Hiking French Valley, Torres Del Paine

A snow-capped mountain ridge towers far above, a glacier gliding down a slope. In the distance is a bright turquoise lake, dotted with tiny islands. Above the woods around me, the horizontally striped, sweeping pinnacles of the Cuernos del Paine loom high above behind me. In between, another mountain ridge makes a swooping valley wall.

I spin around, view after view taking my breath away in a 360° panorama that is truly one of the most spectacular vistas I have ever seen.

Please note this post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at zero cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full Disclosure for more information. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Valle de Frances Day Hike Essentials

I am doing the French Valley (Valle de Frances) hike. Torrres del Paine National Park is the jewel of Chilean Patagonia and this hike is brightest, shiniest of the jewels! The main reason to visit Patagonia is the scenery. And the best way to see the scenery is to hike into it.

I had been in Torres del Paine years before, but had had to leave early before seeing much, so I was super excited to head back. I had actually seen the eponymous Torres (Towers) del Paine on my first visit, but had missed the Cuernos (Horns) del Paine, which are the classic postcard view of the park.

The French Valley, Chile runs right alongside the Cuernos, so this hike is one of the best opportunities to see them, plus there are incredible views of French Glacier and bright aqua blue alpine lakes.

The most famous hike in Torres del Paine is the legendary “W” hike. I love hiking (read more hikes I have done here), but wanted a little more comfort than trekking for days carrying a tent and food, so I had decided to do a modified version of it and:

hike the left arm of the “W” as a day hike (taking a catamaran across Lago Grey/ Grey Lake and hiking above Glacier Grey),
do the French Glacier hike (the middle arm of the “W”) as another day hike
do the right arm of the “W’ to the actual Torres del Paine as an overnighter.

Here is all you need to know about the Torrres del Paine French Valley day hike.

FREE DOWNLOAD
Subscribe to monthly updates with tips for planning, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of this
Guide to Hiking French Valley in Torres del Paine NP

French Valley day hike distance

The French Valley day hike from Paine Grande to the French Valley lookout is 12 miles/ 19km round trip. The first and last parts are about 4.5 miles each way.

When I was heading out, I thought this was pretty flat, but on the return leg, I realized it was actually quite a bit hillier than I had initially thought. The last mile or so was pretty tough and I was definitely ready to be done.

The actual French Valley hike from Campamento Italiano to the final lookout after Campamento Brittanico is 4.7 miles/ 7.5 km EACH WAY, so this is too far to do all this in a day trip that includes the ferry. I went as far the as the Valle de Frances Mirador (Lookout) – a bit over an hour (1.3 miles/ 2 km) each way from Campamento Italiano.

French Valley day hike difficulty

The hike is strenuous. The hike up the French Valley is uphill the entire way. The leg between Paine Grande and the valley is rolling hills, but you will notice the ups and downs on the way back!

The hike can be done by beginners, but you should be reasonably fit. If you are new to hike, read my Hiking 101 Guide for some basic hiking tips.

French Valley, Torres del Paine elevation

Start of hike: 121 feet/ 37 meters
Lago Skottsberg: 351 feet/ 107 meters
Campamento Italiano: 748 feet/ 228 meters
Valle del Frances: 1,814 feet/ 553 meters
Total Elevation Change: 1,693 feet/ 516 meters

French Valley Torres del Paine Map

Guided Hikes to French Valley

There are several guided hikes available to French Valley. This takes the hassle out of arranging accommodation and transportation. Three good options are:

1. 1-day guided hiking trip to French Valley from Puerto Natales

Includes transfers to and from Puerto Natales, the boat ride and a guide along the hiking route described here. Check availability and prices here.

2. 4 days for French Valley and Glacier Grey

A 4-day/ 3- night trip to Torres del Paine from Puerto Natales that focuses on hikes to French Valley and Grey Glacier. Includes accommodation and transfers. Check availability and prices here.

3. 4-6 days in Torres del Paine with day trips from Patagonia EcoCamp

Patagonia Ecocamp has accommodation in domes. The trip, which includes transfers to/ from Puerto Natales, has day trips to various places in and around Torres del Paine, including the day hike to French Valley. Check availability and prices here.

How to get the start of the French Valley Patagonia day hike: Pudeto to Paine Grande

If you are going to do the hike independently, you will need to know how to get there.

The hike starts at Paine Grande Refugio. To get to Paine Grande, you need to take a ferry across the brilliant turquoise colored Pehoe Lake from Pudeto.

There is a bus from Puerto Natales to Pudeto, but the most convenient way to get there is to drive. We stayed the night before in the Rio Serrano area, so it was about a 40-minute drive to Pudeto. For a full guide to driving in Patagonia, read here.

Drive from Pehoe Island to catamaran across Lake Pehoe

Ferry Pudeto – Paine Grande

The ferry between Pudeto and Paine Grande is a small catamaran run by “Catamaran Hielos Patagonicos” (Patagonian Ice Catamaran). The trip takes about half an hour.

Catamaran to go across Lake Pehoe to start of French Valley Hike

Ferry from Pudeto to Paine Grande Refugio

9:00am (take this one for the full French Valley day hike)
11:00am
6:00pm

Ferry from Paine Grande Refugio to Pudeto

9:30am
11:30am
6:30pm (this is your return boat if you did the full day hike)

Time schedule to leave from Pudeto to Refugio Paine Grande

The trip costs $50USD/ 30,000 pesos return ($30/ 20,000 pesos one-way). There’s a ticket booth inside the boat that opens after the boat sails. You need a ticket to get off the boat.

The boat arrives right at the Lodge Paine Grande.

If you are doing the “W” hike, this is a popular place to stay. Even if you don’t, you could choose to overnight here.

Paine Grande Refugio - start of French Valley Hike

How to get to Pudeto for the French Valley hike

There are buses from Puerto Natales to Pudeto, but they get to Pudeto at 10:00am, which misses the first boat to Paine Grande. So for the full day hike up French Valley, you will need a rental car. You can rent a car at most major towns, including Puerto Natales. Rent a car here.

Note that there is no gas/ petrol for sale in the national park, so top up your tank in Puerto Natales and consider taking a canister with additional fuel if you plan to drive much. Try to limit driving to the essentials. We filled up in Puerto Natales, then drove in the south entrance and made our way north, then drove out the north entrance a week later with gas to spare.

Read my complete guide to driving in Patagonia here for tips on driving, distances and times, gas stations, car rental tips, and more.

How to get to Torres del Paine National Park

There are two main gateway cities to Torres del Paine – Santiago on Chile (read about a food tour and winery tour here) and Buenos Aires in Argentina (where you have to see tango – read about it here!).

You can fly from Santiago to Puerto Natales and drive or get a bus from there, or fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and drive or take a bus from there.

Compare prices on flights with Skyscanner

Where to stay in Torres del Paine for the French Valley day hike

There are several hotels in and near Torres del Paine National Park that are close enough for easy access to the Pudeto Ferry for the day hike. Puerto Natales is possible, but makes a long day, so I would recommend staying closer.

The best options are those in the central area of the park. The closest are Hosteria Pehoe, Pehoe Camping and the Explora Patagonia Hotel Salto Chico. However, hotels to the north (Torres region) and south (Rio Serrano region) are also viable options.

For a complete guide to ALL of the hotels in Tores del Paine and nearby, check out my guide on Where to Stay in Torres del Paine.

Best time to hike the French Valley

The weather in Torres del Paine changes frequently. Chances are fairly small that you will have great weather the entire time you are there, which makes this a bit of a crap shoot.

We met someone who had hiked the French Valley a couple of days before us in sleet and hail and had seen absolutely nothing and was utterly miserable. We went on a gorgeous sunny day and the views were absolutely incredible.

So definitely try to choose a good weather day if you can. Otherwise, it’s really not worth it.

The best time to visit Torres del Paine in general is late spring. The snow has mostly melted, the flowers are in full bloom and things are not too crowded. However, it can be visited in Spring, summer or fall (winter is also possible, but not the French valley hike).

Spring (September – November): Mostly clear skies; warm days and cold nights, wildflowers in bloom, not TOO crowded
Summer (December – March): Mostly clear skies, high season with the most visitors. Warm days, but nights can still be cold (it snowed near the Torres del Paine on Christmas Day when I visited the first time).
Fall (March – June): Fall color is beautiful, fewer visitors, but cold weather.

Planning and packing for Torres del Paine

There is so much to see in Patagonia, you will want to plan your trip carefully. I used the Lonely Planet and Moon travel guides, in addition to the Internet. Buy the Chile Lonely Planet here and buy Moon’s Patagonia guidebook here.

For help in planning your trip, check out my Trip Planner here.

When you are ready for your trip, check out my Essential Packing List and my Hiking Day Trip Packing List.

Make sure you have all the essential gear you need (handy checklist here).

Where is the French Valley, Torres del Paine and what is the currency?

Torres del Paine is in Chile. The currency is the Chilean peso (which is different from the Argentinean peso). The symbol for pesos is the same as for dollars – $.

Check out the current exchange rate here.

Visa requirements for Chile

Check visa requirements for Chile here long before you plan to travel in case you need to get a visa.

Additional consideration: Travel Insurance

You definitely need travel insurance, especially when you are hiking. If you have questions about buying travel insurance, read my comprehensive guide to travel insurance.

A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. Unlike many insurances, it covers a range of adventure activities. Travelex’s Travel Basic and Travel Select plans offer a basic level of coverage for certain activities including scuba diving, kayaking, bungee cord jumping, skiing, canyoning, river rafting, snorkeling, horseback riding, hiking, and more. If your next trip involves any extreme sports or adventures outside what is automatically covered, such as mountain climbing, sightseeing by helicopter, and learning to fly, you can add their Adventure Sports Coverage upgrade as part of the Travel Select plan to help ensure you’re adequately protected.You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:

Description: Hiking French Valley, Torres del Paine

Here is what to expect when you hike French Valley.

The first part of the Valle de Frances, Torres del Paine hike: From Paine Grande Refugio to Camp Italiano

The first part of the hike is a 2.5-hour walk, 4.7 miles/ 7.6 km (from 9:45am to 12:15pm stopping frequently to take photos) to Campamento Italiano. This is at the bottom of the middle part of the “W”. The trail is easy to find, but if you have any doubts about how to find and follow a trail, read my Guide to Hiking Trail Markers.

The blue Lago Pehoe is soon left behind.

Start of French Valley HIke - view back to Refugio Paine Grande

It’s a very pleasant walk; the trail goes up and down fairly gentle hills. There are open areas, rolling hills.

If you are new to hiking, check out my Hiking Etiquette Guide so you don’t commit any faux pas on the trail.

View of Cuernos del Paine near start of French Valley HIke part of the W HIke

There are also bushes that are dotted with bright red flowers in November when I was there. The Cuernos del Paine tower in front. There is a small stream at one point that we crossed over a tiny wooden bridge.

There are sensational views of Skőttsverg Lake with the Cuernos del Paine behind it. The trail skirts around the lake through a forest of dead trees.

Lake Skottsberg and Cuernos del Paine on French Valley Hike

And more red flowers.

And more dead trees. Did I mention I took a lot of photos? But how crazy beautiful is this?

View of Cuernos del Paine on French Valley Hike

This section of the trail ends at a footbridge over a river, the Rio de Frances.

The river bed is pebbly, and there are views of the cliffs behind Glacier Frances that are even better as you go into the valley.

Bridge across river on French Valley HIke

If you are there in peak season, you may need to wait to cross the river, as only one person can cross at a time. (Something to keep in mind for your way back).

The second part of the French Valley hike: Up Valle de Frances from Camp Italiano to Mirador Valle de Frances

The second part of the hike is 1 hour and 15 minutes (about 1.3 miles/ 2 km from Campamento Italiano) (12:15pm – 1:30pm) up French Valley from Campamento Italiano to the Valles Del Frances Mirador.

The Italian Campground is across the river. This is another popular place to camp.

The campsites are scattered among the trees.

French Valley Hike_near Italiano campsite

The trail goes alongside the river.

French Valley HIke trail by river at start of valley

Through the woods.

After about 20 minutes of uphill walking, you will arrive at Mirador Glacier del Frances (French Glacier Lookout), where there are your first uninterrupted views of the glacier. Stop and take photos, but it gets even better.

The next section is more uphill. It’s pretty steep here, so take it slow. If you aren’t very fit (or even if you are), this can be hard going. Take it slow.

This section ends at Mirador Frances Valley (French Valley Lookout).

Note that on the sign, the end of the valley is scratched out where it says “Mirador Valle del Frances”. The place marked “Usted este aqui” (You are Here) is the Mirador Valle del Frances. The end of the valley is actually Mirador Brittanico.

From here, there are incredible views of the glacier, the valley, the Cuernos and turquoise lakes, Lago Pehoe and Lago Nordenskjold.

The lookout is spread along a ridge with sensational views of the entire surrounding area.

Don’t stop at the beginning of the ridge – it is worth going another couple of minutes for even better views.

It is common to hear loud cracks as the glacier calves. If you hear a loud noise, look up to see broken chunks of glacial ice cascading down the slope in a spray of ice and snow. Very cool!

The views of the lakes almost get overshadowed by the mountains, but they are just as incredible.

The third part of the French Valley day hike: From French Valle Lookout back to Paine Grande (and the boat back to Pudeto)

The trail continues uphill to Mirador Brittanico, but we turned back, as we didn’t want to rush too much. If you are doing the French Valley day hike, this is the furthest recommended place. Going to the end of the valley is too far to get back in time for the last boat back to Pudeto.

If you are on the “W” hike, you could continue even further uphill to the end of the valley (it’s a very steep uphill scramble over rocks). It is a total of 4.7 miles 7.5 km from Campamento Italiano to the end of the valley (each way): 2.5 hours/ 5.5 km to Campamento Brittanico then 0.5 hours/ 2 km to the final lookout at the far end of the Valle de Frances.

French Valley Hike furthest point I went to

It’s another 6 miles back, of course.

Waiting for catamaran at end of French Valley hike

We took our time going back – the weather had gotten even better and the views of the Cuernos del Paine behind us were nothing short of spectacular, so I stopped and turned around a lot.

I got back to Paine Grande Refugio about 5:45pm. This was enough time to go to the loo and get some more water to drink at the refugio before the 6:30pm ferry back to Pudeto.

Catamaran ready to leave French Valley Hike

Happy hiking!

Do you have any stories of Patagonia ? I’d love to hear them. Comment below.

If you liked this post, please share the love and Pin it to your Patagonia and Amazing Hikes boards!

About the author

James Ian has traveled to 82 countries and all 7 continents. He is passionate about experiential travel, i.e. meaningful travel that actively engages with the environment and culture. He helps people have similar experiences that involve active participation in activities and festivals; engaging with the local food and handicrafts through lessons and food tours; and interacting positively with environment by hiking, riding, rowing, diving and low/no impact animal encounters.