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LYNNDENISE

Feb 7, 2006, 9:41 AM

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Trails in Oaxaca

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My husband will be in Oaxaca for a month, and he loves to hike. Does anyone have any info about the trails?
While we were in Ajijic in September, he tried some of them there, but they are not well maintained.
Oh, how we miss Mexico, and can't wait until we sell our home here, and move to San Juan Cosola.
Lynn Smith
Alva, FL



bournemouth

Feb 7, 2006, 12:53 PM

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Re: [LYNNDENISE] Trails in Oaxaca

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I don't mean to be too unkind here, but whom do you think would maintain hiking trails? They are not formal trails as in a National Park in the US. They, I think, become trails simply from usage by humans, cattle etc. There is no organization to take care of things and no tax structure to pay for maintenance of such esoteric things.


Ed and Fran

Feb 7, 2006, 6:07 PM

Post #3 of 8 (3954 views)

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Re: [LYNNDENISE] Trails in Oaxaca

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Wouldn't be much around the city area, but if he gets out of town and into the sierra northeast of Oaxaca, there are a number of villages with small cabins maintained as local tourism spots. I believe most of those places have local guides and trails.

I have some info squirreled away somewhere, let me see if I can dig something out. I know I got the info at the state tourism office in Oaxaca (not the city tourism office). We had considered going up for a couple of nights but it didn't get worked into the schedule last visit.

Regards

Ed


geri

Mar 11, 2006, 11:04 AM

Post #4 of 8 (3901 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Trails in Oaxaca

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I think Bournemouth is right. Responding to demand, some villages in the mountains have created cabins and made guides available, but the trails are logging type roads used by the villagers or burro trails, in various stages of repair. You won't find hiking per se like you find in the State and National Parks in el norte.


Ed and Fran

Mar 11, 2006, 11:20 AM

Post #5 of 8 (3899 views)

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Re: [geri] Trails in Oaxaca

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Maybe not, but this one, just outside Oaxaca, sounds interesting:



San FelipeTrail Data
Length round-trip circuit = 10 km. Exertion index = 285 going, 25 returning. Maximum elevation = 1943 m.



Above the Oaxaca suburb of San Felipe del Agua is a regional park, Parque Comunal de San Felipe, with cascading streams in their own arroyos. While the bony mountains are hot and dry, the arroyos are shady and green. The turnaround points are two waterfalls.
Get to the trailhead by taxi or bus. To go by bus to the turnaround point described below, go east 2 blocks from the Zócalo to Reforma Street and catch a bus marked "San Felipe" (credit to Bruce Whipperman, Oaxaca).
If you have to drive, the way to get there starts at the intersection of Heróico Colegio Militar with Heróica Escuela Naval Militar. Go west on Esc. Naval Militar to Emiliano Zapata (the northern extension of Nezahualcóyotl) and go right. Follow the worn pavement tracks as they zigzag and you'll come to a traffic circle on your left with a statue of an Indian chief on a pedestal surrounded by statues of Indian women; on your right is a white, ornately classical building. Go right on the other side of the white building onto Calzada San Felipe del Agua. In 1.1 miles (1.7 km), at the top of the rise, you'll reach a church on your right. 1000 meters (.6 mi) beyond that you'll reach an intersection with a bus turnaround point on the forward right corner. Go left here on a dirt road and reach the park entrance in 300 m. There's a registration booth where you sign in and out.
It is possible to get from the little waterfall to the bigger one without backtracking if you're okay with scaling cliffs. For sane people it's probably better to backtrack.
Thanks to Dave Atherton for this great tip.



geri

Mar 11, 2006, 2:15 PM

Post #6 of 8 (3892 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Trails in Oaxaca

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I heard via the grapevine that they aren't letting people in there anymore, but I don't know this for sure. It was where I used to hike, before I tore a tendon in my leg (which is almost healed) so I will check it out one of these days.


RonMader


Mar 14, 2006, 4:19 AM

Post #7 of 8 (3866 views)

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Re: [LYNNDENISE] Trails in Oaxaca

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There are some great trails in Oaxaca. There are also some areas that have serious conflicts between villages. Be careful!

Tip -- Check out the Sierra Norte
http://www.planeta.com/...aca/sierranorte.html

Most of the villages send out hikers out with guides.

The places where I've good things the past year:

Benito Juárez
San Antonio Cuajimoloyas
Ixtlán de Juárez
Santa Catarina Lachatao

Happy trails!


jacpowell

Apr 20, 2006, 12:33 PM

Post #8 of 8 (3804 views)

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Re: [RonMader] Trails in Oaxaca

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Geri might be right -- when we were up at the bus turnaround a week or so ago, there was a big green sign that seemed to tell people they couldn't go on the road. My Spanish isn't all that good, and I wasn't really interested at the time, so I didn't work at it. As usual in any new situation, check locally before you hike.

Jackie Powell
 
 
 
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