Altos de Lircay National Reserve

Altos de Lircay covers the transition forest of the Maule cordillera - roble, hualo and coigue giving way to alpine ground - with trails climbing to the Enladrillado, a plateau of flat basalt slabs at around 2,200 metres that look laid rather than formed, and which folklore and a persistent local industry have turned into a supposed landing site for aircraft of unexplained origin. The geology is simply columnar basalt eroded to its flat tops. The walk up is about eight kilometres each way. Beyond it the Descabezado Grande volcano and the Laguna del Alto lie further into the range.

Background

The reserve was created in 1996 and covers 121.63 km2 of pre-Andean ground in Talca Province, Maule Region, close to the Cerro Azul volcano as well as Descabezado Grande. Of the ten Nothofagus species that occur in Chile, seven grow here, alongside the ciprés de la cordillera and the roble Maulino. Rare and threatened animals include the Tricahue parrot and Molina's hog-nosed skunk. Three main rivers cross the area: the Claro, which runs from north to south, the Lircay, which feeds into it, and the Blanquillo, which meets the Claro inside the reserve.

Source: Wikipedia, "Altos de Lircay National Reserve"

The landscape

• The Enladrillado plateau - flat basalt slabs at about 2,200 metres.
• A UFO story attached to it - folklore rather than geology.
• Transition forest below - roble and hualo giving way to alpine ground.
• Descabezado Grande beyond - the volcano deeper in the range.

When to go

December to April; snow closes the high ground otherwise. A full day or two.

Good to know

The Enladrillado walk is long, steep and unshaded, and people underestimate it. Water must be carried. The reserve closes sectors in high fire risk. The road up from Talca is partly gravel.

Nearby

Radal Siete Tazas is north; Talca is west in the valley.

Key facts