Cordillera de Ansilta Circuit
High-altitude punishment in Argentina's forgotten ranges
The Cordillera de Ansilta Circuit cuts through some of Argentina’s most unforgiving high-altitude terrain, where Paso del Viento at 4,850 meters will test both your engine and your nerve. This brutal 180-kilometer loop connects remote estancias and mining camps via tracks that disappear into scree fields, demanding constant route-finding as you navigate between Cerro Ansilta and the Chilean border. The notorious descent from Portezuelo del Ansilta drops 1,200 meters in just 8 kilometers of loose rock and switchbacks that have claimed more than a few side mirrors.
This is expert-level terrain that demands modified 4WD with rock sliders, skid plates, and emergency recovery gear. May through September offers the only viable weather window, but even then, altitude sickness hits hard above 4,000 meters. Fuel up in Malargüe—there’s nothing for 300 kilometers once you’re committed. The payoff is solitude so complete you’ll question if you’re still on Earth, plus technical driving that’ll make you a better wheelman if it doesn’t break your rig first.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Remote, Technical |
| Length (miles) | 112 mi / 180 km |
| Duration | 3-4 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 15911 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with armor |
| Nearest town | Malargüe, Mendoza |
| Land manager | Dirección Provincial de Recursos Naturales |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum vehicle build to attempt the Ansilta Circuit?
A modified 4WD with full skid plate armor, a snorkel, and a lift of at least 3 inches is the floor — not a suggestion. Stock anything will get destroyed on the rock sections, and recovery gear including a high-lift jack, traction boards, and a winch is non-negotiable at this altitude and distance from help.
What's the best time of year to run this trail?
May through September is the window, which is Argentina's dry season and Andean winter — counterintuitive but correct. Summer (December–February) brings snowmelt floods and unpredictable passes; the dry austral winter keeps crossings lower and the high passes more stable.
Do you need permits or authorizations to run this circuit?
Yes — check in with the Dirección Provincial de Recursos Naturales in Mendoza before departing; they manage this terrain and may require a travel plan or entry registration depending on current conditions and season. Regulations can shift, so contact them directly rather than assuming last year's info is current.
What's the hardest section and what makes it genuinely dangerous?
The high passes above 4,800m (15,700ft) are where the trail earns its expert rating — loose rock shelves, zero guardrails, and exposure to both sides of ridgelines where a wrong line drops you hundreds of meters. Altitude affects judgment and vehicle performance simultaneously, so mechanical problems up high hit differently when the nearest help is a day away on foot.
Is there any water available on the trail, and how far is the nearest fuel from the trailhead?
Water crossings exist on the route but treated stream water is your only source — carry a filter and enough reserve for 3–4 days since nothing is guaranteed to be running depending on season. Malargüe is your last fuel stop and it's a serious distance from the circuit, so calculate your range conservatively and carry extra fuel; there is no cell service once you leave town.
Trail track
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