If you are looking for a splendid, long ride through the countryside on a beautiful day, this adventure just might tickle your imagination. Basically an outing on unpaved backcountry roads, this route will take you from Oaxaca to Diaz Ordaz, with a little lollipop loop at the end that puts you within striking distance of the scenic ruins of the Zapotec palace complex at Yagul, should you care to visit there. Coming in at 49 miles (79 km), this is a long ride, and one with enough rolling terrain to keep things interesting.
Category: Countryside
Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing
San Agustin Etla Loop
by Larry • • 0 Comments
The track below shows two routes linking Oaxaca and the charming hill town of San Agustin Etla. The outbound route, which uses the unfinished highway of the Libramiento Norte and a patchwork of back roads, is certainly the more scenic and charming – as well as the more difficult option. The return to Oaxaca, by contrast, follows main roads which are much more crowded and less attractive, but have the virtue of being much more level. The rider is certainly entitled to ride the loop in either direction, or to choose either leg as an out-and-back ride. Any way you slice it, this is a significant urban ride, amounting to 31+ miles (45+ km).
Countryside, GPS, MTBing
Grand Loop of the Etla Valley
by Larry • • 0 Comments
Many bike riders consider the western side of the Etla valley to be the most scenic and delightful area of the Valles Centrales. Certainly the rolling countryside is appealing, both visually and to those who enjoy a few good climbs as part of the day’s workout. There are miles of suitable back roads and trails in this part of the country, many of them shown on other rides in this collection. This particular outing, though, might be considered the grand loop. At 25.2 miles (40.6 km) in length (measured from central Oaxaca), the trail illustrated contains about 1700 feet (518 meters) of elevation gain and loss in the circuit.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing
North Etla Valley Loop
by Larry • • 1 Comment
The north end of the Etla valley offers some fine scenery and excellent singletrack trail to view it from. This moderately challenging ride will take the rider from San Pablo Etla on the eastern edge of the valley almost to the mountains that form the western rim. Along the way you will follow paved and (primarily) dirt roads, cut across farm fields, and savor some fine singletrack, especially in the rolling hills that characterize the landscape along the western side of the valley. None of the track is particularly technical, but your legs and lungs will surely get a good workout. Accomplished riders can probably knock out this loop in a bit over four hours. Those finding their way around for the first time and less adept bikers should tack on an additional hour or two for good measure.
The ride as shown begins and ends at Carl Silverberg’s San Pablo Etla home (www.MountainBikeOaxaca.com), and he will be happy to offer visitors to Oaxaca a guided tour of the area. The loop covers 25.5 miles (41.0 km), with accumulated gain & loss of 2844 feet (866.8 meters) along the way. Some of the singletrack trail is very narrow and on rather steep slopes. When crossing some farm fields, you will have to create your own path.
Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Outing, Ride Routes
San Lorenzo Cacaotepec to Jalapa del Valle
by Larry • • 0 Comments
A favorite area for mountain bikers in the countryside around Oaxaca is the western side of the Etla valley. The rolling terrain there is very scenic, with myriad backcountry roads to explore. This particular outing is a ramble on paved and dirt roads – though a very short portion of the route shown actually runs in a creek bed. The adventurous biker will find many roads and paths diverging from the main track, which can be followed or not, depending on one’s taste for adventure and time frame.
The route as shown is basically an out & back ride, with a couple of loops along the way to make things interesting. It runs for 17.2 miles (27.7 km) and the gentle ups and downs along the way will help you accumulate 1166 feet (355.4 meters) of gain and loss by the time you return to your starting point, which may be either in the village of San Lorenzo Cacaotepec or Jalapa del Valley. This ride is rated “Easy to Moderate” for the amount of physical exertion it requires; there are no technical challenges to be met. (Note: if this ride is begun and ended in San Felipe del Agua, then the distance traveled will be 43 miles (69.2 km) and the gain/loss will amount to 3228 feet (984 meters). Any way you slice it, this is a very pleasant day ride.