Patagonia park reopens after forest fire with new infrastructure
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Following a large forest fire in 2025, the Río Azul. Lago Escondido Protected Area in Argentina has reopened to visitors with updated infrastructure and conservation measures.
The 65,000-hectare park near El Bolsón suffered a fire that burned 4,000 hectares, including over 2,500 hectares of native forest. The Río Negro province government invested in new infrastructure to improve safety and protect the ecosystem after the fire and during winter conditions.
These improvements include two new metal and concrete pedestrian bridges, Hue-Naín at 65 meters long and La Tronconada at 50 meters, over the Río Azul river, providing access to trekking trails and connecting key refuges. The “Confluencia” access portal was also constructed, housing a visitor center, offices for environmental guards and mountain police, a multipurpose room, and a fire prevention facility.
Park authorities are also working to restore the native forest by removing invasive species and growing native plants in nurseries. The area offers several trekking circuits, including the iconic Troncal Circuit along the Azul River, the Cerro Hielo Azul. Laguna Natación Circuit, the Cerro Dedo Gordo Circuit, and the Valle del Río Encanto Blanco Circuit. Visitors must now register online before hiking and the park limits overnight stays to 1,000 beds in certified refuges to manage the recovering environment.
