{"id":946,"date":"2025-08-07T20:26:25","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T20:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/?p=946"},"modified":"2025-08-14T14:51:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T14:51:35","slug":"mountain-review-cerro-catedral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.balikesirbirey.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/07\/mountain-review-cerro-catedral\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain Review: Cerro Catedral"},"content":{"rendered":"
MOUNTAIN SCORE<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #1 in Argentina<\/strong><\/p>\n 65<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #2 in South America<\/strong><\/p>\n See our criteria<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Snow:<\/strong><\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Resiliency:<\/strong><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Size:<\/strong><\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Terrain Diversity:<\/strong><\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Challenge:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Lifts:<\/strong><\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Crowd Flow:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Facilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Navigation:<\/strong><\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Mountain Aesthetic:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1-Day Ticket: <\/strong>$115,000 ARS ($97 USD)<\/p>\n Pass Affiliation: <\/strong>None<\/p>\n On-site Lodging: <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\n Apr\u00e8s-Ski:<\/strong> Extensive<\/p>\n Nearest Cities: <\/strong>Bariloche (30 mins) <\/p>\n Recommended Ability Level:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Skiable footprint<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Terrain diversity<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Best lift infrastructure in South America<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Stunning Patagonian views<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Lively local town<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Chaotic lift lines and loading process<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Variable snow conditions, especially at lower elevations<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Congestion on lower-mountain trails<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Expensive lift tickets for Argentina<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Skiable Footprint:<\/strong> 1,693<\/a> acres<\/p>\n Total Footprint:<\/strong> 2,965<\/a> acres<\/p>\n Lift-Serviced Terrain:<\/strong> 100%<\/p>\n Top Elevation:<\/strong> 7,152 ft<\/p>\n Vertical Drop:<\/strong> 3,380 ft<\/p>\n Lifts:<\/strong> 23<\/p>\n Trails: <\/strong>59<\/p>\n Beginner: <\/strong>31%<\/p>\n Intermediate:<\/strong> 44%<\/p>\n Advanced\/Expert: <\/strong>25%<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Looking to ski in Argentina this Southern Hemisphere winter? Cerro Catedral might be the first resort that comes to mind. Located in the heart of Patagonia near the iconic lakeside town of Bariloche, Cerro Catedral presents itself as one of Argentina’s biggest and best ski destinations. But does this resort live up to the hype\u2014and is it the right fit for your next South American ski trip?<\/p>\n The first thing to note about Cerro Catedral is just how stunning it is. When conditions are clear, the resort\u2019s views are nothing short of breathtaking, offering sweeping vistas of jagged Patagonian rock formations that look like something from a movie. While many of these rock formations are just outside the resort boundary, a few are within the resort itself, and it\u2019s hard not to be blown away when you see them.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not just the mountains that make Cerro Catedral stand out. The resort is surrounded by massive lakes visible from the upper mountain, creating stunning panoramas that stretch for miles across the Patagonian landscape if you\u2019re in the right place. The contrast between the deep blue lakes and the snow-covered peaks is one that\u2019s hard to find anywhere else on Earth, let alone a place that functions as a ski resort. Ice crystallization on trees and high alpine rocks adds to the unique visual experience as well, and while its most iconic elements aren\u2019t as visible from lower-mountain areas, Cerro Catedral\u2019s unique tree species compared to North American ski resorts make for an exotic feel.<\/p>\n With a skiable footprint of approximately 1,700 acres, Cerro Catedral is one of the largest South American ski resorts, although it\u2019s not quite as big as a typical North American or European destination\u2014and certainly not as big as its claimed footprint measurement of 2,965 acres. The resort offers especially diverse terrain for South America, with a mix of below-treeline, high-alpine, and lightly-gladed terrain of various difficulty levels. With a vertical drop of over 3,300 feet, Cerro Catedral offers the longest vertical drop of any Patagonia-region ski resort, although conditions can vary based on elevation. The mountain is effectively divided between lower and upper sections; the below-treeline lower mountain generally offers mellow terrain and some opportunities for off-piste tree skiing when conditions allow, while the above-treeline upper-mountain holds snow better and offers a wider range of terrain in terms of difficulty. The upper mountain also has a higher density of trails than the lower mountain, which can create some interesting congestion conditions near the bottom of the resort.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Cerro Catedral offers stunning lake views from its mid- and upper-mountain areas.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Cerro Catedral isn\u2019t the best resort in the world for less-experienced skiers and riders, although it does have a few regional strengths worth noting. All the official green-circle trails are concentrated at the base area functioning as a bunny hill complex. On the plus side, this bunny hill area is served by magic carpets and one double chairlift, making it far more accessible than at some South American resorts that only offer platter lifts or T-bars.<\/p>\n That said, progression beyond the bunny hill may seem somewhat intimidating; once you move past these dedicated learning zones, all terrain is rated as intermediate or harder. Cerro Catedral\u2019s blue-rated intermediate runs are somewhat easier than one might expect at a North American mountain, but they\u2019re still a bit harder than many typical greens, which creates a bit of a gap for those who have mastered the bunny hill but aren’t quite ready for full mountain skiing. If you\u2019re not sure which runs are right for progression, it might not be a bad idea to hire an instructor or guide when first venturing higher up the mountain.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Speaking of intermediate terrain, guests who make it to this level of skiing and riding will get quite a bit out of Cerro Catedral. The resort\u2019s blue-rated trails span a variety of elevations and mountain areas, but the must-hit blue runs are in the upper mountain, offering incredible views of the surrounding Patagonian mountains and the massive lakes below. When visibility is good, these intermediate trails provide some of the most scenic skiing or riding you’ll find anywhere in South America.<\/p>\n However, the intermediate experience at Cerro Catedral does come with some stipulations. Lower mountain conditions can be highly variable, occasionally leading to trail closures that significantly limit intermediate options. When this happens, intermediates may find themselves needing to download lower-mountain lifts to get back to the base at the end of the day depending on where they are. It\u2019s also worth noting that the intermediate-rated Cascada trail should be avoided at all costs if possible; not only is this is one of the easier blue trails on the mountain, making it popular for progression, but it also offers the only snowmaking of any mid- to lower-mountain trail, resulting in profound congestion under all but the emptiest of days.<\/p>\n While not a world-class freestyle destination by any means, Cerro Catedral offers a decent terrain park with a dedicated lift in its upper mountain. The park is home to the typical selection of boxes, rails, and jumps, mainly small-to-medium in nature.<\/p>\n Like most other South American ski resorts, Cerro Catedral designates terrain above its blue level with a red rating. Red trails span the majority of the resort\u2019s mountain areas, and while most reds are groomed, a handful remain ungroomed throughout the season, allowing for a good introduction to mogul runs. One must-hit red trail is the Panor\u00e0mica trail from the top of the Nubes lift, with perhaps the best lake view at the entire resort spanning nearly all sides of the trail\u2014and some incredible nearby peaks in the vicinity as well. The resort\u2019s reds are generally easier than blacks at most North American resorts, especially given their consistent grooming, and might be considered as advanced-intermediate for those used to skiing or riding in other countries.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Cerro Catedral\u2019s Off-Piste terrain is not to be taken lightly, with precipitous pitches and no fall zones being directly lift served.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Speaking of blacks, this is the color given to Cerro Catedral\u2019s hardest official runs. On paper, only a handful of these exist, and all of them are fairly short (albeit most of them are left ungroomed).<\/p>\n But after finding the right places at the resort, it becomes clear that Cerro Catedral has some seriously technical terrain outside the official trail boundaries. Like at other South American resorts, everything outside the marked trail posts is considered out-of-bounds, and while they aren\u2019t directly maintained by the resort, these areas are what makes the mountain worth a visit for experts. The best accessible expert-level off-piste terrain is found off the Nubes chair, with a series of narrow, rock-lined chutes that are so steep you might not be able to stop yourself if you fall\u2014and given the rock outcroppings, this means you might find yourself undergoing a rocky collision or falling off a cliff band under said circumstance. Elsewhere at the resort, several other unofficial routes are frequented by resort guests; the more primely-located ones will mogul up, while others can stay untracked for days after the last storm. For those who want true backcountry terrain that\u2019s not directly served by lifts, expert-level chutes, bowls, and cliff bands can be found in the adjacent Zona La Laguna and on the backside of the resort.<\/p>\n For those looking to venture off the marked trails in lower-mountain areas, Cerro Catedral has its fair share of glade terrain as well. While some of these trees are skiable, they are generally less widely spaced than competitors like Chapelco\u2014and if you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re doing, you could end up in glades too thick to ski or ride through and have to backtrack. Also, lower-mountain glades are often very sketchy cover-wise.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Some of Cerro Catedral\u2019s lower elevation runs may be closed due to low snow cover, where they are still accessible as backcountry terrain, but may not be the most fun.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Speaking of cover, it\u2019s also worth noting that all trails that are marked as closed are technically considered as backcountry, and while the resort won\u2019t stop you from ducking a rope, you might be facing significant natural obstacles, serious hazards, or unskiable cover. This especially rings true in many lower-mountain circumstances, where a closed-off valley run may look pretty innocent and tempting at the start, but may leave you with completely bare dirt or rocks that require scrambling down before the end.<\/p>\n Finally, it\u2019s important to note that the terrain outside the marked trails is not patrolled for avalanches. If you’re planning to venture into uncontrolled terrain, we highly recommend bringing proper avalanche gear, including a beacon, shovel, and probe. Local guide services are available and highly recommended for those unfamiliar with the area.<\/p>\n Snow quality at Cerro Catedral is strong for a South America ski resort, with good years bringing over 200 inches from May to September. However, conditions overall can be hit or miss. Snowfall days are more consistent than that of many resorts further north on the continent, but with a base elevation below 4,000 feet\u2014which is several thousand feet lower than those northern competitors\u2014the resort faces exposure to fickle Patagonian weather patterns. When conditions align, typically during colder periods with steady snowfall, the skiing can be excellent, but the resort doesn’t get the consistently light, dry powder you might expect from higher Chilean destinations.<\/p>\n Unlike some resorts with more favorable exposures, Cerro Catedral largely faces east. As a result, freeze-thaw cycles are a constant factor at the resort, and they can dramatically affect snow quality from day to day. One day might offer excellent powder conditions, while the next could be slushy or icy depending on sun exposure and temperature changes.<\/p>\n The lower mountain, in particular, can suffer significantly during warmer periods, sometimes receiving rain instead of snow or experiencing rapid melting that creates challenging skiing conditions. Ice, slush, and variable snow surfaces are common on lower elevation runs, especially during spring conditions or warm weather events. Trail closures on lower sections aren’t uncommon either, and when this happens, guests may need to download certain lifts rather than skiing or riding all the way back to the base area. The resort has some snowmaking capabilities to maintain at least a baseline level of resiliency, but it isn’t necessarily comprehensive enough to guarantee good conditions\u2014or enough available trails to handle congestion\u2014during extended warm or dry periods.<\/p>\n Thanks to the higher elevation, mid- and upper mountain areas generally hold snow better and maintain more consistent conditions throughout the season. However, this part of the resort can see weather-related closures due to wind or storm conditions, and even if lifts remain open, visibility can be tough in upper-mountain areas when it\u2019s snowing.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that lift operations at Cerro Catedral typically start closing at 4:00 PM. This is standard if you\u2019re used to skiing at North American resorts, but earlier than many South American destinations, especially those with a latitude closer to the equator.<\/p>\n Despite its relative size for Argentina, getting around Cerro Catedral is straightforward for the most part. The resort’s signage is good by South American standards, with clear trail, lift, and restaurant markings. Color-coded boundary sticks along each marked piste help keep you in-bounds, with the colors corresponding to the trail\u2019s ability level and helping to keep you on the appropriate level of run.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, there are a few issues. Under flat light conditions, visibility is difficult in upper mountain areas\u2014and since the boundary sticks don\u2019t distinguish between left and right, someone who isn\u2019t careful could find themselves just on the outside of a piste, rather than just on the inside of it. Getting down to the lower mountain can be somewhat frustrating, with some flat catwalking required to make it to the base depending on which run you take.<\/p>\n One notable circumstance to watch out for involves accessing the out-of-base Sextuple Express. If you\u2019re coming directly from the base area, this lift is somewhat hidden, involving walking through a mini-mall and food court, taking an escalator, and walking back outside to the loading area before putting your skis on. Some skiers and riders actually wait until they\u2019re at the loading platform for this lift to put their gear on, which can create congestion and unnecessary delays during busy periods.<\/p>\n At least if you\u2019re already skiing or riding on the mountain, there is a cutoff that allows you to avoid walking through the mall to access this lift. But it\u2019s easy to miss, and if you ski or ride past it, you\u2019ll have to walk through the mall again.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Cerro Catedral boasts multiple high speed lifts on the mountain, making it one of the most modern lift setups in South America.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Cerro Catedral boasts what is arguably the best lift system in South America, featuring a gondola and multiple high-speed six-pack chairs that might even be considered competitive by North American standards. This infrastructure represents a significant step up from most competing Argentinian mountains, many of which don\u2019t even offer a single high-speed lift and often rely heavily on surface lifts for multiple parts of the mountain. There are very few platter or T-bar lifts at the resort, and no cases where you are forced to take a surface lift to get to a certain area of terrain. The gondola is on the older side, but it provides comfortable, weather-protected transportation that’s particularly beneficial during stormy conditions or high winds.<\/p>\n But Cerro Catedral is still a South American mountain, and its lift infrastructure isn\u2019t perfect. Several areas are still held down by slow, fixed-grip chairs, especially in upper-mountain or more remote places. It\u2019s also worth noting the resort has some lifts that are just plain weird. One of these might be the first combination double\/quad chairlift we\u2019ve ever seen, with half of the chairs seating two people and the other half seating four. Even more confusing is that the lifties only seat the quad chairs at the base station; the lift has a mid-station, and you have to load there to get on one of the double carriers.<\/p>\n The resort also has an aerial tram, and at a first glance, it might seem pretty useful for getting from the base to the upper mountain. But don\u2019t make the mistake of walking over there with your equipment, because this lift is for sightseers only, and the resort won\u2019t let you bring your skis or board on. <\/p>\n Despite the impressive lift infrastructure by South American standards, crowding can be a significant issue at Cerro Catedral, especially during the peak Argentinian periods of July through mid-August. The high-speed Nubes chair is an especially bad chokepoint; this lift provides the only access to some of the resort’s best expert terrain and offers the only high-speed lift service to the upper mountain. On this chair in particular, guests can expect to wait awhile on all but the emptiest of days. While the slower helper lifts usually fare better in this respect, if one or more of the main lifts goes down due to wind holds, these get jam-packed too\u2014and often lack the capacity to handle the demand.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that unlike North American resorts, where guests usually form orderly queues and organize themselves into groups matching chair capacity, the loading process at Catedral is often chaotic. People stepping on your equipment while jockeying for position in line is unfortunately common, and the lack of clearly defined queuing areas contributes to the confusion. The resort does offer a “Preferencial” fast tracks system if you want to pay extra to skip the regular lines, but this does cost quite a bit extra, and you will be judged for using it.<\/p>\n NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.<\/strong><\/p>\n K2 Mindbender 90 C<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended intermediate ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Nordica Enforcer 94<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended advanced ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Faction Prodigy 2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended glade ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Salomon QST 106<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended powder ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n On-mountain facilities at Cerro Catedral are well-developed compared to many South American ski destinations, with the resort offering multiple dining and rest options throughout the mountain. The base area feels more like a traditional ski village than what you’d find at many South American resorts, with a variety of restaurants, cafes, and services that cater to different budgets and preferences.<\/p>\n The facilities range from casual grab-and-go areas to more upscale restaurants, with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating available. Food quality is generally good, though prices can be expensive compared to dining options in Bariloche proper\u2014although they aren\u2019t as exploitative as some competing mountains elsewhere in the country.<\/p>\n Unlike some resorts in neighboring Chile that have established partnerships with North American mega-passes like Ikon, Mountain Collective, or Indy, Cerro Catedral operates independently when it comes to lift tickets and season passes. There are currently no partnerships with multi-resort passes, meaning international visitors will need to purchase tickets directly from the resort or authorized retailers. And it\u2019s probably a good thing this is the case, because we\u2019d argue Cerro Catedral doesn\u2019t need any additional crowds on top of what it currently has.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n One surprising sight you may see at Cerro Catedral is the Argentinian military training on the slopes.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Cerro Catedral has some interesting cultural and operational quirks that set it apart from other ski destinations. One unique aspect is that the Argentine army conducts training exercises at the resort, so don’t be surprised if you spot military personnel on the slopes getting lessons from mountain staff. What might be especially surprising is the skill level of these soldiers\u2014many of them barely know how to ski and are just learning, and you might see them fall a few times.<\/p>\n Cerro Catedral is also fairly Anglophone-friendly as far as South American ski resorts go. While Spanish will help, you can probably get away with speaking English while you are visiting, and there are at least some staff on hand who should be able to talk you through any questions you might have.<\/p>\n Cerro Catedral benefits from one of the most convenient access situations of any major South American ski resort. Located approximately 12 miles from Bariloche, the resort is easily accessible via a relatively short and straightforward drive from town. Unlike some Andean ski destinations that require treacherous mountain roads or lengthy transfers, the access road to Catedral is simple to drive and usually manageable with any kind of car. You can easily take an Uber or taxi from Bariloche to the mountain if you don\u2019t have a car too, and there are public buses, although service could be more frequent.<\/p>\n However, you should be prepared for traffic when returning to Bariloche at the end of the ski day. The combination of day visitors and overnight guests all leaving around the same time can create significant congestion on the access road. Planning for extra travel time during peak departure periods is probably wise.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In comparison to other South American ski resorts, driving to Cerro Catedral is a breeze.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For those who decide to drive, Cerro Catedral offers both free and paid parking options. The free parking option is located in an overflow lot that’s served by shuttle buses running approximately every 20 minutes. While this adds some time to your arrival and departure routine, it’s a cost-effective option for budget-conscious visitors.<\/p>\n For those who want the most convenient access, paid parking is available right at the base area for 20,000 pesos (approximately $17 USD as of May 2025). This puts you within easy walking distance of the lifts and eliminates the need to wait for shuttle buses, but you could probably use that money towards a taxi or Uber instead.<\/p>\n During peak periods, arriving early is recommended regardless of which parking option you choose. The resort’s popularity means that both free and paid lots can fill up, especially during powder days or when conditions are particularly good.<\/p>\n NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.<\/strong><\/p>\n K2 Raygun Pop<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended intermediate board<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n CAPiTA Defenders of Awesome<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended advanced board<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n WRITTEN REVIEW
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n VIDEO REVIEW
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n MOUNTAIN STATS
\n <\/a><\/p>\nCATEGORY BREAKDOWN\u00a0<\/h3>\n
\nGOOD TO KNOW<\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
\n \u00a0\u00a0+<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pros
\n<\/h3>\n
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\n \u00a0\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cons
\n<\/h3>\n
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MOUNTAIN STATS<\/h3>\n
\nVIDEO REVIEW<\/h3>\n
\nMountain Review<\/h2>\n
Mountain Aesthetic<\/h3>\n
Size and Terrain Layout<\/h3>\n
Beginner Terrain<\/h3>\n
TRAIL MAP<\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Intermediate Terrain<\/h3>\n
Terrain Parks<\/h3>\n
Advanced Terrain<\/h3>\n
Expert and Off-Piste Terrain<\/h3>\n
Snow Quality and Resiliency<\/h3>\n
Navigation<\/h3>\n
Lifts<\/h3>\n
Crowd Flow<\/h3>\n
RECOMMENDED SKIS FOR CERRO CATEDRAL<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nOn-Mountain Facilities<\/h3>\n
Pass Partnerships<\/h3>\n
Army Presence<\/h3>\n
Getting There<\/h3>\n
Parking<\/h3>\n
RECOMMENDED SNOWBOARDS FOR CERRO CATEDRAL<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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