At the southernmost tip of mainland South America, Chile plans to create Cape Froward National Park, a sweeping protected area that could become one of the most remote and ecologically significant parks in the Americas. When finalized, it will encompass roughly 600 square miles of subantarctic wilderness on a largely roadless stretch of the Brunswick Peninsula, becoming the country’s 47th national park.
Officials aim to formalize the designation later this spring.
Why this park—and why now
The push to formalize the park comes amid a broader conservation strategy in Chile, which already protects more than one-fifth of its land. Cape Froward is one of the missing pieces in the puzzle to create a wide-ranging wildlife corridor; it’s the product of nearly a decade of land deals, conservation planning, and public-private collaboration.
In 2021, a 231,000-acre piece of land in Chile came onto the market, catalyzing a broader effort to create the park led by Tompkins Conservation—the nonprofit started by the late Doug Tompkins, the cofounder of The North Face and Esprit—and now led by his widow, Kristine Tompkins, the former CEO of Patagonia. Kristine has overseen some of the largest private land donations in conservation history and has helped establish or expand 16 other national parks in Chile and Argentina.
“The vast peatlands, ancient forests, and exceptional marine biodiversity of Cape Froward make it a priority area for protection,” Kristine Tompkins told Afar. “It’s so rugged, but also beautiful and truly one of the wildest places I’ve ever been.”
Cape Froward provides a critical habitat for species on the brink, including the endangered ruddy-headed goose and the elusive huemul deer, both of which stand to benefit from the area’s protected status.
Courtesy of Rewilding Chile
Together with its successor organization called Rewilding Chile, the two groups have spent the better part of a decade piecing together private land acquisitions with state-held properties to form a contiguous protected landscape. That work culminated in a 2023 agreement to donate the land to the Chilean government for the creation of a park.
“Creating this future national park marks a significant step toward the vision of integrating the Brunswick Peninsula into a corridor that connects with other national parks, including Kawésqar National Park and Yendegaia National Park, further strengthening one of the largest conservation networks in the Southern Hemisphere,” Carolina Morgado, executive director of Rewilding Chile, told Afar.
The new park will also slot into the Route of Parks of Chilean Patagonia, a 1,700-mile conservation network stretching from Puerto Montt to Cape Horn that links existing protected areas, making one continuous ecological network.
“It protects 28 million acres and creates economic opportunities linked to conservation in over 60 surrounding communities,” Morgado added. “And it is key to counteracting the effects of the climate and biodiversity crises in Chile and worldwide, due to its high ecological level, diversity of ecosystems, low human influence, and as a refuge for endangered species.”
A rare ecosystem—on land and at sea
A mix of fjords, forests, and peatlands defines Cape Froward, a largely roadless stretch of Patagonia that could soon become one of Chile’s newest protected landscapes.
Courtesy of Rewilding Chile
Cape Froward’s value isn’t only its remoteness—it’s also the sheer geological diversity packed into a relatively compact area. The landscape is a mosaic of subantarctic forests, peatlands, fjords, glaciers, and steppes, alongside dense kelp forests offshore.
The peatlands are particularly significant, acting as major carbon sinks and making the area critical to mitigating climate change in a warming world. At the same time, the coastline, dense in kelp forests, marks a convergence of Antarctic, Pacific, and Atlantic currents, creating nutrient-rich waters that support Magellanic penguins, Peale’s dolphins, and migrating Sei and humpback whales.
The area is one of the last continental refuges for the huemul deer, Chile’s national animal, now reduced to a fraction of its historic range. It’s also home to one of the final populations of the critically endangered ruddy-headed goose, of which about 200 remain.
What it could look like for travelers
For now, Cape Froward remains largely inaccessible, reachable primarily via expedition-style travel from Punta Arenas, about 40 miles away.
That’s expected to change—but not dramatically. Plans call for low-impact infrastructure centered near San Isidro Lighthouse, including an improved trail network, ranger stations, and basic camping. Side routes could lead hikers up Mount Tarn and Cerro Foca, while the stretch beyond Bahía del Águila, the site of a 19th-century whaling station, will likely remain the domain of experienced backpackers navigating tides, river crossings, and unpredictable weather.
“Cape Froward has huge potential. The park currently lacks public use infrastructure, but we are moving forward with the preparation of an infrastructure master plan, which will allow visitors to explore it in a safer way, offering a better experience,” Morgado said. “We believe that this is vital for connecting people with this protected territory.”
The park’s future now hinges on final approvals. But when they are finalized, the park’s designation will mark another step toward Chile’s broader conservation goals—and bring a largely overlooked corner of Patagonia into the fold.
