Trails in Minas Gerais

6 mapped routes in Minas Gerais: 3 scenic drives, 2 hiking trails and 1 cycling route. Together they cover 950 km with 6,311 m of climbing, and the highest point reaches 2,897 m. Every route has a GPX download, elevation profile, gradient and surface analysis.

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Plate BR-MG · 6 routes · GPS traced

Mapped routes: 6
Total distance: 950km
Total climbing: 6,311m
Highest point: 2,897m
Water crossings: 12

Destination guide

About trails in Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais is a large inland state of highland ridges and plateaus, and its routes reflect that. The top hike is the Pico da Bandeira Cristal Peaks Loop in Caparaó National Park, which climbs to nearly 2,900 m on Brazil's third-highest summit, with a side loop to Pico do Cristal. In the south, the Cachoeira dos Garcia Hike, Aiuruoca is a short walk to a waterfall in the Serra da Mantiqueira.

The drives are long. The Fernão Dias to Belo Horizonte Drive follows the BR-381 corridor toward the state capital. The Paracatu to Brasília Drive crosses the cerrado plateau in the northwest into the Federal District, and the Rio Paranaíba to Confins Airport Drive runs across the western highlands to Belo Horizonte's airport. The Volta da Jaqueira Ride, Teófilo Otoni is a hard, hilly bike loop in the northeast.

Best time to go: April to September is the dry season and the best time for Caparaó and the Mantiqueira. Nights near Pico da Bandeira can drop below freezing in June and July. From November to March, heavy afternoon rain makes trails slippery and limits views.
Terrain: The high trails are steep granite and rocky ground up to about 2,900 m. The drives mostly cross plateau country between 800 and 1,300 m on paved highways.
Permits & access: Caparaó National Park requires an entry ticket, and the Alto Caparaó gate on the Minas side is the usual start for Pico da Bandeira. The BR-381 Fernão Dias and other federal highways have toll plazas.

Ways to explore