Ultra Fitz Roy brings trail racing to Mount Fitz Roy on 16 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 17:10 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Ultra Fitz Roy will take place around Mount Fitz Roy (Cerro Fitz Roy) near El Chalten on 16 and 17 October 2026, bringing a trail-running event to Argentina's Patagonian mountain landscape. The organiser's 2026 rules list five distances and routes through El Chalten, private estates and areas of national park.
Ultra Fitz Roy sets five trail distances for 16 October
The event is scheduled for 16 and 17 October 2026, inside the current autumn news period for Western European travellers planning an early spring visit to Patagonia. The programme includes 10K, 21K, 42K, 70K and 100K races, with accreditation arranged in El Chalten on 15 and 16 October.
The organiser lists staggered starts from 5am for the 70K and 7am for the 42K on 17 October, while the 21K is scheduled for 9am and the 10K for 9am on the same day. The 100K start is set for 10pm on 16 October, according to the Ultra Fitz Roy 2026 rules.
The organiser says the competition takes place in El Chalten, including Estancia La Quinta, Estancia Bonanza and areas of national parks. Its rules also require runners to remain on marked paths, while route changes may be made for safety and communicated by the event team.
Mount Fitz Roy gives the October race its mountain setting
The race name refers to the mountain setting around El Chalten rather than to an urban stadium. The surrounding protected landscape includes forests, glaciers, lakes and steep granite peaks, giving the October programme a direct link to the terrain that defines the destination.
UNESCO identifies Los Glaciares National Park as a World Heritage property in south-western Santa Cruz Province. Its protected landscape includes an altitudinal range from roughly 200 metres above sea level to Cerro Fitz Roy at 3,375 metres, while the park is shaped by glaciers and rugged peaks exceeding 3,000 metres.
That setting changes the practical meaning of the event for visitors: the race is not simply a road competition beside a landmark. It uses mountain paths and protected areas, so the five distances connect the scheduled programme with the same high-altitude environment that draws trekkers and climbers to El Chalten. UNESCO's World Heritage description records the park's conservation status and mountain geography.
A regional report describes the 100-kilometre route as leaving El Chalten for rural sections and trails in Los Glaciares National Park, passing towards Laguna Torre before returning towards the town. It also reports a later climb towards Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, although the organiser's rules state that weather and safety can require changes to distances, times or routes.
Visiting Mount Fitz Roy: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Ultra Fitz Roy is scheduled for 16 and 17 October 2026, with accreditation in El Chalten on 15 and 16 October.
- The event uses trails in and around El Chalten and areas of national park; the organiser requires participants to stay on marked paths, and route changes can be announced for safety.
- The published programme includes 10K, 21K, 42K, 70K and 100K distances. The longer races require equipment including a headlamp, spare food and water, a whistle, warm gloves and a windproof jacket.
- The landscape combines marked mountain trails, forest, glaciers and steep granite terrain. UNESCO describes the park as a protected area with difficult-to-access high-altitude sections.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Mount Fitz Roy
When does Ultra Fitz Roy take place at Mount Fitz Roy?
Ultra Fitz Roy is scheduled for 16 and 17 October 2026 in and around El Chalten.
Where is Mount Fitz Roy and how do you get there?
The mountain lies in the northern area of Los Glaciares National Park near El Chalten in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.
What is Mount Fitz Roy?
It is a granite peak within Los Glaciares National Park that UNESCO records at 3,375 metres above sea level and also identifies as Cerro Chaltén.
