Río Clarillo National Reserve, Nature reserve in Provincia de Cordillera, Chile

Río Clarillo National Reserve is a protected natural area in the Andean foothills near Santiago, encompassing diverse ecosystems across different elevations. The landscape shifts from riparian zones along the river to rocky slopes and mountain valleys as you move upward.

The area became a national reserve in 1982, ending decades of grazing and timber harvesting that had shaped the land. This transition allowed natural ecosystems to begin recovering and wildlife populations to reestablish themselves.

The park's name comes from the Clarillo River, which runs through the Maipo canyon in Pirque. Most visitors are Chileans, and the reserve draws them for its remaining sclerophyllous forest, one of the last stands in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. The trails Quebrada Jorquera and Aliwen Mahuida lead through this vegetation.

The reserve has marked walking paths and designated picnic areas scattered throughout for visitors to access different parts of the landscape. Plan for changing weather and varying trail difficulty depending on your chosen route and preferred elevation.

The reserve was created in 1982 and declared a national park in September 2020, covering 13,085 hectares between 850 and 3,050 metres above sea level. It protects one of the last remaining sclerophyllous forests in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, with species such as peumo, quillay, litre and canelo.