This Park is located at the West of the Córdoba Province, in the territories of the Punilla, Santa María and San Alberto Departments, occupying a part of the Pampa de Achala between 1.900 and 2.300 m.a.s.l. and several neighbouring ravines over the central ridge of the Sierras Grandes of Córdoba.

It was created by law in 1996, beginning the formal steps to the acquisition of the lot and the instrumentation of the park.
The protected area has some 150.000 hectares, from which 37.000 are under the cathegory of National Park and the rest is kept as Provincial Reserve.

Nature
Searching through the traditional works on phito-geography in Argentina, we have located this National Park inside the natural unit of the Chaco, more precisely within its Distrito Serrano. Nevertheless, alike other great altitude extra-Andean mountainous formations in the West and Centre of Argentina, the Sierras of Cordoba have a kind of natural life similar to that of the Andean Ridge.

The predominant vegetation in the Pampa de Achala are altitude pastures, with some isolated small woods of tabaquillo,similar to those present in the north-eastern regions of Argentina.

One of the most notable aspects of this area is the presence of great numbers of endemic species and sub-species from the high peaks of these highlands. For example, the fauna has two amphibians (a frog and a small toad) and two reptiles (a green lizard and a striped snake) that are only to be seen in Achala. The red fox shows a variation typical from these highlands while among the birds, several species have been reckoned as been exclusive from this area. The ravine that gives its name to the whole area is a deep gorge from whose upper lips it is possible to watch the smooth gliding of condors at almost eye level.

Access
This area can be entered through the Ruta Provincial N° 14 (the Altas Cumbres Route), between Carlos Paz Village and Mina Clavero Town. The Park is halfway this road.

Cultural Issues
The territory of Pampa de Achala was occupied during prehistoric times by hunter and re-collector cultures. The remains of their past activities are expressed in the many artefacts found among the rocky cliffs they dwelled in. The research parties in the area had detected the presence of arrow heads and mortars embedded in the ground of the archaeological sites. It is possible that these were stopover places to their hunting parties, associated to the presence and availability of guanacos and their siblings during summer seasons.

During the times of the Spanish conquest, this area was a part of the territory occupied by the Comechingones (which included the Altas Sierras and the Punilla and the Calamuchita Valleys), to whom the Pampa de Achala most likely served as sanctuary against the domain of the Spaniards. By the late years of the past century, several settlements became consolidated, due to the religious services offered by the first chapel in the area, which was founded in the surroundings by Franciscan Fathers, around which appeared the first farms.

Nowadays, a unity or traditional way of life is reckoned to the population of Pampa de Achala, which are called 'los del Alto' or 'Achalenses'. Its inhabitants are represented by small proprietors, vendors and labourers, whose families dwell disperse houses associated to the economic use of the soil. They bear a certain degree of seclusion from techno-culture and market economy, developing instead sustenance activities as cattle and ovine herding, orchards and poultry keeping. Their handcraft production occupies an important place in self-consumption, standing out the fabrics done in rustic looms and leather articles. All these sheared abilities got structured within their own system of values, beliefs, rules and countenances.