Cerro El Plomo Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Commonly Backpacked · Views

For early access send an email to the admins at lsepulveda@vallenevado.com. On entry, they get all your information and check to see if your car is a 4x4.

You'll leave your car at Tres Puntos. Bring crampons and axes for the short amount of glacier travel. Trail tops out at 18,000 feet, dress for cold.

Most people make this a three day trip, arriving at the Federacion camping (8 miles, 13,620') or the Refugio D'agostini (close to 10 miles, 16,000') on day one, summiting day two, and then making it out on day three.

From the parking at Tres Puntos, head up towards Cerro La Parva gaining almost 3000' in the first two and a half miles. Once you gain the ridge, the trail flattens out but provides some huge vistas. Along the way, you have the opportunity to visit the summits of La Parva and Pintor.

At a little over 6 miles, you'll come upon a knife edge ridge. After the ridge opens up again to a wider space, veer right at the intersection where you'll drop down to the Federacion Camping area. This is a typical stopping point before the summit push.

From here, the trail heads up precipitously gaining 4,500' in the next 2.5 miles. The trail will be obvious and may require crampons and ice axes for the glacier crossing. Before the last push to the summit, you'll pass Pirca Inca, which is an ancient Incan wall.