Easy
Torres del Paine
Mirador Cóndor
Distance2km
Duration1h
Gain+150m
Weather
Torres del Paine · Chile
Salto Grande
A very short signed walk to the powerful waterfall where Lago Nordenskjöld drains toward Lago Pehoé.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Distance
- 1km
- Duration
- 30min
- Elevation gain
- +20m
- Max altitude
- 80m
- Route type
- Out & back
Start from the Salto Grande parking sector and follow the signed path to the waterfall viewpoint. The walk is brief and works well as a stop on the park road or as the first section of the longer Mirador Cuernos route. This record ends at the waterfall, not at Mirador Cuernos.
About the easy grade: Under 4 hours on marked, gentle paths. Minimal elevation gain, no exposure. Suitable for families and first-time hikers in trail shoes.
Conditions in Torres del Paine
NowAlerts
-4°Light drizzle · feels -8°
Weather watch
Wind3 km/h
Gusts40 km/h
Rain100%
Humidity88%
Daylight11h 47m
Rise / Set07:53–19:40
7-day forecastNo-go window
Best window — today
08:00 – 12:00
Exposed routes risky
Weather via Open-Meteo · Updated 12:45 · Not safety advice
Shown for the trailhead — expect colder, windier conditions near the 80m high point.
Hike it right
Know before you go.
Patagonia rewards prepared hikers. A few specifics for this trail — so you, and the trail, both come back in good shape.
Weather-window route
In high wind or heavy rain, postpone. Check the forecast above before committing — the mountain will still be there tomorrow.
Safety notes
Stay behind barriers and away from wet rock near the falls. The area is exposed to strong wind and spray; check the official daily report for closures or weather warnings.
What to pack
The Patagonia day-hike checklist — layers first, wind always.
For this trail: Wear shoes with grip and a windproof waterproof layer. Carry water and sun protection if continuing to Mirador Cuernos.
Patagonia can cycle through four seasons in one afternoon. Dress in layers you can add and shed fast — wind is the defining factor.
- Base layer — Synthetic or merino, never cotton — it must wick sweat and dry fast.
- Mid layer — Fleece or a light insulated jacket for breaks and summit wind-chill.
- Outer shell — Wind- and waterproof jacket. This is the one piece you should never skip.
- Hiking pants — Quick-dry. Add thermal tights underneath in shoulder season.
- Warm hat & gloves — Even in January — exposed ridges are cold when the wind picks up.
- Sun hat or cap — Patagonian UV is strong and shade is rare above the treeline.
- Spare merino socks — Wet feet end hikes. A dry pair weighs nothing.
Need the overnight kit? See the full Patagonia gear — buy & rent guide →
04Hand it to a local
Plan your Torres del Paine trip with a local expert.
Send your rough dates and what you want to do in Torres del Paine. A local planner turns it into a realistic route, flags weather-risky days, and shows clear options before you commit.
- A route ordered around the weather, bus times, border crossings, and park rules
- Places to stay, guides, and transfers picked to fit your budget
- An itemized quote you can compare — and no obligation to book
Our local plannersLocal guides & trip planners
We read and answer every request personally — no bots, no call centers.
“The planner rebuilt our week around a storm window we had no idea was coming. We summited Laguna de los Tres in perfect light.”
“Every bus, border crossing, and refugio was sequenced for us. We just followed the plan and it worked.”
“Honest advice — they talked us out of an itinerary that would have been miserable in April and built a better one.”
Common questions
Before you hit the trail.
No permit required for Salto Grande. Register at the trailhead ranger station on the day of your hike.