This was an exploratory ride to see what lies between these two towns in the hill country north of Oaxaca city. Three riders shuttled to San Juan where they unloaded their bikes and began the long uphill climb to cross a mountain ridge to the next valley. The excursion was a success, though the guys managed to get a bit less than halfway to San Miguel before leg fatigue prompted them to turn around. The little used paved road between the villages made for pleasant pedaling, despite the unrelenting climb, as there were terrific views of the valley below through the pine forest. The riders covered just 13.0 kilometers (8.1 miles) of the 31.6 kilometers (19.6 miles) distance between towns, gaining and losing 654 meters (2146 feet) in elevation along the way. Perhaps some intrepid cyclists will go the whole distance at some point in the future.
It’s a relentless ten-mile climb from San Juan del Estado to the mountaintop.Keep pushing those pedals!The higher you go, the more expansive the view.
The La Reina trail is a very steep gravel road which links San Andres Huayapam with the ecotourism camp at La Cumbre Ixtepeji at over 9000 feet in altitude. This is a killer climb and, conversely, a screamer descent. The elevation gain amounts to 2378 feet in the space of 3.7 miles, with a gradient of 20% in some places. Your legs and lungs better be in top condition and your bike equipped with a good granny gear to make it to the top; and your brakes will get a heck of a workout on the way down. The map below shows the way, but note that this ride stopped short of the top of the mountain. Access to the trail is from Martires street. Note: there is a fee of 50 pesos (in 2024) to use the trail, payable at a toll booth at the bottom of the road just outside Huayapam.
It is a steady and steep climb up the mountain from Huayapam to La Cumbre. Though not far as the crow flies, the uphill grind seems never ending. From near the top of the mountain there are panoramic views of the entire valley of Oaxaca.
Eleven intrepid cyclists showed up for today’s Sunday ride, which went from the center of Oaxaca out through Tlalixtac, up the Los Molinos trail to the waterfall and then along Hwy 175 to El Estudiante – a round trip distance of 37.6 kilometers (23.4 miles). Elevation gain and loss on the route totaled 513 meters (1683 feet). Though the temperature was a brisk 11° C (52° F) at 8 am, intense sunshine was forecast to push the thermometer to 31° C (88° F) by mid-afternoon, making for a marvelous day to be aboard a bicycle. Most of our Sunday rides are pretty mellow, with a rating of easy to moderate. Today’s excursion, though, pushed to the edge of the “difficult” category, given the challenges of the single track trail leading to the cascada and then up to the highway. Nevertheless, everyone in the group – including three newcomers – managed quite well. That said, all seemed quite happy to return to the city via the highway rather than endure again the hike-a-bike sections traversed on the outbound leg of the ride.
Zipping along the newly-paved section of the Los Molinos trail.Riding an unpaved portion of trail.Group photo-op at the old mill ruins.A refreshing pause at the small cascada at the end of the Los Moliinos trail in the hills above Tlalixtac.
There are miles of backcountry roads and a snaggle of single track trails in the hills north and west of Santiago Suchilquitongo that are a lure to mountain bikers looking to explore new territory. This post recounts two similar but distinct rides.
RIDE ONE: To scratch the itch of adventure, two cyclists set out from Oaxaca to shuttle their bikes 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) to Suchilquitoingo one morning, intent on discovering what that region has to offer. This being an exploratory trip and a first-time visit, the day’s route rested on a roll of the dice as to which direction to ride. First up was a trek up the hill just west of the cuota to Mexico City past the Technologico Nacional de Mexico. What started as a promising ride on an unpaved country lane soon devolved into a jeep road and then a narrow, ill-defined single track which climbed up to a ridge overlooking the valley spread below. Near the top the trail became so faint and steep the riders deemed it best to turn around and retrace their path. Back in the valley, the cyclists had better luck following a freshly-graded road winding westward past two reservoirs, with the road climbing steadily upward for a number of miles. After pedaling for two hours, the pair decided to head back, calling the day’s excursion a success. The stats for the day are: 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) ridden, with an elevation gain and loss of 596 meters (1956 feet). See first map, below.
RIDE TWO: Intrigued by the road which seemed to wind ever higher and deeper into the nearby mountains, cyclists returned a second time to explore the area further. Turns out this old road is a winner! The lower portion is mainly sundrenched, but the upper sections offer good forest shade. The first five miles provide moderate climbs and descents as the track weaves through the woods. The next 1.3 miles are steeper, with grades of 8 to 15 percent. The final seven-tenths of a mile climb is a challenge, with lots of loose sand and a gradient of up to 20% in places. An ebike is a real asset and is definitely in its element here! The ride stats are: distance 21.7 km (13.5 miles) / elevation gain & loss 781 meters (2563 feet) / ride time of 2.5 hours on ebikes. See second map, below.
Scampering up a trail in the hills near Huitzo.A spectacular view of the countryside. The first of two reservoirs on today’s outing. The same reservoir seen from further up the mountain.The long, winding road up into the mountains. Lots of zigging and zagging along the way. Deep in the forest and high on the hill.
Centuries ago, in the early days of transatlantic travel, mariners and merchants went in search of a fabled northwest passage in the Arctic that would connect the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. No such route was ever found (though with global warming and the melting of the polar ice cap one may someday be revealed).
In a similar fashion, one of our cyclists thought there must surely be a way to ride from the northern reaches of Oaxaca across the flank of Cero San Felipe to the town of Viguera and into the Etla valley. This would bypass the main highway, with its tremendous vehicular traffic, and the never-completed Libramiento Norte bypass road, with its formidable uphill climb to a pass at the top. After studying road maps, he thought he had found such a route, albeit rather roundabout, that followed the contour of the mountain. So on this Monday morning two intrepid riders set out to find the way. Sadly, the map program showed any number of routes which turned out to be drainage channels, long flights of stairs on steep hillsides or were dead ends. Failing to find a through passage, the riders descended to the valley floor and rode into Viguera. Undeterred by their misadventure, they succeeded in reaching San Pablo Etla and riding to the La Mesita park and preserve well up the mountainside. The ride home was less adventurous and much easier, following known roads. From start to finish, the ride covered 52 kilometers (32.3 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 810 meters (2657 feet). This was a good workout for legs and lungs, as some of the hill climbs had a gradient of 17% in places. The outing was deemed a success, despite not having found that elusive northwest passage.
Neither sailing ships of old or an ebike could find the northwest passage.Pedaling up the mountainside to La Mesita.
