Nice rapid on Rio Frey

The Rio Frey is the name of the big volume river in Argentina that is the birth of the Futaleufu. The river is completely within Los Alerces National Park and has no road access. The River drains Lago Krügger and is above the Futaleufu damm so is a free flowing paradise.

Motorized transportation to the put in

To get to river one starts in either the Argentinian town of Trevelin or in Esquel. Follow the paved road into the southern park entrance of Los Alerces. Non Argentinians will be required to pay an entrance fee and will likely be required to pressure wash their boats to avoid the potential spread of the parasitic algae known as Didymo.

View to the north of Lago Futalafquen

From the park gate follow the road 27 km around Lago Futalafquen to Puerto Mattos. From here there is daily service in summer months via motorized ferry to Lodge Krügger 8 KM away on Lake Krügger. The ferry, the lodge and a campground in Krügger are all operated by EPA expediciones of Esquel. www.epaexpediciones.com epa@grupoepa.com Country code 54 phone (02945) 457015 Owner (also kayaker and owner of rafting company) Dany Badiola

Departures from Puerto Mattos are at 12:10 and returns from Krügger are at 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM.

The ferry crosses Lago Futalafquen and passes through the narrow estrechos de los monstruos named for the huge trout and into Lago Krügger. The lodge sits at the other side of the lake where the Rio Frey is born.

The area resembles Chile with snowpeaks and huge, ancient Coigüe trees, kingfishers, Colihue, and Arrayanes..

Put in at the beach at mouth of lake and float into the Frey 71°43’55.15″W
42°53’29.57″S, 516 meters above sea level. The whitewater run is 4.6 KM long and finishes at Las Palganas 42°55’42.96″S, 71°42’58.73″W. From here shoulder your boat and walk back to the lodge. An alternative is to continue down the Frey another 10 km into the embalse formed by the dam. From here it is 14 km across the lake to the dam site where there is road access.

The river fluctuates in volume from high water spring runoff of 350 cubic meters per second to low late summer flows of 100 CMS. (10,000 CFS to 3500 CFS). At low flows the river is fun class 3 with one class 4 rapid. At high flows there is 4+, 5- action in the big rapid and some stout whirlpools. Daily flow rates for Rio Frey can be seen on web at http://www.chfutaleufu.com.ar/parte/parte.pdf

Kayaker Eva Luna Ramirez

There are three distinct sections to the river. The upper, seldom run class 4-5 stretch requires permission to enter Estancia Tecka 7 KM below Sectional Caridad at 700 meters elevation 71°19’34.14″W, 43°41’13.22″S and has its take out on the Corcovado-Rio Pico road at Arroyo Poncho Morro 43°41’44.31″S, 71°23’49.00″W, elevation 492 meters. The 10 KM stretch involves a 90 plus km shuttle and a few portages thru a stout canyon.

10 year old Pablo Casey in front of the ducky

The lower stretch (also known as border run has its put in at the bridge of the Corcovado-Carrenleufu road at elevation 336 meters and takeout somewhere around 16 KM downstream below the town of Carrenleufú near 235 meters elevation. This stretch of river has a few class 4 rapids in beautiful canyon and its lower stretch has the added waters of the Rio Hielo.

Peruvian raft guide Alvaro Ibañez

The section, however, described here is the tradition commercially rafted section called the middle. The takeout is at the bridge 7 km from the town of Corcovado on the road between to Carrenleufú at elevation 336 meters 43°31’39.32″S, 71°33’19.07″W.

To reach put in return towards Corcovado and 1 km before reaching town turn south on gravel road 41 towards Rio Pico. Go just over 1 KM to the bridge over the river at elevation 386 meters, 43°32’36.66″S, 71°29’13.47″W

Arequipa boater ¨Chatto¨

The river is in an arid canyon with friendly class 2-3 boulder drop rapids. It is an 8 KM stretch that can be run in 2 hours. Late summer flows are around 15 CMS or 450 CFS which is more than enough for rafts. Flows are pushier with spring and early summer flows in excess of 40 CMS or 1200 CFS. EPA Expediciones of Esquel runs commercial raft trips on this section in the summer months and has base operation near the put in bridge. For more info

www.epaexpediciones.com

Eva Luna Ramirez

Nearby rivers include the Futaleufú, Palena, Frey, and Michinmahuida..Bring a fishing rod as big trout are present.

The emerald Río Manso flows through a wild canyon in Parque Nacional Nahual Huapi (Mapuche for “Tiger Island”) south of the ski resort town of San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. The river drains the southeast flank of Monte Tronador (3491 m) (‘Thunderer’ or ‘Anon’ in Mapuche, whose meaning is almost identical to the Spanish), a white behemoth that dominates the skyline. Manso means gentle or calm, but like the Pacific Ocean, the river belies its name.

Its narrow gorge is cloaked in lush vegetation, including impenetrable colihue and quila thickets. Most of the rapids are short, steep technical drops. Hydrologists report December flows of 48 cms that can turn the trip into a scary nightmare. At least one rapid becomes unscoutable, unportagable, and marginally runnable. Mistakes can turn into epics due to the Manso’s remote, mountainous location, which eliminates the feasibility of hiking out. Therefore, paddlers would be well advised to wait until early January, paying close attention to the weather so other plans can be made if the river becomes swollen from rain. For maximum vistas and minimal misery, try to run the Manso on a sunny day. Although the water is warm, a lack of sunlight in the narrow gorge can make for a cold day on the river.

For most mortals, the run begins in a large pool below Cascada de los Alerces elevation 750 meters. In January 1998, Brennan Guth joined local soccer legend Diego Maradona in Bariloche’s “Hall of Fame” after the first successful descent of this 16 m-high waterfall.

A kilometer downstream of Cascada de los Alerces, the calm water ends abruptly at a triple waterfall with the last drop the highest at about 5 m. All three falls are runnable, but if you are hesitant, there is an easy portage over a hill on the left.

Shortly after the triple falls, the river begins to gorge up. Continuing downstream, you will run five rapids in quick succession. Depending on the flow, it may be prudent to portage a sticky, river-wide hole at the end of this sequence. Portage on the left, following a well-trodden, machete-cut trail. Calm water follows, leading into a left-hand bend with rapids. Directly below the bend is a big, marginal waterfall with a tricky entry. Skilled, confident boaters can reasonably run the rapids and the hole, then get out on the left to portage the falls. A route has been cut through the bamboo, but the muddy, wet rock is treacherous. Not that in 2009 the Demshitz crew ran this falls making every drop on the river runnable.

After the above falls/ portage, a major rapid ensues with a large boulder in the center of the river at the bottom. The last class V rapid is the toughest and most difficult to portage. At higher flows, the only eddy is a tiny one at the top on river right. In the past, paddlers have traversed 5 m down the right wall, then downclimbed to the water. After securing a fixed line, boats were hauled down. People used the line for a backup while walking along a treacherous ledge. At lower flows, the rapid is runnable, and the portage much easier. However, there is still only room for one boat at a time in the eddy. If you find yourself on the river at high flows and are unable to eddy out at the top, sneak down between the pillow and rock on the far right. From here, run tight around the left side of the big boulder downstream. Eddy out behind the boulder, then boof into the next eddy directly below. You must avoid a nasty hole that extends from the left to the center of the river.

One more rapid follows before the gorge opens up. From here the whitewater eases to class III as a wall of mountains appear on both sides of the river. Eventually, the river empties into Lago Steffen, named after a German explorer who passed through the area in the 1880s. Hitch a ride on a powerboat or paddle 8 km across the lake to the take-out. Easterly winds help to surf you across the lake. Running the Manso can be a long day, so get an early start.

From Osorno, 913 km south of Santiago, drive east over Paso de Puyehue into Argentina. Drive southeast to the resort town of San Carlos de Bariloche. Continue 35 km to just south of Villa Mascardi. Turn west onto a dirt road towards Cerro Tronador and Los Alerces, and drive 25 km to Cascada de los Alerces. Follow the road to the end, then walk a few hundred meters down the trail to the river.

To reach the take-out, return to the main highway and drive south 22 km past Lago Guillelmo. Turn west on an unmarked road just before the sign Cañadon de la Mosca, and continue 11 km down the road to Lago Steffen elevation 509 meters.

This 16 km stretch (plus 8 km of flatwater across lake) averages 15 mpk or 80 fpm. It is runnable in summer months at rated as follows class  IV+ at  650-800 cfs with 2 portages,  class V- at 800-1300 cfs with two portages,  class V•V+ at any flow over 1300 cFS or  at any flows if you run what most people portage.

Topo maps titled Villa Mascardi

Otherwise this river is an almost two hour long non stop class 4+ rollercoaster ride. Really one of the best rivers that Argentina offers. Definitely try to catch in high season.
The photo above was taken on the lower Alumine – a shorter class 3/4 section near the town of Alumine