Photo: OutCrow, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
📍 Santiago Easy
1.1 km
Distance
+50 m
Elevation gain
30–45 min
Time
Easy
Difficulty
✓
Family friendly
A 1.1 km family trail from Villa Paulina, in the Yerba Loca Nature Sanctuary. It takes about 35 minutes, with little climbing and low technical difficulty; you can start at the south or north access and finish at the other. Halfway, at the highest point, is the Mirador del Águila viewpoint, overlooking the Yerba Loca valley and the Manchón, del Medio, Altar and Falso Altar peaks.
The La Leonera stream runs beside the trail and its water is drinkable (the Yerba Loca stream's is not). There are no toilets on the route and no camping. Villa Paulina has toilets, camping and the Visitor Centre.
The park opens every day: entry from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, closing at 8:00 pm. Fire is prohibited, including smoking (5 UTM fine). Tickets (online only, not sold at the park): adults 18 to 59 CLP 7,000; ages 6 to 17 and seniors 60+ CLP 2,500; under 5 free (with an adult). Lo Barnechea residents with a Club Preferente card, CLP 3,000.
Yerba Loca is 25 km from Plaza San Enrique (Lo Barnechea) on Route G-21, the road to Farellones; the entrance is at bend 15. From there it's 4 km of dirt road to Villa Paulina, where the trails start. After rain or snow you need a 4×4 and chains: check the park status. There's no public transport; you can get there by taxi or shared taxi from Plaza San Enrique.
📍 Villa Paulina, Parque Yerba Loca, Lo Barnechea
Open year-round. The park only closes for hazards or emergencies (landslides, heavy snow, fires). Before you go, check the park status (at the top of this page) and each trail's details on the Yerba Loca website.
You may see Andean birds such as the black-winged ground dove. Stay on the trail and leave no trace.
User experiences, not official information. Always check the official status before you go.
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