The view from above
Over Ushuaia and the channel.
Gastón Cuello — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Justraveling.com — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gastón Cuello — CC BY-SA 4.0 · StarBluu — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Martial Glacier hangs from the Martial mountains right above Ushuaia, and it is the city's main source of drinking water. It is named after the French captain Louis Ferdinand Martial, who led the French scientific expedition of 1882-83 sent to observe the transit of Venus. The way up starts at the base of the mountain a few kilometres from the centre, where a trail of moderate difficulty climbs through forest and then rocky slopes to the foot of the glacier, with wide views over Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. On 19 June 2026 a new chairlift opened after fifteen years without one, about 1.4 kilometres long and running daily from 10:00 to 17:00. In winter the mountain becomes a place for skiing and snowshoeing. Allow half a day, and bring proper shoes and warm clothes.
Over Ushuaia and the channel.
Then rocky slopes.
Opened in 2026.
Martial mountains, directly north of Ushuaia
Yes. A new chairlift opened on 19 June 2026 after fifteen years, running daily from 10:00 to 17:00; the trail can also be walked for free.