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LaRibereņa
Nomad
Posts: 110
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Tehama, CA & La Ribera, BCS
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Copper Canyon
Going from East Cape to Copper Canyon later this month. Anyone have any tips/information/hints for us? I'm stoked!
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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You will love it. We had a wonderful time and the entire train ride is beautiful.
My favorite place was the Hotel Mision in Cerocahui. We took a long walk up to some cascades through green pastures, jumping back and forth over the
creek below the cascades.
I could go on and on as it was one of those trips that you can daydream about for years to come but............. Instead I will u2u about it. I wish
you could attach photos on u2u's as I just catalogued all of those photos and have them easy to upload.
Are you starting from Los Mochis...great seafood.
Are you going all the way to Chihuahua....interesting town for a day.
You should be stoked!
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bajajudy
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Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Oh I have to do one more
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LaRibereņa
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Location: Tehama, CA & La Ribera, BCS
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Copper Canyon
Judy, check your U2U. :-)
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dug
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Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Oceanside
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In 2000 I guided for Adventure Specialist in the Copper Canyon. They have supported treks or horse trips. It is a marvelous trip and I recommend it no
matter how you go.
http://www.adventurespecialists.org/
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Braulio
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Elizabeth - If you're going to spend the night in Los Mochis check out the Hotel El Dorado - they're running a promotion for 350 pesos a night for a
double through the end of October. I'd give it 3 stars - they have a pool and it's pretty well-situated.
I'd plan to spend a day sight seeing in Los Mochis - it's a neat city. U2u me if you need suggestions.
Topolobampo is pretty dead.
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vandenberg
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Question ??
Is there a way to do that trip by road ,or is it strictly a train trip ?
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
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Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandenberg
Question ??
Is there a way to do that trip by road ,or is it strictly a train trip ? |
Hundreds of motorcyclists do it every year and many 4x4's as well. www.rosensrides.com is a good site for info.
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wilderone
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The areas accessible by vehicle, and the areas accessed by train are different but the same!!! For instance, you can get to Batopilas, traveling
through one of the canyons from Creel, on a local bus - and Batopilas is not accessible by train. A totally awesome trip. The train ride through the
canyon is another way to see the canyons in one day. You can stop off at one of the towns and stay overnight and ride a horse down into a canyon or
hike. Multiple ways to see the canyons, but if you want a closer look at the towns, you need to get off the train and stay awhile.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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I have led two free trips to Copper Canyon (really a several canyon area) from So. Calif.
You see a lot more because the train ride does not get into the bottom and only gives you a peek down from El Divisidero. That said, it is worth it if
you can't do it with a 4x4 or high clearance 2wd.
4x4 Route with stops/points of interest:
Start So. Calif.
Cross border at Douglas, AZ
Janos
Casas Grandes - Paquime museum
Colonia Juarez - Mormon Colony, friendly bi-lingual folks
Mata Ortiz - Home of Juan Quesada and Casas Grandes pottery
Madera - Ruinas Cuarenta Casas
Basaseachik Falls - almost 1000 feet
Creel
Cusarare Falls - short, pretty hike
La Bufa - Bottom of Cyn. Batapilas
Batapilas - Read "Silver Magnet by Sheperd
Satevo - Lost Mission
Back to Creel
El Divisadero - Peek into Urique Cyn.
Bahuichivo
Urique - Bottom of Urique Cyn.
Back to Bahuichivo
Temoris
Chinipas - on Chinipas river
San Bernardo
Alamos - Old Colonia Capital with restored gringo Haciendas
Navojoa - Hwy. 15 north
Hermosillo
Sonoita/Lukevile USA
So. Calif.
More info, pictures:
http://www.desertexplorers.org/tr-cucyn99/cucyn.htm
http://www.desertexplorers.org/ccfotos.htm
http://www.desertexplorers.org/patvirg.htm
http://www.desertexplorers.org/hughes.htm
[Edited on 10-10-2005 by Neal Johns]
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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bajaden
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Hey Neal, if you ever lead another trip, let me know. I would love to go. That goes for you to Judy. Hey the cervesa's are on me.
At a feast of egos, everyone leave\'s hungry...
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Bajaden, too bad I only drink Mountain Dew!
It may be a while before we go again, Marian is taking me four wheeling in Australia next spring for 45 days.
I married well.
Flash! She says I have to pay my own way. Ouch!
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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The Copper Canyon complex (like Neal says, many canyons) is huge, and there are not that many roads. So if you go via your own vehicle, allow lots of
time as we are talking lots of miles just to see the various sites. Although the train ride is absolutely spactacular (dozens and dozens of tunnels
and views), Neil is right that only at Divisadero can you actually see into the "Copper Canyon". I went on a Tour put on by "The California Native"
company out of Los Angeles, and we made the train our main access, but stopped at several places and took vans into remote villages, both in the
canyons and outside them, and spent most of the time working out of haciendas, on both horse and by van. We spent 11 days actually there, and we
barely scratched the surface. The "California Native" Tour is/was GREAT. We started in El Fuerte (spending the night), just east of Las Mochis, and
also stayed in Creel and Chihuahua City, all fantastic. Spent 2 nights in Batopilas in the bottom of the canyon. The rest of the time we were in
haciendas out in the countryside and on the rim of the canyons.
Copper Canyon, tho much different than the Grand Canyon, is a must see. Just take enough time to do it right. Barry
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Barry A. is right, take your time. We took about 16 days, but could have spent several more. Unlike Barry, since we were not on a train schedule, and
we mostly camped wherever nightfall found us. One night, in the boonies, we were camped alongside the road when a hayride passed us after dark! Much
whooping and laughter from both sides. At that same place, our Husky went nose to nose with a teenaged burro - with both backing away. It's a great
trip and only a few words of Spanish is necessary. Gracias and de nada go a long ways.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Great!!! Say Neal, what is this you typed?: 'Satevo - Lost Mission'
Are you teasing me???
I was a small kid when my parents took me on the train through the canyon to Los Mochis about 1962-64... Just after it was finished I think? I
remember many parts, lots of bridges and tunnels... train hit a cow and we all got off to see... Indian villages... Pretty sights... Toured Pancho
Villa's hacienda in Chihuahua at one point in that trip...
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Well, I guess, as with most things, the train is what you make of it. We got off and adventured down into the valley at Urique and met some wonderful
people. Everytime we got off we did something different. A hike, a horseride, a ride to the bottom, whatever we felt like. I really enjoyed the
train trip but then I love trains.
The following is a photo of the Temoris switchtback. You see yourself coming and going, they say
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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David K, the mission is "Lost" because the records of its construction have not been found. Hard to believe the church records somewhere do not exist.
It is five miles downstream from the silver mining town of Batapilas. The first time I was there (20 years ago), you had to hike in. That same trip I
hiked from Batapilas to Urique, about five thousand feet elevation gain and then loss. I must have been crazy. Or younger.... nah..
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Neal and David and Judy-----
Judy----great pic, and the way you describe things is the way we did it too.
Neil------as I am sure you know, you can drive to Urique now, which we did. Great town, but lots of "drug money" (MJ) there, and the fancy vehicles
were much in evidence.
David------as Neal says, the Mission's (Satevo) papers are missing, which is really surprising as it is a substantial mission. When we were there
about 7 years ago, the road was restricted to locals, and we had to hike there from Batopilas, but it was well worth it. It is an easy hike, mostly
level, and the scenery is great. There is an abandoned "hacienda" (partially in ruins) just up stream from Batopilas that is absolutely incredible in
size and scope----built by the silver baron, I believe. You have to kind of sneak in, but it is worth it, and you can easily spend a day there just
poking around. The caretaker, after scolding us for sneaking in, gave us an all day tour of the place that was great. I know that there was much more
to see in that area than we ever saw. It is HUGE!!!!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Awesome!!!
Thanks!!!
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Grant Sheperd, the son of the gringo that ran The Batopilas silver mines, wrote "Silver Magnet" which is the story of his growing up there in the
mansion/hacienda. After reaching adulthood, Grant ran them. It was facinating to sit and watch the guys and gals prominade around the same square in
the plaza as he did. We are talking about 1900. The whole town was built from material "trucked" in by muleback. This includes the hydroelectric plant
which is still running 100 years later! The road was built around 1965 or so. The silver was taken out by mule caravan guarded by Pancho Villa before
the Revolution!
We ran into the owner/caretaker who lives next door and got the tour of the hacienda without the scolding. Very friendly fellow. Anyone going there is
welcome to come camp in my house and read the 1938 book. It is too hard to come by to loan it out. Oops, I just checked and it was reissued in 1999
and is available for $40 - $50.
[Edited on 10-11-2005 by Neal Johns]
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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