Ideal for climbers
Located on the shores of Toncek lagoon, with turquoise cold waters, at the foot of Frey peak in Mount Catedral. Named after Engineer Emilio Frey, a member of the Border Committee presided by Perito Moreno since 1895. He was the park administrator of the Nahuel Huapi National Park and one of the founders of Club Andino Bariloche.
The lodge itself is one of the most picturesque in the region. A true masterpiece of granite sculpting. The inside walls are wood-paneled and the roof is tiled. On the ground floor, there is a kitchen and a large dining room, with a wood chimney. Electric heaters and lighting has been installed, powered by the new turbine. On the first floor, there are dorms with mattresses, blankets and pillows, and the lodge administrator's bedroom. It can comfortably sleep 40 people. The lodge is also open during the winter.
Traditional Trail: Most conventional way to get to the trail. It starts at one side of Mount Catedral parking lot, where a large wooden sign with white letters, visible from the bus stop, announces the lodge. The starting point is marked by sign posts. Following the broad tracks, you walk for approximately 30 minutes until the track becomes a path. The path leads to the south, all the way to the Van Titter creek, where you begin to ascend. After a two-hour walk, you cross the creek through a bridge to get to Piedritas, a popular resting area (we recommend not entering.) One hour after that you reach Frey Lodge, 1700 MSL. The duration of the hike is 4 hours, and the difficulty level is low.
Mount Catedral Edge: Summer trekking which begins at the end of the chairlift tour whether at Punta Princesa or at Lynch Alta Patagonia Lodge. From Punta Princesa, it is a 3-hour walk, while from Lynch, the walk takes three and a half hours. The trail is adequately marked, in red paint. The ground is stoned, pretty irregular and uneven at first, of medium difficulty. Then it becomes softer till you get to the detour. Following to the left, you get to Frey lodge, and to the right you get to Jakob lodge. We recommend taking this hike in good weather, with a clear sky and no wind. Descend with caution to avoid sprains or slipping.
Eslovena Trail: This path begins at the Lake Gutiérrez rangers post, next to Villa los Coihues. You take bus No. 50, operated by the 3 de Mayo bus company and you get off at the Villa, next to the entry point on the right, where the Frey lodge is located. From this point it is about 3 more hours. The slope is sizeable, so you need to be in good physical condition and take at least 1.5 liter of water per person. You keep on walking along a gravel road which follows the shoreline of the lake for some 3 kilometers, till you get to the end of the road, where the park rangers and the campsite are. There begins the trail which leads to the beautiful Los Duendes falls. Just before you get there, there is a detour to the left, where you begin a slight ascent. After 2 hours, there is a signaled detour, and on the left you access Muños beach.
