Sheep Pass: Laguna del Caminante – What to pack?
For those looking for longer hikes around Ushuaia, Laguna del Caminante is the perfect option to combine hiking and camping during the austral summer.
It is highly recommended that you start early in the morning to guarantee you’ll arrive at Laguna del Caminante before the sun sets, and get your tent ready to enjoy the night in the mountains.
You’ll find the trailhead at the end of the main road that leads you to Barrio Andorra (a taxi can drop you off here). From there, all trails are well marked: you will find the trailhead to Laguna del Caminante to your left, while you’ll find the trailheads to go to Glaciar Vinciguerra-Laguna de los Témpanos and Laguna Encantada to the right of the main path.
You have several options if you want to do this hike. Some visitors do the whole trek on the same day, starting in Andorra early in the morning and returning by the same path (a very long day). Others choose to start early from Andorra, arrive at Laguna del Caminante, camp there and return to the city the next day following an alternative trail to Cañadón de la Oveja which ends in front of Centro Hípico Ushuaia, on the other side of town. We recommend this option! If you do choose to camp and try this adventurous trekking, bear in mind that getting from the trailhead in Andorra to Laguna del Caminante will take you about 6 hours.
The next day, the return to Ushuaia from Laguna del Caminante to Centro Hípico de Ushuaia will also take you about 6 to 7 hours depending on your pace. We suggest you do not forget to bring your trekking poles as they are extremely helpful in these long treks! Remember that this trekking trail is located inside Tierra del Fuego National Park where it is forbidden to make a campfire or bring any pets with you. Below you’ll find a list of essentials you must not forget to better enjoy this experience:
- Food and Enough Water
- Tent, Sleeping Bags
- Warm Layers, Extra underwear or liners
- Wind-Rain Jacket with hood
- One or two extra pairs of socks
- Headlamp or flashlights
- Fire starter, Burner & Lightweight camping cookset
- Trekking poles
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Sunglasses & Sunblock
Remember that as this is a longer trekking it is crucial that you pack as light as possible without forgetting the important stuff. Carrying unessential items on your backpack adds on weight and inevitably adds on your tiredness and fatigue. We recommend you always go to the mountains with friends and companions and you are sure to have a great time while also guaranteeing weight is properly distributed!
My friend and I just completed this trek, camping at Laguna del Caminante, then through the canyon the following day. Having done so and feeling a little worse for wear, I would say that due to the current state of the trails it will likely take 7+ hours on both days. The sheer amount of downed trees during the first segment of the trip caused us to have to constantly reroute. I cannot comment on the differences in how solid the ground would be in the Summer, but the moisture from snow melt/run-off and much of the land being peat mats, marshes, etc., made the footing quite difficult, especially with a 30+lb pack.
What caused most of the delays on the second day was the high winds during the route along mountain side – we were forced to stop until they died down a bit or face being swept off the narrow path and down the side. Again, maybe these conditions are less severe in the Summer… or maybe not.
I would also say that instead of “enough water”, add a water filter. Ours came in very handy, since we went through over a gallon each. That’s a lot of water to carry in without the option of filtering on-sight. We also had a small first aid kit, plastic bag for waste, a small power supply (I was tracking our hike via GPS), and compostable wipes.
Lastly, the end of the trail did not appear to be a horse riding camp, but rather a dirt bike track with red markers. The trail was not well marked after a curved horse gate, but there were no other trails or roads that we noticed.
With that being said, these were the best views that I saw while in Ushuaia – absolutely stunning.
Thanks, Ashley! Your updated info is super useful. Yes, these trails change dramatically depending on the time of the season and snow or rainfall, so as you posted it is essential to bring the right gear and weight as this is a long trek! We are so glad to read you guys encounter and enjoyed the amazing landscapes of this beautiful land!
All the best from the Freestyle Team in Ushuaia
Hello Marie Feliciano, should we expect snow layer in upper parts of the trail (laguna del Caminante) in early November? I know that the weather can change quickly in the mountains, but I would like to have a rougb idea, what can we expect. Thanks Jana
Thanks for your question. Yes, there can be snow in the upper parts of the trail in November, but it is very changeable. We recommend you check conditions once you are in Ushuaia and about to undertake the hike. Hope you enjoy Ushuaia!