraries/autumn-in-patagonia-cerro-castillo

Río Simpson National Reserve on the map

More things to do in Aysén — Northern Patagonia

Cerro Castillo National Park

National park

Typically April 1–May 31

Granite spires above Villa Cerro Castillo give way to lenga and ñirre forest that burns red and orange through April, reached by a trail past Laguna Cerro Castillo below the jagged 2,675-meter summit. The Carretera Austral runs along the park's eastern edge, 64 kilometers south of Coyhaique.

Don’t miss: Laguna Cerro Castillo trail · granite spire summit · Carretera Austral access

Marble Caves, Lake General Carrera

Lake

Wave action over 6,200 years has hollowed these calcite formations on the shore of Lake General Carrera, reached by small boat or kayak from Puerto Río Tranquilo. Lenga forest on the slopes above turns deep red through autumn, the lake itself shifting turquoise with glacial silt each spring.

Don’t miss: Marble Chapel and Cathedral formations · boat or kayak access · General Carrera's turquoise water

See all things to do in Aysén — Northern Patagonia →

Frequently asked

When does Río Simpson National Reserve peak?
In a typical year, color peaks around April 1–May 31. The weather model's elevation extrapolation isn't reliable on this terrain, so this is a climatological window (source: https://www.chileundiscovered.com/itineraries/autumn-in-patagonia-cerro-castillo) rather than a season-specific forecast.
What is Río Simpson National Reserve best for?
A scenic stop along the highway.
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