Chile - Monkey Puzzle Trail
"Every mid-April, the subalpine forests of Araucanía burst into a blaze of autumnal hues. Towering above the red and gold foliage of southern beeches, the umbrella-shaped Araucarias – commonly known as Monkey Puzzle Trees – dominate the landscape, giving their name to this region of Chile."
Ride difficulty rating
High above, the first snows of autumn dust the peaks of Chile’s endless chain of conical volcanoes, their white summits resembling pyramids on the horizon.
This route winds along quiet pumice tracks, starting in fertile valleys and weaving past expansive lava flows, crystal-clear rivers, and remote ranches. It ascends through Araucaria forests, open alpine terrain, and smoky villages. On crisp fall days, the scenery seems made for haikus.
Avoiding the busier roads of Conguillío National Park (a worthwhile detour if time permits), the path follows a rugged 4×4 track through Reserva China Muerta, connecting Melipeuco to Lonquimay. From Lonquimay, the route climbs over an alpine pass along the shoulder of Volcán Lonquimay in Reserva Malalcahuello-Nalcas. Here, those with lightweight bikepacking setups may choose to explore long singletrack trails through the park. A long descent skirts a 20-year-old lava flow, passing the idyllic Lolco ranch.
At Chequenco, bikepackers can ask locals about a horse trail leading past Laguna Barco to the hamlet of Trapa Trapa (north of this route) and continuing over the mountains to a border crossing near Laguna de la Laja. Those staying on the main road will encounter a charming hot spring with excellent, affordable camping en route to Ralco.
