Lago Espejo Chico is my favorite lake to visit on the 7 Lakes Route, despite not being one of THE 7. I love it because it is tucked away from the main road but still very easy to access. And the lake feeds the turquoise Rio Ruca Malen, so by coming to the lake you also get to see this stunning river.

There is lake access with campgrounds and access along the river as well, meaning there is a lot of room to wander. If you have toddlers like me, then it means a ton of places to throw rocks and sticks into the water. To each their own.

There is a restaurant and facilities that are open during the summer season.

Where is Lago Espejo Chico? It's about 25 minutes north of Villa La Angostura making it a pit stop on your 7 Lakes day trip or an easy outing from VLA if you're based there. There is a short 2 kilometer road off Ruta 40 to reach Espejo Chico. Plug it into Google Maps in advance and pay attention so as not to miss the turn off (to your left if driving from VLA).

⛺Campsites: There are two campsites here, one that is along the river and another that is on the other side by the lake. Both are family friendly but the southern one by the river is said to be more popular among backpackers. I've heard you can't make a reservation so show up early to grab a spot. I also can't find any up to date pricing but it is typically very affordable.

If you don't want to pitch a tent, go glamping instead by reserving a dome at Domos Espejo Chico.