Gatun Dam to San Lorenzo Fort
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.84 nm
- Elevation gain
- 10 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 30 ft
- Max elevation
- 40 ft
- TrailRank
- 36
- Min elevation
- 8 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 2 hours 19 minutes
- Time
- 2 hours 55 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2187
- Uploaded
- February 19, 2022
- Recorded
- February 2022
near Gatún, Colón (Republic of Panama)
Viewed 149 times, downloaded 0 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Wanting to complete our cross-Panama trip, we opted to travel via kayak through this last portion. Shout out to Juan Sacris for mapping a similar route (https://www.wikiloc.com/kayaking-canoeing-trails/presa-del-gatun-a-fuerte-san-lorenzo-bajada-ultimo-tramo-chagres-39449799).
We made quick time, better than anticipated. Aside from two moored sailboats, we didn't see another soul. Stellar views of the rainforest with abundant wildlife. We saw three kingfishers, numerous herons, pelicans, cormorants, and various other birds. Two juvenile bull sharks leaped from the river, a particular delight. Crabs warily watched us from the mangroves while basilisks skittered out of the way. In short, a lovely, picturesque route.
Unless you want to paddle back, you will need to have someone drive around and pick you up from the San Lorenzo dock. The wind can get pretty strong during the last portion, which creates a funnel - you might consider doing the trail in reverse.
The side jaunts aren't necessary, but they were very pretty. Lots of small channels branch off from the river, and I highly recommend checking out a few of them.
We made quick time, better than anticipated. Aside from two moored sailboats, we didn't see another soul. Stellar views of the rainforest with abundant wildlife. We saw three kingfishers, numerous herons, pelicans, cormorants, and various other birds. Two juvenile bull sharks leaped from the river, a particular delight. Crabs warily watched us from the mangroves while basilisks skittered out of the way. In short, a lovely, picturesque route.
Unless you want to paddle back, you will need to have someone drive around and pick you up from the San Lorenzo dock. The wind can get pretty strong during the last portion, which creates a funnel - you might consider doing the trail in reverse.
The side jaunts aren't necessary, but they were very pretty. Lots of small channels branch off from the river, and I highly recommend checking out a few of them.
Waypoints
River
26 ft
Ruins
Mooring point
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