4 Refugios: the most technical skyrunning race in South America will open the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series 2026
Bariloche, in Argentine Patagonia, amid granite ridges, high-mountain lakes and ancient forests, hosts each summer one of South America’s most demanding mountain races: 4 Refugis, organised by Club Andíno Bariloche (CAB) and regarded as the continent’s most technical skyrunning race. With more than twenty years of history, the event has established itself as the undisputed benchmark for mountain sports.
@juancruzrabaglia
This year, in addition to its circuit debut, 4 Refugios will be the race that kicks off the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series 2026, a move that reaffirms its international prestige and showcases Argentine Patagonia as a prime venue for skyrunning.
Six races, one same mountain spirit
The event includes six formats to different runner profiles:
- 1 Refugio U23 Skyrace – 21 km / +1.000 m (Esteban Olivero Throphy)
- 2 Refugios – 31 km / +1.600 m
- 3 Refugios Clásica – 53 km / +2.600 m (2 etapes, 2 dies)
- 3 Refugios – 38 km / +2.700 m
- 4 Refugios Clásica – 56 km / +3.300 m (2 etapes, 2 dies)
- 4 Refugios NonStop – Skyrunning – 40 km / +3.350 m
The four refuges: geography, sport and emotion
The name of the race leaves no room for doubt: the route connects four of the most iconic refuges in Nahuel Huapi National Park, each with its own identity and sporting and emotional value for the participants:
- Refugio Frey: Surrounded by granite needles, it is one of the most iconic landscapes in Argentine mountaineering.
- Refugio San Martín (Jakob): A glacial valley that combines beauty and isolation.
- Refugio Manfredo Segre (Llacuna Negra): a rugged environment, with exposed ridges and technical sections.
- Refugio López: Final stretch with panoramic views of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
The staff works in partnership with environmental authorities to minimise ecological impact, promoting low-impact practices, waste management and environmental education among participants.
@carrera4refugios
A route as beautiful as it is demanding
The MSWS event, 4 Refugios NonStop, is a point-to-point race starting at the base of Cerro Catedral and finishing in the historic village of Colonia Suiza. It covers 40 km and 3,350 metres of positive elevation gain, with a maximum altitude of 2,116 m above sea level.
Beyond the figures, what really defines 4 Refugios is its technical demands: scrambling, descents, exposed sections, unstable scree, navigation sections, sudden temperature changes… All of this with a helmet compulsory throughout the entire course.
A physical and mental challenge where, often, technique is more important than speed.
Favourites for the 2026 edition
- Ayelén Liberal (ARG – Team Hoka)
- Weston Hill (NZL – Team Merrell)
- Kalie McCrystal (CAN)
- Marco Vidoz (ARG – Team Merrell-Araikani)
- Júlia Garriga (ESP – Team Merrell)
- Fran Muñoz (PER)
- Erin Ton (USA – Team Teva)
- Lina El Kott Helander (SWE – Team Merrell)
- Charlotte Rawstron (GBR – Team Nike Trail)
- Joel Pumacayo (PER)
- Mía Victoria Borrajo (ARG – Team Merrell)
- Tanja Löwenhagen (AUT – Team Bix Nutrition)
- Javier Mariqueo (ARG – Team Merrell-Araikani)
- Rosalía Zegarra (PER)
- Morgan Elliott (USA – Team Merrell)
- Francisco Paredes Reyes (ARG – Team Merrell)
- Ekaterina Luzina (RUS – Team Altra-Coros)
- José Manuel Quispe (PER – Team Merrell)
Although there aren’t many names from the top overall positions of the 2025 final among the favourites, the spectacle is guaranteed and the standard is extremely high. Certainly, finishing the race at the head of the 2026 overall standings will be a great incentive to try to reach the Skymaster and the Madmen’s Marathon with a shot at contesting the circuit’s final victory.
A mountain experience
4 Refugios is not just a race: it is a comprehensive mountain experience. The combination of technical skill, natural beauty and physical rigour has made it an icon of South American skyrunning. Its inclusion in the MSWS and the presence of international elite athletes elevate its place among the most challenging events on the planet.
From Club de Muntanya Dements, we welcome this exciting journey within the Merrell Skyrunner World Series and wish the best to the organisers and participants this coming weekend. We are confident that, with an environment like yours and the energy you bring, the race will live up to all expectations.
