Category: Foothills

Colonia San Felipe del Agua is a favorite neighborhood for mountain bikers living in Oaxaca – whether gringo ex-pats or natives – because of the proximity of a network of great singletrack trails in the hills just above the community. It is a quick (if not exactly easy) ride from one’s front door to any of a number of satisfying trails. These are remnants of old jeep roads connecting San Felipe with Viguera; various pedestrian and animal paths; and some access trails created during the installation of a high-voltage power line across the mountains. The trails are often badly eroded and overgrown with vegetation, but they are generally rideable – if you can find them! And that’s where this web site comes into play. We’ve mapped the area so you can locate the trail that tickles your fancy on any given outing. Be forewarned, though: the trails are not marked, and can be difficult to find in heavy brush, even with a map. Your best bet is to download trail information into a GPS unit and have that with you when you go exploring the territory – or hook up for a ride with one of the locals who knows the area.

This particular ride is a loop that connects several of the individually-named trail segments found on the “Trails” page of this web site. It begins and ends at Colosio Park (intersection of Primero de Mayo and Loma Oaxal), covers 7.9 miles (12.7 km) and has an elevation gain & loss of 1750 feet (533.4 meters). While some sections are fairly steep and riding in the woods can be tricky, this outing is rated “Moderate,” as there are no serious technical challenges along the way. Expect to finish the loop in 60 to 90 minutes, depending on your biking ability and riding style.

Specifically, this route uses the following trails segments, which are detailed on the “Trails” page of this web site: (start) LBR to LNR to TTT to R to LNR to RR to WFR to SP to CM to LBR (finish).

Huayapam is a small residential community nestled against the mountains a short distance from Oaxaca city. It is home to a number of resident expatriots from the U.S. and Canada. There are footpaths linking it with San Luis Beltran and San Felipe del Agua, two other villages that sit on the flanks of the mountains to the north of Oaxaca. These paths and other trails that lead into the hills are popular with the local mountain bikers.

The ride illustrated here covers 11.7 miles (18.8 km) and has an elevation gain of 2036 feet (620 meters). A good portion of that climb is connected with riding what we call the “road to nowhere,” an old logging road that runs up one side of a valley and down the other. You can avoid the climb and shorten the ride by skipping this part of the ride, if you like. There is also one creek crossing that requires dismounting to enter and exit an arroyo where it is a challenge to carry your bike down and up the steep side slopes. Otherwise, the outing is a blast!

Monte Alban is the crown jewel among the archeological treasures of Oaxaca. Situated on a hilltop 1312 feet above the valley floor, the massive plaza with the imposing platforms that once held numerous temples and palaces is an impressive sight. Since it is quite close to the city of Oaxaca, it is easily accessible by bicycle.

The route traced on the map below runs for 11.3 miles (18.2 km) and shows an elevation gain of 1463 feet (446 meters). It is accomplished on paved roads all the way, so be cautious of vehicular traffic. The ride is rated “Moderate” because of the steepness of the climb. If you are a traveler from a low elevation, you will feel the strain of climbing at this altitude.