Paso Pehuenche — Malargüe to Paso Pehuenche via the Andes Volcanic Divide
Cross the Andes where the crowds don't go.
Paso Pehuenche sits at 2,553 metres on the Mendoza–Maule border and is one of the few Andean crossings that stays open year-round when conditions allow. The route climbs south from Malargüe through the Valle del Río Grande, pinching through a river canyon before the road kicks up volcanic switchbacks toward the border. The scenery here is genuinely dramatic — raw lava flows, the deep-cut Río Barrancas valley, and araucaria pines clinging to basalt ridges above 2,000 metres. The Argentine side is gravel and manageable; the Chilean side drops fast and loose toward Lonquimay on a road that demands confidence in mixed terrain. The border post at Paso Pehuenche is low traffic and the crossing can take time — patience required.
A capable high-clearance 4WD handles this without drama in dry conditions. Snow closes it sporadically in winter and without warning in spring, so check Argentine border crossing status (Gendarmería Nacional) before committing. Best season is December through April. No fuel on the Chilean descent until Lonquimay — carry reserves. Cell service evaporates in the canyon. The payoff is crossing the Andes on a road that sees a fraction of the traffic of the main Paso Pehuenche circuit — you’re in genuine remote Patagonian foothills, and the views from the pass back over Mendoza’s steppe are worth the effort alone.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 87 mi / 140 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 8376 ft |
| Best season | December-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Malargüe, Mendoza Province |
| Land manager | Gendarmería Nacional Argentina / Aduana Chile |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Gendarmería Nacional — Paso Pehuenche Chile Border Crossings — Pehuenche |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4WD high-clearance rig handle Paso Pehuenche, or do I need a lift?
A stock 4WD with genuine high clearance — think 4Runner, Land Cruiser, or equivalent — can make it, but the rocky lava field sections and river canyon approaches will punish anything with low-hanging components. A lifted setup with all-terrain tires gives you real margin. Pavement queens and crossovers stay home.
When is Paso Pehuenche actually open and driveable?
December through April is your window. Winter snowfall closes the high pass entirely — sometimes as early as May — and the border crossing itself shuts down outside summer season. Don't gamble on shoulder months without confirming current status with Gendarmería Nacional.
Do I need a special permit to cross this border, and what paperwork does the vehicle need?
Yes — you'll clear both Argentine Gendarmería and Chilean Aduana at their respective border posts. You need a Título del Vehículo (or equivalent ownership docs), valid passport, and if the vehicle isn't registered in your name, a notarized authorization letter. Rental vehicles require explicit written permission from the rental company for international crossings — most won't give it.
What's the hardest section of this route and what actually makes it gnarly?
The climb through the lava fields approaching the Andes divide is where things get honest — loose volcanic rock, exposed shelf roads with no guardrail, and gradient that'll test your transmission temps. Add river canyon crossings on the Argentine side that can run fast with snowmelt, and you've got a route that demands you stay sharp for most of its 87 miles.
Is there any fuel or resupply between Malargüe and the Chilean side?
No. Malargüe is your last guaranteed fuel stop before the crossing, and there's nothing reliable until you're well into Chile's Maule Region. Fill every tank and carry a spare jerry can — 87 miles of high-altitude dirt at elevation burns more than you expect.
Trail track
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