Another visit to the hill country surrounding San Baltazar Guelavila. Larry, Dhruba, Jeff and Memo were led today by a local guide, Emanuel, on a nearly twenty mile (31 km) lollipop loop ride. Lots of ups and downs on this route, with a total of 2349 feet (716 meters) elevation gain and loss. Gorgeous scenery along the way, with a stop at Las Salinas to hike a short distance in the slot canyon to a small waterfall.
Lunch afterwards at El Milenario restaurant in Tule on the way home.
The Camino de Juarez, a paved trail running over 46 kilometers from Guelatao to Oaxaca, opened in March 2024. This report focuses on the segment that goes from Oaxaca to El Estudiante, basically supplanting the older single track Los Molinos trail. The CdJ itself is accessed from Hwy 175 where it passes by the two small lakes in Huayapam. The map below shows the route from Oaxaca to El Estudiante, passing through Tlalixtac and then using the CdJ going uphill, with the return to Oaxaca using the highway. The round trip distance amounts to 43.1 kms (26.8 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of about 549 meters (1800 feet). While the trail has a smooth surface and no technical obstacles, the CdJ is steep in places – up to 18% grade – with several sections of stairs. Bikers with strong legs and a good sense of balance can ride the whole way, using the narrow border strips which run alongside the steps. More timid riders will have to dismount and push their bikes up the ramps. Either way, this is a great outing. Today’s ride took five hours to complete, counting an hour’s stop for lunch at a restaurant on the shore of one of the two presas in Huayapam.
This ride features a long climb to San Pablo Cuatro Venados, which looks out over the Valley of Oaxaca from a perch near the top of the mountain ridge which forms the western boundary of the valley. The ascent is primarily on pavement – notably the Amlo road constructed 2020-2023 – while the descent is principally on an old, little-used jeep road which spirals into the valley. The gradient is steep, ranging between 10% and 19%, making for a challenging climb and a screaming descent. Good exercise and great fun! Round trip distance amounts to 62.9 kms (39.1 miles), with 1296 meters (4251 feet) of elevation change. Expect to spend a good five hours in the saddle to accomplish the loop.
This is an intermediate ride of 51 kilometers (31.7 miles) that takes advantage of some unpaved country roads which loop through the hills located between San Andrés Ixtlahuaca, Jalapa del Valle and San Felipe Tejalapam. Quite a scenic adventure when the hillsides lie green beneath an azure sky. Be advised that the hill climbs are numerous, but not too long or steep. There is an elevation gain and loss of 630 meters (2069 feet) along the way. A group of Sunday riders finished the course in five hours, counting time out for snacks (memelas, tacos & empanadas) at a street vendor’s stall in the zocalo in San Andrés Ixtlahuaca on the way back to Oaxaca.
This is the fourth in a series of weekday rides exploring the little-used back roads and trails in the hills to the west of the Mexico cuota some 20-40 kilometers (12 to 24 miles) north-northwest of Oaxaca. The town of Matadamas was the jumping off point for today’s excursion. Similar expeditions have departed from San Andrés Zautla, Santa Cruz Lachixolana and Santiago Suchilquitongo. All offer a generous amount of hill climbing in the midst of great scenery. All of these routes can be accessed on rides originating in Oaxaca as well as by using a shuttle to the designated starting points. This particular outing was a short one of 23.8 kms (14.8 miles) that lasted just 2.5 hours. It could well have been extended by riding more of the trails that crisscross the area. Be advised, though, that accessing these trails can be difficult. When looking out from the top of a ridge, one can see a number of trails off in the distance, but finding and following them is challenging, as many wind up dead-ending in a farmer’s field. Nevertheless, this is a great area for riders with a whimsical spirit of adventure.
