Sierra Nevada is another volcano that goes unnoticed by many winter visitors. However, its longer ascension through a native forest rewards backcountry adventurers with a legendary alpine terrain along with unique landscapes of the wild Araucanía Andina. The Sierra Nevada route begins in the back of Malalcahuello and its route crosses into the boundaries of Parque Nacional Conguillio (Conguillio National Park).

Sierra Nevada is 8.379ft (2.554m). It is a must if you are fit for a full day of touring.
Skinning up through the old forest of Araucarias (Monkey Puzzle Trees) it’s an unforgettable experience!

This is a dense forest where you have to aim for the path of an old logging road, which you can’t see in winter but it’s doable by foreseeing the terrain regularly.

From its summit at 8.379ft (2554m) we can see volcanoes of the region from a new and incredible vantage point, the Conguillio Lake and Galletue Lagoon.

We recommend hiring a local guide if not experienced with southern conditions or unsure of navigational skills for this one, once you commit to Sierra Nevada, this will be a full day and you don’t want to loose time before reaching the ridge that begins at the end of the treeline. Local guides like Apex Backcountry Guides are up to date on the season snowpack and lower road conditions, this turns into saving time and legs for the skiing.

Ski and boot crampons are a must no matter the season.

The central bowl is a great option for skiers looking for challenging and steeper terrain in the area but conditions will determine if that’s optimal.