This is one of the favorite and prettiest rides close to the city. Originally mostly a single track through the hills, the Los Molinos trail was incorporated into the much longer Camino de Juárez when that paved trail was constructed from Guelatao to Tlalixtac in 2023. The route shown runs from Santo Domingo in el centro to the second bridge, at which point the going gets appreciably steeper, at times using a series of staircases to climb the mountain. Cyclists often turn around here unless they plan to go as far as El Estudiante or even all the way to La Cumbre Ixtepeji. Today’s trek covered 19.8 miles (31.0 kms) with an elevation gain of 1390 feet (424 meters) and took 4.5 hours, including a stop for brunch at the Los Charolitos lakeside restaurant in Huayapam.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos
Sunday ride to San Martin Tilcajete
by Larry • • 0 Comments
A gorgeous Sunday for a long ride through the countryside to San Martin Tilcajete. Eleven riders took part in the outing, stopping for brunch at the charming Almu garden restaurant in Tilcajete. The rainy season has run its course this year and we had blue skies with puffy white clouds overhead. The termperature – 73°F / 23°C – was ideal. Our route covered 44.3 miles / 71.3 kms, with 1429 feet / 435.5 meters of climbing along the way. The only disappointment was that we hoped to see fields of flowers ready to be harvested for Day of the Dead festivities, but found nary a one. The ride got underway at 7:30 am and concluded at 2:00 pm.
Some of the serving wenches at Almu.
Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos
Cascada at San Gabriel Etla
by Larry • • 1 Comment
With group bike rides happening every Sunday year around, it is quite unusual to latch onto a route and destination never explored before. Such was the case on this day in the fall of 2026. Seven cyclists – including a visitor from Vancouver on an ebike – took part in this outing which covered 36 miles (58 kms) on a track leading from the center of Oaxaca city into the hills above San Gabriel Etla. Most of the route was fairly level, following an old railroad right-of-way through open countryside. However, once at San Miguel Etla the gang had some serious climbing to reach the waterfall deep in a lushly forested valley. All told, the elevation gain and loss amounted to 1378 feet (420 meters) on the round trip. Riders stopped at the Rancho San Antonio on the way home for a delicious late morning meal. The ride got underway at 7:30 am and lasted seven hours, with folks getting home at 2:30 in the afternoon – having to ride in light rain the last few miles into town.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing
Serendipitous Sunday
by Larry • • 0 Comments
This is essentially a loop ride through the countryside southwest of Oaxaca which makes use of many little used back roads. There is a good amount of climbing and descending, but nothing too difficult or challenging. This five hour long excursion includes a stop for breakfast at a family owned comedor in Arrazola. Distance: 24.2 miles / 38.9 kms Elevation change: 1326 feet / 404 meters. Duration: 5 hours Rating: moderate
Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing
El Cerrodito de Leon
by Larry • • 0 Comments
There is a circular concrete platform ten meters in diameter atop a hill a mile or more to the southeast of San Bartolo Coyotepec. Its use is a mystery, since access to the stage is by way of a very rough and little used back road popular mostly with mountain bikers.
It was just such a group that rode this way on a Sunday morning the last day of May. The map below shows the route coming home, so illustrates a bit less than one half the distance ridden today. Though the total distance covered was only 25 miles (40.3 kms) the ride is rated moderate to difficult because of the hill climbs on loose and rocky jeep roads. As per custom, the gang stopped for breakfast at Comedor Hilda in San Bartolo on the way home. The ride got underway at 7:15 am and wrapped up shortly after noon.