Category: Ride Routes

Information on places to ride your bike with route information (typically GPS and map), towns passed through, points of interest along the way, and maybe even photos

GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Outing, Ride Routes

Oaxaca to Benito Juárez & Back

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One Sunday I decided to ride from my home in San Felipe del Agua (a suburb on the north side of Oaxaca city) to the village of Benito Juarez, part of the Pueblos Mancomunados in the Sierra Norte, approximately thirty miles east and a bit north of Oaxaca. I had driven the dirt road between Teotitlan del Valle to Benito Juarez a number of times, and had ridden the screamer descent (a 5000 foot drop in 11 miles) on my mountain bike a couple of times. However, I’d never been crazy enough to crank up that mountain — until this day.

I took my time, and so the round trip took nearly nine hours, covering 65.3 miles (105 km) and required climbing 6140 feet (1871 meters) along the way. Needless to say, my legs felt like rubber and I was one tired biker by the end of the day. I accomplished the outing using some city streets, but for the most part stuck to bike paths, dirt roads and a few short sections of cowpaths. I never rode on the highway, though that was an option, as the highway between Oaxaca and Mitla is freshly paved and has wide shoulders. (Caution: it is the custom in Mexico for slow vehicles to drive on the shoulder of a highway to permit faster cars to pass, so even a wide shoulder can be a dangerous place for a bicycle.) 

If you elect to do this ride, but use the Zocalo instead of San Felipe as the start / end point, the distance will be 7 miles shorter and the elevation gain / loss will be 750 feet less.

 

GPS, MTBing, Outing, Photos, Ride Routes

Santo Domingo Tomaltepec – Krotalus Bike Shop Ride

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This ride goes from the Krotalus Bike Shop in Oaxaca city (Calle Sabinos 309-B in Colonia Reforma / www.krotalusmtb.com.mx) through Tule and Santo Domingo Tomaltepec, then upvalley past two reservoirs and into bush country. Once past the lakes, the trail repeatedly crosses a stream (seven times going in; same coming out), making for a splashing good time – especially fun in hot weather! Caution: There is a large difference in the depth, width and speed of the water in the stream between the dry and the rainy season! Where the water may be only a couple of inches deep in the winter months (or the creek completely dry), it may be a foot deep in the summertime if rain has been plentiful.

The ride covers 23.5 miles (37.8 km), with an elevation gain & loss of about 1000 feet (378 meters). Though a relatively long ride, there are no steep grades to climb, just a steady, mild uphill to the end of the trail.

Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Outing, Photos, Ride Routes

Jalapa del Valle Ride

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This is a fun, scenic and somewhat demanding ride from the Zocalo in downtown Oaxaca city through rolling countryside to the village of Jalapa del Valle and back.   It is essentially and out-and-back ride with a loop at the far end. All of the ride is accomplished on paved city streets, paved two-lane highway or dirt country roads. (Sorry, no singletrack!).

We started from the Zocalo in El Centro and concluded the ride by returning our rental bikes to the Zona Bici shop (Calle Garcia Vigil 406-1, just a couple of blocks north of the Zocalo). The distance covered is 27.5 miles (44.25 km), with an elevation gain of 2686 feet and a loss of 2566 feet (+ 818 / – 782 meters). I would rate this ride as moderately difficult, given its length and the steep grade of some of the hills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Outing, Photos, Ride Routes

Latuvi / Benito Juarez / La Neveria Loop Ride

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This is a lovely loop ride between three communities in the Pueblos Mancomunados, mostly on dirt roads but with some rough singletrack on steep hillsides in the forest mid-way between La Neveria & Latuvi. Most of the ride is at elevations between 9,000 and 9,500 ft (2745 – 2895 meters). The total distance is 19.6 miles (31.5 km). There is 3663 feet (1116.5 meters) of climbing along the way — but that includes a visit to the scenic overlook (“mirador”) above Benito Juarez (which is well worth the stop, by the way).

It took our group nearly six hours to complete the ride, but that was because we had some slow riders, stopped at the Mirador, and then had dinner in Benito Juarez. Experienced riders can probably knock out the loop in about half that time. Incidentally, we started and finished the loop in Latuvi because that put the biggest climb at the beginning of the ride. However, most people would likely prefer to begin at Benito Juarez, the town closest to Oaxaca city. We rode the loop clockwise, and think that is the best way; but it can also be done in the opposite direction.

Visitors to the Pueblos Mancomunados should be aware that the temperature in the high country is usually about 20 degrees Fahrenheit (6.6 degrees Celsius) cooler than in Oaxaca, and that morning fog and drizzle are commonplace, even in the dry season. For that reason, a light jacket and/or rain gear is recommended. Also, native guides are available to take visitors between villages on either hiking or biking trails, and may be hired for about 200 pesos for the day.

 

 

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Outing, Photos, Ride Routes

Outing – Larry’s DAM Ride

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This ride is a longer variation of another ride listed here – that going to Santo Domingo Tomaltepec. The route shown below uses San Felipe as the start / end point, rather than the Krotalus Bike Shop. Also, the return follows a different route, going through the villages of Tlalixtac and Huayapam. Consequenlty, this ride is 30.5 miles (49 km) long and has an elevation gain & loss of 2427 feet (740 meters) along the way. Nevertheless, it is every bit as much fun as the shorter version.

Be aware that on the upper reaches of the trail at the far end of the ride there are fourteen stream crossings. You and your bike are guaranteed to get wet. Caution!  There is a large difference in the depth, width and speed of the water in the stream between the dry and the rainy season! Where the water may be only a couple of inches deep in the winter months, it may be a foot or more deep in the summertime. The  stream bed is stable and rideable even in summer, but proceed with caution and use good sense. Of course, you can simply turn around when you get to the first water crossing. It’s still a great outing, and you stay dry for the ride home!

 

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