Torres del Paine · Chile

Mirador Ferrier

A steep forest climb near Lago Grey to a high viewpoint over Grey Glacier, the Ice Field, and Paine Grande.

Difficulty
Hard
Distance
7km
Duration
4h
Elevation gain
+700m
Max altitude
500m
Route type
Out & back

From the Lago Grey sector, the trail climbs sharply through forest toward Mirador Ferrier. The ascent is short but sustained and reaches an exposed lookout with views across the Grey area. The route returns by the same path and should not be confused with the longer Grey Glacier trail from Paine Grande.

About the hard grade: Full-day efforts, 800 m+ of gain. Steep, rough terrain, possible scrambles. Early starts and weather windows matter.

Conditions in Torres del Paine

Now
-4°Light drizzle · feels -8°
Weather watch
Wind3 km/h
Gusts40 km/h
Rain100%
Humidity88%
Daylight11h 47m
Rise / Set07:5319:40
Alerts
7-day forecast

Best window — today

08:0012:00

Exposed routes risky

No-go window

Weather via Open-Meteo · Updated 12:45 · Not safety advice

Shown for the trailhead — expect colder, windier conditions near the 500m 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.

Visibility matters

The views are the point of this trail. In low cloud, save it for another day and pick a forest or lake walk instead.

Safety notes

Check the official daily report before leaving. The route is steep and exposed near the viewpoint; strong wind, rain, snow, and poor visibility can make it unsuitable.

What to pack

The Patagonia day-hike checklist — layers first, wind always.

For this trail: Wear hiking boots and carry waterproof windproof layers, water, food, sun protection, and warm clothing. Trekking poles are useful on the descent.

0 of 27 packed

Patagonia can cycle through four seasons in one afternoon. Dress in layers you can add and shed fast — wind is the defining factor.

  • Base layerSynthetic or merino, never cotton — it must wick sweat and dry fast.
  • Mid layerFleece or a light insulated jacket for breaks and summit wind-chill.
  • Outer shellWind- and waterproof jacket. This is the one piece you should never skip.
  • Hiking pantsQuick-dry. Add thermal tights underneath in shoulder season.
  • Warm hat & glovesEven in January — exposed ridges are cold when the wind picks up.
  • Sun hat or capPatagonian UV is strong and shade is rare above the treeline.
  • Spare merino socksWet 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.

About 30 seconds · only your email is required

Rough dates are fine — we plan around them.

Pick up to 5 — or none, and we'll suggest a route.

No card needed · we reply within 48 hours
The planner rebuilt our week around a storm window we had no idea was coming. We summited Laguna de los Tres in perfect light.
Maren SundqvistEl Chaltén · 6 days
Every bus, border crossing, and refugio was sequenced for us. We just followed the plan and it worked.
Diego FernándezW Trek + El Calafate · 12 days
Honest advice — they talked us out of an itinerary that would have been miserable in April and built a better one.
Rachel WhitfieldBariloche + Lakes · 8 days

Common questions

Before you hit the trail.

No permit required for Mirador Ferrier. Register at the trailhead ranger station on the day of your hike.