Torres del Paine O Circuit
Also known as: Full Circuit
The whole W plus Lago Dickson, the Los Perros glacier and Paso John Gardner's aerial view over Glacier Grey - the trek's highlight
The route
The line through Patagonia (Magallanes), Chile - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Waypoints
- 1Central (start)Trailhead
Counter-clockwise only
- 2Seron (camp)Junction
Quiet backside pampa
required · 1 Nov-31 Mar - 3Dickson (camp/refugio)Junction
Lakeside; refugio
required · 1 Nov-31 Mar - 4Los Perros (camp)Junction
Below the pass; basic
required · 1 Nov-31 Mar - 5Paso John GardnerSummit
Highest point; aerial Grey Glacier view; closes in storms
- 6Grey / Paine Grande (joins the W)Junction
Laddered Grey descent; rejoins the W
required · Oct-Apr
Season & conditions
O open ONLY 1 Nov - 31 March; Dec-Feb peak (windiest, booked out); Nov/Mar shoulder
Patagonian extremes plus snow on the pass; the backside is more committing
Solitude on the backside (Seron, Dickson, Los Perros), the aerial Grey Glacier view from the pass, long summer light
1 November to 31 March only (unlike the year-round-ish W). Confirm.
On the trail
Pampa, lenga forest, the high John Gardner Pass, a laddered Grey Glacier descent, lakeshore
Non-technical but the John Gardner Pass is a long exposed climb; the backside is remote and snow lingers on the pass early season
Waymarked; one-direction (counter-clockwise) enforced; the backside is remote
Fit multi-day backpackers only; not for beginners, kids, non-hikers or wheelchair users; more self-sufficient than the W
Guanaco, condor, huemul (rare), fox; puma (rare)
Lenga forest, steppe
Backside quiet, W section busy; the backside camps book first
The O includes the W (do the W as the shorter alternative); one-direction rule; backside sections are not standalone
Getting there & staying
Puerto Natales to Laguna Amarga, start at Central; a loop finishing back near Central/Paine Grande
Same bus/catamaran chain as the W (the W-portion uses the catamaran)
Backside is mostly camping (Seron, Dickson - has a refugio, Los Perros, Paso - basic); the W section has refugios; book all nights
Full backpacking kit plus cold/wind gear; a stove is useful (limited hot water on the backside); no coverage on the backside; cash
Backside camps basic; W section serviced
Not required; self-guided common; guided available
Permits & safety
CONAF plus all nights booked across Vertice (Dickson, Los Perros, Grey, Paine Grande) and Las Torres (Seron, Central, Chileno, Cuernos, Frances); backside camps (Seron, Dickson, Los Perros, Paso) book first; every night required to enter. Confirm before booking.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
John Gardner Pass storms and snow, wind, cold, ladders on the Grey descent; season-limited for a reason
Rangers check passes; the John Gardner Pass closes in bad weather; the remote backside is self-sufficient; register
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.