Ruta Provincial 15 Paso de Agua Negra Mining Circuit

The abandoned copper mines along Provincial Route 15 tell the story of Argentina’s mining boom through rusted machinery and crumbling stone foundations scattered across the Cordillera Frontal. This remote track climbs from Iglesia through the Río de los Patos valley, passing the defunct Mina El Pachón workings before reaching the 4,780-meter Paso de Agua Negra on the Chilean border. Multiple technical river crossings through the Patos gorge challenge drivers with loose rock approaches and seasonal flow variations.

This is serious high-altitude terrain requiring full 4WD capability, recovery gear, and altitude acclimatization. Stock clearance vehicles will struggle with the boulder fields above 4,200 meters. Winter access (May-September) is impossible due to snow. Carry extra fuel for the 180-kilometer round trip from Iglesia, plus emergency food and water for potential weather delays. The reward is Argentina’s most dramatic high-altitude mining landscape and genuine solitude in the shadow of 6,000-meter peaks.