Cerro Arenas is probably one of the most iconic mountains in the Cajón del Maipo, thanks to its striking and unique rock formation, which makes it instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the area.
At 4,366 meters in elevation, it is located in the Arenas Valley, now private property managed by Parque Arenas, in San José de Maipo.
To reach it, you must drive to the village of Lo Valdés (1,845 m). From there, the road continues unpaved for about 7 km to the bridge over the Colina stream. Then you continue a couple more kilometers until reaching the La Engorda Bridge, where the park entrance gate is located. The entrance fee is approximately CLP $5,000 per person, and if you want to drive your vehicle further into the valley to the upper parking area, there is an additional fee of CLP $10,000 per vehicle.
The ascent begins by heading toward the south face of the mountain, crossing small streams depending on the season. Once near its base, you traverse westward around the mountain until reaching the north face, where the direct climb to the summit begins.
The terrain is entirely loose scree, with no marked trail and a sustained, demanding slope with no flat sections for rest. At the summit, you’ll find a metal summit box secured with a chain.
The descent follows თითქმის the same route, with some minor variations to avoid dislodging too much loose material.
Personally, I believe this mountain almost perfectly represents the essence of mountain running: technical terrain, relentless steepness, no defined trails, far from civilization, and surrounded by massive Andean peaks. Despite the impact of mining activity, the valley still retains a wild and awe-inspiring character.
https://www.andeshandbook.org/montanismo/ruta/278/normal
