Category: Countryside

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

West Etla Valley – South Loop

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What we call the West Etla Valley trail is a rough farm access road that runs along a creek in the hills northwest of Cuilapam. It is a delightful place to hike or mountain bike. On this particular day the trail was ridden out and back on a route that proceeded from Oaxaca to Cuilapam, then continued from Cuilapam to Zaachila and thence back to Oaxaca. This route covered 51.8 kilometers (32.2 miles) and had an elevation gain and loss of about 370 meters (1216 feet). This ride is rated moderate. Time in the saddle amounted to 3.5 hours.


Countryside, GPS, Mountains, MTBing

Over The Top, Down And Around

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This classic ride takes one on a grand circle up and over the mountains which form the western wall of the Valley of Oaxaca. It is not for the faint of heart, as there is over 1500 meters (5000 feet) of climbing along the route, which stretches for 88.7 kilometers (55.1 miles). Someone with stout legs and lungs – or riding an ebike – can accomplish the loop in five or six hours time. The loop can be ridden equally well in either direction.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Tlacolula Two

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Almost ten years ago to the day this author first rode along the abandoned railroad line connecting Oaxaca with Tlacolula and points beyond. In 2014 the Nitos Ciclistas En Movimiento bike club regularly attracted a good many cyclists for their weekly Sunday rides. There were about twenty participants in the ride on 11 May. Sadly, the club went into hibernation during the Covid pandemic of 2020-2021 and has never regained its former strength. Today’s excursion followed almost the identical route, but went counter-clockwise this time. What was noticably different was the change in the trail from the ruins of Dainzu to Tlacolula. In 2014 it was a barely visible, thorn infested track; now it is in regular use by all sorts of vehicles. Still, two bikers got flat tires today where the gang in 2014 had eight punctures. There were thirteen participants in the group – nine natives and four gringos. The stats for the day are: 74.3 km (46.2 miles) traveled, with an elevation gain and loss of 275 meters (902 feet).

Countryside, GPS, MTBing

San Antonio Buena Vista

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This small village nestled in a quiet corner of the Tlocolula valley is completely unpretentious and seldom seen – except by mountain bikers looking for some out-of-the-way place to visit on a pleasant ride from Oaxaca city. The route to and from may vary slightly from time to time, and in any case is quite similar to other ventures into this part of the Central Valley of Oaxaca. The figures for today’s excursion are: 63.9 km (39.7 miles) traveled, with 319 meters (1048 feet) of elevation gain and loss.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing

Jalapa Lollipop

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A pleasant, moderate ride through the rolling hills of the western Etla valley to Jalapa del Valle and back, passing through San Andres Ixtlahuaca both going and coming. Distance traveled amounted to 48.4 km (30.7 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 724 meters (2376 feet) along the way. Elapsed time was almost exactly three hours.

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