Exploring Trails in the Copper Canyon
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Urique River Canyoning Adventure Follow the Wild Rio Urique from below Divisadero to the Town of Urique
Come ready for adventure: $999.00 USD (10-Day); $1499 (12-day, Includes train & Los Mochis accommodations and transfers) Call or e-mail! BOOK THIS TRIP |
- DAY 1 (SUNDAY): GUESTHOUSE (INCLUDED), Arrive by Train, Bus or Car. Secure parking available.
- Day 2: Start hiking 9am, Steep descent (7 miles, 5000 feet elevation loss) to river. River Camp
- Day 3: Breakfast and early start. Follow Rio Urique hiking, wading, bouldering, swimming 5-7 miles. River Camp
- Day 4: Breakfast and more hiking, wading, bouldering, swimming 5-7 miles. River Camp
- Day 5: Breakfast and early start, & less hiking, wading, & more swimming, bouldering 5-7 miles. River Camp
- Day 6: Breakfast and early start, & less wading, & more hiking, swimming, bouldering 5-7 miles. River Camp
- Day 7: Breakfast and early start. Swimming, hiking 5-7 miles. Arrive in Guadalupe Coronado (of God's Middle Finger Fame); Only 2 hrs later: Urique!! Camping. Dinner in town.
- Day 8: RACE DAY- Runners start at 6am, and pass thru town3 times. Elite runners arriver at Finish in about 6 hours. Camping. Dinner in town.
- Day 9: 7AM Departure on Public Buses for Divisadero/Guesthouse
- Day 10: Departure from Canyon Rim at Divisadero for points unknown
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Save the Los Mochis airport hassle with an 11 day van tour from Tucson (No Train).
The price for this 10-day self-supported backpack is $1400 USD/pp. Price includes meals, 2 nights in a local guesthouse, 2 nights camping in Urique Campground. There are gear-specific requirements for your comfort and safety. Transportation from Urique by Public Buses back to the Rim/Trailhead is included, but costs to and from the canyon rim rendezvous are at your expense, and on your own itinerary. It's a long way to go, so call for itinerary recommendations. The last day we leave Urique sufficiently early to catch the train back to Los Mochis. Optional: Catch the train on that day from Bahuichivo to Mochis/El Fuerte. For Chihuahua, or back to vehicles at the trailhead, we will utilize public transportation to the canyon rim.
Flying In
Chihuahua City, the capital of Chihuahua is a convenient gateway (airport code CUU) and has three daily buses, or the uneventful train to the rim. Access to the rim from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, (airport code LMM) is only by train, and what a spectacular train ride it is! Many US cities have connections to these cities.
Driving from Tucson?
Leaving the Driving to Safe, Courteous Bus Drivers
Currently Tufesa Bus Lines has service to Los Mochis from most major western US cities. Navigating the website is difficult, but you can figure 12 hours from Tucson (520-294-3780, 520-294-3722), for about $100.00 USD; and 20 hrs/$140 from Las Vegas. Select "Los Mochis" as your destination on the "Ejecutivo" bus (leaving around 9:30pm) for an idea of the cost. At the border, you'll grab your pack and leave the bus. Don't leave anything on the bus! Remember the Bus Number! The bus will cross the border. You'll cross the border by foot. You'll need your passport, and will be required to obtain a visa. A 14 day visa costs the same as a 180 day visa, about $23 USD. Only if they stamp your passport coming in will you have to insure they stamp it out when you leave. They are always supposed to do this, but enforcement really depends on your border crossing. Even different crossings in the same city enforce differently! Also, the $23 for the visa must be paid to a bank, that you yourself must search out and find. Not all border crossings have a bank on premises. The bank will then stamp your visa. When leaving the country, they may or may not collect your visa....
| Canyon Quote |
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"If you're not living on the edge, You're taking up too much space. |
| -Anonymous |
Arriving in Canyon Country
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If you're arriving overland from easterly destinations, you could do worse than to arrive at the Camionera Central (main bus station) in Chihuahua. Chihuahua is a great town and 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. There are 3 departures/day to San Rafael. There are more frequent departures to Creel or Cuauhtemoc, and in that case you'll just have to wait there for the busses to San Rafael.
Stopping partway is not a bad idea as Creel and Cuauhtemoc are very walkable. They've got a variety of hotels and restaurants nearby, whereas with the new bus station (camionera central) in Chihuahua you're on the periphery of town with not many choices. Also, if you're arriving by bus from Chihuahua you won't get to experience the Copper Canyon train. Your best bet if you want a little time onboard is to bus to Creel, and take the train to Divisadero. Creel to Divisadero is a two hour train ride even though it's only an hour by car or bus. In this case, get off in Divisadero, grab a chili relleno or a gordita, and ask for Lola. The train stop called "Posada Barrancas" is 4 kilometers west of Divisadero and is named for the big flashy hotel on the canyon rim. Visit here to book "Mexican 5-star" accommodations on the rim. Given the quality of their margarita's, I really can't recommend them. Lola's guesthouse is another 2 km towards San Rafael.
By bus from Creel, your ultimate destination is "Arepo", 11 km shy of the end of the pavement in San Rafael. It's about 6 hours from Chihuahua, and is the next bus stop after Divisadero (Ask for it!). From where you get off the bus in Arepo, the bus turns right at the "T". You walk to the left, 200 meters or so to Lola's, or "Cabanas de los Pioneros" located on your right. It has two low buildings with a series of rooms with a common porch, and a fence of horizontal poles embedded in rock pilars. We'll see you there!
Customizing your Adventure
We offer several other options for backpacking. We'll work with you on the arrival and departure dates, but they're not scheduled in advance. We can tailor the level of difficulty and the duration to meet your requirements. We're frequently down in the canyons trying new routes and destinations, so that may be of interest to adventurous souls. We generally need 30 days advance notice, but the airlines aren't so accommodating. Last minute flights can be difficult to get, and costly. Definitely consider overland travel.
These custom hikes are fully SELF supported and generally limited to 6 people. We recommend 5 to 6 nights camping, but it's your trip. We can make a loop or head for some definite destination such as Urique or Barranca Candamena. In addition to the Burro-assisted "What to Bring" list, you should provide the following gear with which you are comfortable: A 55-65 liter (3500 - 4000 cubic inch) backpack. Packed that will be about 40 pounds. A 30 degree Fahrenheit (zero degrees Centigrade) sleeping bag. Keep the weight down to a kilo or so (2-2.5 lbs). Sleeping pad. Tent (optional) or tarp. A bowl or plate, and a spoon or fork. A sleeping bag liner is recommended.
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We provide all the food for meals and snacks, stoves and fuel, and a tarp for cooking in inclement weather. You will be expected to share in the weight of the food. Please let us know if you have dietary restrictions. We always have a local along, but they pack really light. Backpacks differ from burro assisted mainly in that we cook for our local guides, and don't have the infrastructure the Mexican crew provides. As always, we appreciate their Point of View and the fact they they're probably related to people we run in to on the trail; and after all, we are the visitors.
Going Escorted; Getting the Most from your Guide
The directions above are for meeting us at the rim. An eight day trip becomes a 10 day trip if you would like to be met and escorted there from the airport in Los Mochis, Sinaloa (airport code LMM). You'll be met by your guide for the drive to the hotel in nearby El Fuerte, where you depart the following day for the CHEPE train to the canyon rim. You have an unescorted return by train to El Fuerte at the completion of the hike, but you'll be met for your transfer to the hotel, and transfered the following day to the airport in Los Mochis. The cost of all meals while escorted are included. The price for this service including the hike is $1800 USD per person/double occupancy.
Alternatively, your group can be met at the airport in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, (airport code CHH) for private van or public bus service to the canyon rim, including a night in "el centro de Chihuahua". You can then finish your trip with the train ride to the coast, return to Chihuahua, or strike out on your own. We recommend arriving in Chihuahua, enjoying the canyon, with addition time for the waterfalls, and Batopilas. Finish your tour off with the train to Los Mochis and the Night Ferry from Topolobampo to La Paz in Baja. What a great way to spend 2 weeks. You can relive your adventurous trip swinging gently in a hammock in La Paz, as the swaying palm fronds diffuse the silvery moonlight, with a Cuba Libre contentedly in hand. Return to the mainland via Sta. Rosalia to Guaymas. Santa Rosalia has a church that came in a box, a patented design by Gustav Eiffel. Still not done? Give us a call.