Quebrada del Toro Train Devils Circuit
Follow the train route the tourists can't reach
The Quebrada del Toro carved a route through the Andes that’s so dramatic they built a tourist train just to show it off – then you can drive the mining roads they didn’t want civilians to see. This 85-kilometer circuit parallels the famous Tren a las Nubes route from Salta through Campo Quijano, then branches onto mining access roads that climb to 4,200 meters through the Quebrada del Toro’s candy-striped canyon walls. The route passes through Santa Rosa de Tastil’s pre-Columbian ruins and connects to active copper mining operations near San Antonio de los Cobres.
Difficult terrain requiring 4WD with low-range and altitude preparation – you’ll climb from 1,200 to 4,200 meters in 60 kilometers. Dry season only (May-October); summer brings flash floods that regularly wash out creek crossings. Fuel and supplies available in San Antonio de los Cobres, but carry extra water and altitude sickness medication. Camping possible near Tastil ruins with permission from local communities. This route delivers Altiplano landscapes without crossing international borders, plus access to some of Argentina’s most remote Quechua villages.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 53 mi / 85 km |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 13779 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD low-range |
| Nearest town | Salta, Salta |
| Land manager | Gobierno de Salta |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum build required — can a stock Hilux or 4Runner handle this?
You need a capable 4WD with low-range, good ground clearance (8+ inches), and all-terrain tires at minimum. Stock is possible if the vehicle is mechanically sound, but a lift and skid plates are strongly advised given the rocky surface and remote consequences of a breakdown 85km from help.
When is the trail open and what kills access?
May through October is the reliable window — the dry Andean winter. Summer rains (November–April) flood the quebradas and make the water crossings genuinely dangerous, not just inconvenient. Snow can also close higher sections outside the dry season.
Do I need any permits or fees to run this circuit?
No formal permit is currently required from the Gobierno de Salta for vehicle access, but regulations in Argentine provincial lands can change. Check with the Salta provincial authority before your trip and carry your vehicle documentation — police checkpoints exist on access roads in this region.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The technical crux comes on the rocky canyon descents and water crossings mid-circuit, where loose rock shelving and slick river beds demand careful wheel placement at altitude. At 13,779 ft max elevation, mechanical cooling and driver fatigue are real factors — turbocharged engines may run hotter and tire changes become winded work.
There's zero cell service — what's the realistic plan if something goes wrong?
A satellite communicator (Garmin inReach or SPOT) is not optional on this trail — it's the only way to call for help across two full days of total comms blackout. The nearest meaningful rescue infrastructure is back in Salta city, so plan with a full spare, recovery gear, and enough fuel to complete the 85km loop without resupply.
Trail track
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