Grey Glacier Deep Dive
Grey Glacier flows from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field into Lago Grey at the north end of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Its 6 km wide calving front and the icebergs floating in the lake are one of the iconic sights of the W and O treks, and a focus of Chilean glacier tourism. The glacier is also a textbook example of the kind of late-stage retreat now common across temperate glaciers worldwide.
Geography
Grey descends roughly southward from the ice field for about 28 km to Lago Grey. The lake is about 15 km long. The glacier splits at the snout around an outcrop of rock, producing a three-armed calving front that gives it its distinctive shape.
Calving and icebergs
Calving is constant during the warm season. Icebergs drift south down Lago Grey and routinely beach near the Hostería Grey, where visitors can sometimes walk right up to them. The recent loss of a major ice arch in 2017 became one of the most-photographed glacier collapses anywhere.
How to visit
- Mirador Grey on the W trek. Day hikers can reach the lookout in a long day return from Refugio Grey or as part of the W itinerary.
- Lago Grey boat tour. A three-hour catamaran trip from Hostería Grey across the lake to the glacier face. Year-round, weather permitting.
- Glacier kayak tours. Multi-day kayak trips around the icebergs near the south end of the lake; specialised local outfitters.
- Ice walks. Half-day guided walks on the lower glacier are occasionally offered when conditions allow.
The W and O treks
Grey Glacier is the northern apex of the W and O circuits. The view from Mirador Grey, looking out over the broken ice and the ice field beyond, is one of the most photographed in Patagonia. The full O circuit also passes the John Garner pass with extensive views down the ice field.
Mass balance and change
The lake-grounded portion has retreated by roughly 4 km since 1990. The 2017 arch collapse marked a shift to a faster phase of retreat. The northern arm (above the rock outcrop) is now disconnected from the eastern arm in some seasons.
Practical notes
Torres del Paine has a permit and reservation system. Most W hikers stay at Refugio Grey, Paine Grande and Refugio Cuernos. The boat trip leaves from Hostería Grey near the south end of the lake.
Plan your next trip
The interactive map shows the three arms of Grey, the boat route, the W and O trail network, and historical positions of the front for comparison.