From One Cascade to the Next

Amidst thick forests, several drops on the rocky river bed create admirable waterfalls.

Arroyo Del Medio (Middle Creek) runs parallel to National Route 40, very close to the City of El Bolsón. A peculiar fact is that it features cascades of different volume according to each season, before it empties its waters into the Quemquemtreu River. We could access two of them through trails of grand natural beauty. In order to see Cascada del Mallín (Marsh Cascade), we got deep through the lush vegetation that gives origin to a site of high humidity. The river features two major falls with a 20-meter drop, which is used to generate electrical power. This is a very pleasant tour, completed with beautiful estates and farms producing hop, cheese, jam and fine fruit. Cascada Escondida (Hidden Cascade) is probably the most popular among visitors. It is reached through a trail in the forest that borders Arroyo Del Medio. It overflows with green species, both native and introduced. We went down a kind of footbridge as the deafening noise announced how close we were to the base of the fall. Beneath, there was the strong presence of that volume of water falling vertically as a victim of gravity, to continue flowing down. An interesting botanic garden created by the INTA and some pools where we could swim without any kind of fear added up to the natural charm of this area. What about the water? Frozen, indeed, as it comes from the mountain.

Other three cascades are part of the circuit, namely: Nahuelpan, De la Virgen and Catarata. All of them boast great visual appeal and the chance to be visited even though they are quite far away from the city. Featuring different heights, they all share the same crystal-clear waters, the murmur of the water rolling down and that wonderful rainbow that shows itself boldly when the drops are crossed by the sunbeams.