Las Leñas
Ski resort in Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
title: "Las Leñas" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ski-areas-and-resorts-in-argentina", "valleys-of-argentina", "sports-venues-in-mendoza-province", "tourist-attractions-in-mendoza-province", "sports-venues-completed-in-1983", "1983-establishments-in-argentina", "hotels-established-in-1983", "hotel-buildings-completed-in-1983", "apartment-hotels"] description: "Ski resort in Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina" topic_path: "geography/argentina" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Leñas" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Ski resort in Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox ski area"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Las Leñas |
| picture | Las Leñas Mendoza Argentina by Andre Charland.jpg |
| caption | View of the valley |
| vertical | 1190 m |
| top_elevation | 3430 m |
| base_elevation | 2240 m |
| location | Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina |
| skiable_area | 17,500 ha |
| number_trails | 40 |
| [[File:Verde.png | 10px]] Green - 15% |
| [[File:Azul.png | 10px]] Blue - 45% |
| [[File:Solid red.png | 10px]] Red - 35% |
| [[File:Negro.png | 10px]] Black - 5% |
| longest_run | 7 km |
| liftsystem | 14 |
| lift_capacity | 9,500/hour |
| snowmaking | 30 cannons |
| map_size | 230 |
| map_caption | Argentina |
| coordinates | |
| external_link | Las Leñas |
| :: |
| name = Las Leñas
| picture = Las Leñas Mendoza Argentina by Andre Charland.jpg
| caption = View of the valley
| vertical = 1190 m
| top_elevation = 3430 m
| base_elevation = 2240 m
| prominence =
| location = Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
| skiable_area = 17,500 ha
| number_trails = 40
[[File:Verde.png|10px]] Green - 15%
[[File:Azul.png|10px]] Blue - 45%
[[File:Solid red.png|10px]] Red - 35%
[[File:Negro.png|10px]] Black - 5%
| longest_run = 7 km
| liftsystem = 14
| lift_capacity = 9,500/hour
| snowmaking = 30 cannons
| map_size = 230
| map_caption = Argentina
| coordinates =
| first_ascent =
| external_link = Las Leñas
Las Leñas is a ski resort in Argentina, located in the western part of Mendoza Province. It has reliable powder snow and climate for extreme and off-piste skiing. Construction of the ski center began January 1983, and by July 1983, it opened with a 300 bed hotel. The ski area has a good diversity of slopes ranging from very easy to extreme, including a good range of off-piste areas apt for extreme skiing. The skiable area base starts at an altitude of 2,240 m (7,350 feet) above mean sea level and goes up to 3430 m for a total drop of 1190 m. The skiable surface amounts to 2.3 km2, with 27 runs and a maximum non-stop skiable distance of 7 km (not including off run alternatives). The total ski area reachable by land is the largest in South America. It currently houses Piscis Hotel, the highest casino by elevation in the world.
The skiing season usually lasts from mid June to mid October; however, recent seasons have ended as early as mid-September. The center is also open during the southern hemisphere summer for mountain activities including mountain biking, horse riding, climbing and other activities.
The ski center includes a ski and snowboard school for all ages and childcare facilities. Specific workshops are also offered at the school to profit from the huge expanses of off-piste runs offered by the area.
The accommodations available on-site include hotels (mostly up-scale), apartment hotels and sleep houses. There is a small shopping center that includes a bank, ski-related shops, chocolate shops, souvenir shops, and a supermarket. Coffee houses, restaurants, and night clubs complete the town's commercial center.
Far away from large cities, the center is seldom crowded except during weekends, making the lines on the lifts usually shorter than in other ski centers of Argentina.
Las Leñas hosted men's downhill events for the 1986 and 1987 Alpine Skiing World Cup, women's downhill and super-G events in 1990 and the only Winter Pan American Games in 1990.
Geographic location
Las Leñas is located 1,200 km from Buenos Aires, and can be reached by car, bus or airplane. Aeroplanes make use of the Comodoro D. Ricardo Salomón Airport close to Malargüe, some 95 km from Las Leñas, and the Suboficial Aytes Germano Airport near San Rafael (regular domestic flights) where buses make the connection with Las Leñas.
The road to Las Leñas is paved and seldom blocked by snow, although bad weather or poor surface conditions can sometimes lead to its being temporarily closed by the Gendarmería (border guards). Vehicles are required to use snow chains unless they are equipped with appropriate tires for snow and ice.
Elevation
- Base: 2,240 m (7,350 feet)
- Mid-mountain: 2,835 m (9,301 feet)
- Top: 3,430 m (11,250 feet)
- Vertical drop: 1,230 m (4,040 feet)
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, Las Leñas has a warm-summer mediterranean continental climate (Dsb), as 4 months have an average temperature above 10 °C and at least one month (in its case 3, being June, July, and August) has an average temperature below 0 °C. Continental climates are highly atypical of the Southern Hemisphere. In South America they are found in a handful of other stations like Puente del Inca. Summers are moderate and very dry, while winters are very snowy.
|location = Valle Hermoso, elevation: 2293 m (1961–1976) |width=auto |metric first = yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 28.5 |Feb record high C = 28.0 |Mar record high C = 27.7 |Apr record high C = 24.3 |May record high C = 22.0 |Jun record high C = 15.9 |Jul record high C = 17.0 |Aug record high C = 18.8 |Sep record high C = 20.1 |Oct record high C = 19.8 |Nov record high C = 28.0 |Dec record high C = 27.1 |year record high C = |Jan high C = 21.0 |Feb high C = 20.7 |Mar high C = 19.0 |Apr high C = 16.0 |May high C = 9.1 |Jun high C = 3.4 |Jul high C = 3.3 |Aug high C = 3.5 |Sep high C = 6.2 |Oct high C = 8.3 |Nov high C = 13.8 |Dec high C = 17.5 |year high C = |Jan mean C = 14.0 |Feb mean C = 13.3 |Mar mean C = 11.1 |Apr mean C = 8.3 |May mean C = 3.2 |Jun mean C = -1.4 |Jul mean C = -2.2 |Aug mean C = -2.0 |Sep mean C = 0.4 |Oct mean C = 3.0 |Nov mean C = 7.9 |Dec mean C = 11.2 |year mean C = |Jan low C = 6.6 |Feb low C = 5.9 |Mar low C = 3.7 |Apr low C = 1.6 |May low C = -1.7 |Jun low C = -5.3 |Jul low C = -6.7 |Aug low C = -6.6 |Sep low C = -4.7 |Oct low C = -2.2 |Nov low C = 1.8 |Dec low C = 4.4 |year low C = |Jan record low C = -1.0 |Feb record low C = -2.9 |Mar record low C = -9.6 |Apr record low C = -9.0 |May record low C = -17.8 |Jun record low C = -17.0 |Jul record low C = -22.0 |Aug record low C = -21.6 |Sep record low C = -19.5 |Oct record low C = -16.6 |Nov record low C = -8.2 |Dec record low C = -9.1 |year record low C = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 6.6 |Feb precipitation mm = 10.1 |Mar precipitation mm = 13.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 27.3 |May precipitation mm = 162.9 |Jun precipitation mm = 249.6 |Jul precipitation mm = 185.3 |Aug precipitation mm = 93.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 65.1 |Oct precipitation mm = 55.4 |Nov precipitation mm = 14.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 5.7 |year precipitation mm = |source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional{{cite web | url = https://digital.bl.fcen.uba.ar/download/tesis/tesis_n4707_Viale.pdf | title = Características de las precipitaciones orográficas de invierno sobre los Andes Subtropicales Centrales | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | language = Spanish | accessdate = 2018-03-13}}
International events
Winter Pan American Games
In 1987 members of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) determined that the first Winter Pan American Games should take place in Las Leñas, Argentina in 1989 and be held every four years thereafter, but the lack of snow forced the inaugural Games to be postponed until 1990. The first Winter Pan American Games were held from September 16 to 22, with 97 athletes from eight nations participating: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and United States. The Games consisted of six events for only one sport, Alpine skiing, with three disciplines: Slalom, giant slalom and super-G.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/1990_Pan_American_Games_countries.png" caption="Winter Pan American Games]], held in Las Leñas."] ::
| caption = | host = | flag_template = | event = | team = | gold_USA = 4 | silver_USA = 2 | bronze_USA = 5 | gold_CAN = 2 | silver_CAN = 4 | bronze_CAN = 1 | gold_ARG = 0 | silver_ARG = 0 | bronze_ARG = 0 | gold_BOL = 0 | silver_BOL = 0 | bronze_BOL = 0 | gold_BRA = 0 | silver_BRA = 0 | bronze_BRA = 0 | gold_CHI = 0 | silver_CHI = 0 | bronze_CHI = 0 | gold_COL = 0 | silver_COL = 0 | bronze_COL = 0 | gold_MEX = 0 | silver_MEX = 0 | bronze_MEX = 0
Alpine Skiing World Cup
On August 16 and 18, 1985 Las Leñas became the first Argentine ski resort to host an event for the International Ski Federation's Alpine Skiing World Cup. The first two men's downhill races of the 1985-86 season were held in Mendoza and the results were as follows:
::data[format=table]
| Place | Name | Country | Total points | 1ARG | 2ARG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Alpiger | 50 | 25 | 25 | |
| 2 | Markus Wasmeier | 25 | 10 | 15 | |
| 3 | Helmut Höflehner | 24 | 15 | 9 | |
| 4 | Doug Lewis | 21 | 20 | 1 | |
| 5 | Bruno Kernen | 13 | 8 | 5 | |
| 6 | Daniel Mahrer | 11 | - | 11 | |
| Franck Piccard | 11 | 11 | - | ||
| 8 | Rudolf Huber | 10 | - | 10 | |
| Peter Müller | 10 | (12) | 20 | ||
| 9 | Gerhard Pfaffenbichler | 8 | - | 8 | |
| 10 | Stefan Niederseer | 6 | - | 6 | |
| 11 | Pirmin Zurbriggen | 7 | 7 | - | |
| Todd Brooker | 7 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 13 | Atle Skårdal | 5 | 5 | - | |
| 14 | Giorgio Piantanida | 3 | - | 3 | |
| 15 | Harti Weirather | 2 | - | 2 | |
| 16 | Werner Marti | 1 | 1 | - | |
| 17 | Anton Steiner | (2) | (2) | - | |
| 18 | Peter Wirnsberger | (3) | (9) | (12) | |
| 19 | Franz Heinzer | (4) | (4) | - | |
| 20 | Marc Girardelli | (13) | (6) | (7) | |
| :: |
The following year Las Leñas held again the first two men's downhill races of the 1986-87 season, this time on August 15 and 16, 1986. The results were as follows:
::data[format=table]
| Place | Name | Country | Total points | 1ARG | 2ARG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter Müller | 40 | 25 | 15 | |
| 2 | Leonhard Stock | 31 | 11 | 20 | |
| 3 | Franz Heinzer | 30 | 15 | 15 | |
| 4 | Marc Girardelli | 18 | 12 | 6 | |
| 5 | Peter Wirnsberger | 16 | 8 | 8 | |
| 6 | Pirmin Zurbriggen | 15 | (10) | 25 | |
| 7 | Karl Alpiger | 10 | 20 | (10) | |
| 8 | Sepp Wildgruber | 9 | 9 | - | |
| Igor Cigolla | 9 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 10 | Erwin Resch | 5 | 5 | - | |
| Helmut Höflehner | 5 | - | 5 | ||
| Markus Wasmeier | 5 | (6) | 11 | ||
| 13 | Atle Skårdal | 4 | 4 | - | |
| Anton Steiner | 4 | - | 4 | ||
| 15 | Danilo Sbardellotto | 3 | 3 | - | |
| Alberto Ghidoni | 3 | - | 3 | ||
| 17 | Gustav Oehrli | 1 | 1 | - | |
| Stefan Niederseer | 1 | (1) | 2 | ||
| 19 | Daniel Mahrer | (16) | (7) | (9) | |
| :: |
The Alpine Skiing World Cup was once again held in Las Leñas for the 1989-90 season. This time the events that took place in Argentina were the women's downhill (race 1), on August 8, and women's super-G (race 2), on August 9. Once again both races started the season. The results were as follows: ::data[format=table]
| Place | Name | Country | Total points | 1ARG | 2ARG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michaela Gerg | 31 | 25 | 6 | |
| 2 | Anita Wachter | 25 | - | 25 | |
| 3 | Michela Figini | 22 | 12 | 10 | |
| Petra Kronberger | 22 | 7 | 15 | ||
| Cathy Chedal | 22 | 2 | 20 | ||
| 6 | Regine Mösenlechner | 21 | 9 | 12 | |
| 7 | Heidi Zeller | 20 | 20 | - | |
| Veronika Wallinger | 20 | 15 | 5 | ||
| 9 | Carole Merle | 14 | 10 | 4 | |
| Karin Dedler | 14 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 11 | Catherine Quittet | 12 | - | 12 | |
| 12 | Maria Walliser | 11 | 11 | - | |
| 13 | Deborah Compagnoni | 9 | - | 9 | |
| 14 | Barbara Sadleder | 8 | 8 | - | |
| 15 | Edith Thys | 7 | - | 7 | |
| 16 | Sabine Ginther | 5 | 5 | - | |
| 17 | Stefanie Schuster | 4 | 4 | - | |
| Claudine Emonet | 4 | 4 | - | ||
| 18 | Vreni Schneider | 3 | - | 3 | |
| 19 | Heidi Zurbriggen | 2 | - | 2 | |
| 20 | Lucie Laroche | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Kristi Terzian | 1 | - | 1 | ||
| :: |
References
References
- Times, The New York. (7 December 2012). "12 Months of Skiing, From Chile to China". nytimes.com.
- "Overview page for Las Leñas".
- Nelson, Janet. (20 August 1989). "Choice of Slopes in South America". New York Times.
- "Las Lenas Ski Resort -- Argentina, South America". laslenasvacations.com.
- Gross, Matt. (2006-07-09). "Chasing Snow South in Argentina". New York Times.
- Lochner, Bob. (1989-03-25). "Skiing : Skiers Are Running Out Before the Snow Does". Los Angeles Times.
- Wäger, Phillipe. (2009-09-27). "Glacier - climate modeling in Las Leñas, Central Andes of Argentina". [[University of Bern]].
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