Cerro Bandera, Puerto Williams

The Bandera

The Cerro Bandera trail is the first part of the Dientes de Navarino trail in Puerto Williams.

It's easily accessible from the town, with a short 40 min walk to the main road to the Aerodrome and Puerto Navarino. The trail starts along the road to the town water supply where the road splits at Plaza de la Virgen.

The Plaza de la Virgen

From the town water supply, the trail heads into the forest of Northofagus trees that are typical of the area.

The start of the trail

The path climbs steeply up the hill until it reaches the first of the lookouts. From here you can see Puerto Williams, the Beagle Channel and far in the distance, Ushuaia.

Puerto Williams

Looking up the Beagle Channel towards Ushuaia

From this lookout the trail becomes considerably steeper as it winds through further forest until you ascend past the treeline where there is a second lookout.

The Beagle Channel

Puerto Williams

The mountains

From here it's a very steep ascent to the flag at the top.

Steep trail to the top

The Bandera (flagpole) commands views across the valley to the Beagle Channel. 

The bandera with Puerto Williams and the Beagle Channel in the background

The trail continues up the mountain and from the H5 and H6 waypoints you can get beautiful views of the lagoons, mountains and river.

The mountains and lagoon

The lagoon

The mountains (aka Los Dientes)

The river at waypoint H6

The trail follows the side of the mountain and is very steep and difficult terrain. Sadly I had run out of time to continue and it had started to rain - so the prospect of more mountain trekking was impractical.

The steep and difficult trail along the mountain

Looking back to the bandera with the weather closing in

The Beagle Channel from waypoint H5 (before it started raining)