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Mountain in Chile

Dientes de Navarino

The southernmost trek in the world is a trackless plunge through peat bogs, scree, and unrelenting weather.

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Where on earth

Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Dientes de Navarino, Chile. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.

Region
Magallanes, Chile
Country
Chile
Biome
Sub-antarctic alpine (0–1,000 m)
Best season
December – March
Difficulty
moderate
Known for
  • Backpacking
  • Hiking
  • Climbing
  • Winter Camping
  • Skiing
  • Sea Kayaking
  • Beachcombing

Key takeaways

  • Biome: Sub-antarctic alpine (0–1,000 m)
  • Best season: December – March
  • Difficulty: moderate
  • Top activity: backpacking
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Photos of Dientes de Navarino

Dientes de Navarino are a mountain range in Navarino Island, Chile, located just south of Puerto Williams, along the Beagle Channel coast. They are named for the jagged pinnacles which resemble teeth.
Photo: Wikipedia contributors · See Wikimedia Commons

Topic summary

The southernmost trek in the world is a trackless plunge through peat bogs, scree, and unrelenting weather.

Key takeaways

  • Difficulty: moderate
  • Best season: December – March

Intended uses

backpacking

Climate suitability

Sub-antarctic alpine (0–1,000 m)

Region
Chile
Biome
Sub-antarctic alpine (0–1,000 m)
Difficulty
moderate

Tools for a trip here

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backpacking

How to get there

Orient travel around Puerto Williams, on the Beagle Channel coast of Navarino Island in southern Chile. Dientes de Navarino lies just south of town. Confirm onward access to the hiking circuit locally before setting out.

  • Puerto Williams

    The nearby settlement north of the range and the main geographic starting point for planning a visit. Confirm the circuit’s trail access locally.

  • Navarino Island

    The island containing both Dientes de Navarino and Puerto Williams, within the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. This is the broader arrival area, not a named trailhead.

Sources: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.

Popular pursuits at Dientes de Navarino

  • Backpacking

    Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.

  • Hiking

    Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.

  • Climbing

    Rock and alpine lines with approach beta.

  • Winter Camping

    Cold-season travel and camp craft; layering matters more than mileage.

  • Skiing

    Ski-touring access when the road closes for the season.

  • Sea Kayaking

    Coastal crossings, tides, and protected camps.

Animals around Dientes de Navarino

Browse all wildlife guides →

Maps, GPS & compass for this trip

Carry a waterproof paper map and a compass you can steer by, and treat the GPS as the backup — not the other way round. Buying links go to Amazon; Wild10 earns a commission at no cost to you.

Fishing at Dientes de Navarino

Planning to fish Dientes de Navarino, Chile? Fishing licences, open seasons and catch limits in Chile are set by the local wildlife authority and change every year — check the official source before you cast a line.

Do I need a fishing licence at Dientes de Navarino?

  • A Chile fishing licence is normally required for anyone over the local youth age.
  • Read the current Chile fishing regulations for special waters, barbless-hook or catch-and-release rules.
  • Clean, drain and dry boats and gear between waters to stop invasive species.

We don't have a verified licensing link on file for Chile yet — contact the park or land manager listed on this page for current hunting and fishing rules.

Hunting near Dientes de Navarino

Thinking about hunting Dientes de Navarino, Chile? Hunting seasons, tags and draws in Chile are set by the wildlife authority each year. Confirm the rules for your species and unit before you go.

Is hunting allowed at Dientes de Navarino?

  • Confirm the land around Dientes de Navarino is open to hunting and which management unit it falls in.

What do I need to hunt in Chile?

  • A Chile hunting licence — most jurisdictions also require hunter education certification.
  • Species tags or draw results for big game such as deer, elk, moose or bear where they occur.
  • Knowledge of firearm and bow transport rules, which differ by land type and border crossing.

We don't have a verified licensing link on file for Chile yet — contact the park or land manager listed on this page for current hunting and fishing rules.

A jagged range south of Puerto Williams

Dientes de Navarino is a mountain range on Navarino Island in the extreme south of Chile. Its name, meaning Teeth of Navarino, describes the jagged pinnacles that give the range its profile. The mountains lie just south of Puerto Williams, a settlement on the Beagle Channel in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. That relationship is useful for planning: Puerto Williams is the nearby town, while the mountain circuit is a separate, multiday undertaking. The main draw is a rough hiking route around the range rather than a single summit objective. Plan around the demands of that circuit, not simply the mountains’ proximity to town. A nearby settlement does not make a five- to seven-day trek a casual outing.

A rough circuit with weather-dependent timing

The hiking circuit around Dientes de Navarino takes five to seven days, depending on weather conditions. Treat that range as a planning guide rather than a fixed schedule: weather is explicitly part of how long the journey takes. Carry suitable shelter, clothing and food for a rough multiday walk, and leave flexibility in onward plans. The route was first set out in the 1990s by Australian climber and author Clem Lindenmayer, who wrote Trekking in the Patagonian Andes. It passes peaks known as Cerro Clem and Montes Lindenmayer, both named in his honour in 2001. Those names are useful landmarks when discussing the circuit, but passing the peaks should not be confused with having established summit routes to follow.

Lakeshores shaped by introduced beavers

The forests and lakes around the range tell an important part of Navarino’s ecological story. In the 1940s, the Argentine government released beavers on Tierra del Fuego in an attempt to establish a fur trade. With no natural predators, the animals spread, and the forests around Dientes de Navarino have suffered severely. Many lakeshores surrounding the mountains have been stripped of trees. Keep that history in mind when reading the landscape: open or damaged shores are not necessarily untouched mountain scenery. Give wildlife space and avoid adding disturbance to affected forest edges. Alongside the jagged peaks, this altered lakeside environment is a defining feature of the area and a reason to travel carefully through it.

Route options

  • Dientes de Navarino circuitRough multiday hiking

    A rough hiking circuit around the mountain range. Allow five to seven days depending on weather, with flexibility rather than a rigid completion schedule.

  • Cerro Clem and Montes Lindenmayer portion of the circuit

    The circuit passes these named peaks. Treat them as features of the full trek, not as a separately established shorter walk or summit itinerary.

Sample itineraries

  • Dientes de Navarino circuit: five-day plan · 5 days

    Walk the rough circuit around the jagged Dientes de Navarino range, south of Puerto Williams. The route passes Cerro Clem and Montes Lindenmayer. Five days is the shorter end of the trek's weather-dependent duration; carry enough supplies to accommodate delays.

  • Dientes de Navarino circuit: seven-day plan · 7 days

    Allow seven days for the same mountain circuit, giving weather more room to influence progress. Travel around the range and its surrounding lakes, where beaver damage has stripped trees from many shores. Choose daily stages according to conditions rather than a rigid schedule.

Seasonal conditions

Spring

Southern Hemisphere spring

Check current mountain weather and circuit conditions before setting out. Do not assume the season alone makes the rough route straightforward; allow flexibility within the trek's five-to-seven-day duration.

Summer

Southern Hemisphere summer

Weather still determines how long the circuit takes. Keep spare supplies and avoid treating a five-day finish as guaranteed.

Fall

Southern Hemisphere fall

Confirm current conditions locally before committing to the circuit. Pack for changing weather and leave room to adjust progress on rough terrain.

Winter

Southern Hemisphere winter

Seek current local advice on whether the circuit is suitable for your experience and equipment. Do not treat the general five-to-seven-day duration as a winter-specific estimate.

Permits, fees & closures

Confirm current permit, access, and camping requirements with the managing agency before departure.

Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.

Hazards & regulations

  • Rough trail terrain requires careful footing and a pace matched to the group.
  • Weather can alter progress substantially; the circuit takes five to seven days depending on conditions.
  • A multi-day mountain circuit leaves little room for inadequate food, shelter, or weather protection. Carry supplies that allow for delays.

What to pack for Dientes de Navarino

Weather protection and shelter
  • Waterproof outer layers
  • Warm insulating layers
  • Weather-ready tent
  • Sleeping system suited to the forecast
Navigation and trail travel
  • Current route information
  • Offline navigation and backup
  • Sturdy footwear for rough terrain
  • First-aid kit
Multi-day supplies
  • Food for the planned trek plus delays
  • Water containers
  • Water-treatment equipment
  • Reliable cooking equipment

Build this list in the gear builder →

Wildlife you may see

  • Introduced beavers have spread to the area and severely damaged forests around the range. Many surrounding lake shores have been stripped of trees.

Dientes de Navarino FAQ

Where are the Dientes de Navarino?
The range lies on Navarino Island in Chile's Magallanes region, just south of Puerto Williams. Puerto Williams sits on the Beagle Channel in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago.
How long does the circuit take?
Allow five to seven days, depending on weather. It is a rough hiking circuit, so build flexibility into onward travel rather than relying on the shortest duration.
What does the name mean?
Dientes de Navarino means Teeth of Navarino. The name describes the range's jagged, toothlike pinnacles.
Which named peaks does the route pass?
The route passes Cerro Clem and Montes Lindenmayer, named in honour of Clem Lindenmayer, who first set out the trail.
Why are some lake shores missing trees?
Beavers introduced to Tierra del Fuego spread without natural predators. Forests around Dientes de Navarino have suffered severe damage, leaving many lake shores stripped of trees.