Category: GPS

Items containing GPS data (either the downloadable KML/Z or GPX file) &/or a map that displays such data.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Racing

Mountain Bike Race at Cuilapam

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There was a mountain bike race held on Sunday, 20 October 2013 in Cuilapam de Guerrero, a village just 11 kilometers southwest of Oaxaca city. Unlike the other races listed here, this one was not league sponsored but was organized by the people of Cuilapam as part of a weekend fiesta. The race course ran alongside (and frequently crossed) the river and then ventured into nearby countryside. The route was unusually flat and had no technical aspects to speak of; however, the frequent water crossings certainly added some challenge to the enterprise. The race circuit covered 4.5 miles (7.2 km) and had an elevation gain & loss of just 243 feet (74 meters).

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GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos, Racing

San Pedro Ixtlahuaca Marathon Race

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Read about and enjoy pictures of the marathon race that ran a loop course over nearly twenty miles of dirt roads on Sunday, 13 October 2013. The account is one of the entries in the file describing the multiple race venues around Oaxaca city. Click this link to skip to the list of race venues: San Pedro Ixtlahuaca Marathon Race.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Mitla

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The ride east from Oaxaca city to Mitla through the Tlacolula valley is an archeologist’s dream. The Zapotec palace ruins in Mitla are second in importance only to Monte Alban, and include some of the finest and most complete palaces found anywhere in Mesoamerica. And on the way to Mitla the rider may well want to stop to investigate the ruins at Dainzu, Lambityeco and Yagul — all well worth a visit, and just minutes off the route. Since this ride is lengthy, be sure to allot plenty of time – like the whole day! – to enjoy both the countryside and the archeological sites.

The route shown on the map below begins and ends in the Zocalo in central Oaxaca. It requires pedaling 60.7 miles (97.7 km) along a dedicated bike path, secondary dirt roads, some bushwhacking on singletrack, and a limited amount of riding on the shoulder of the principal highway. The route is remarkably flat, entailing an elevation gain/loss of just 1780 feet (542.5 meters) along the way.  The Zocalo sits at an elevation of 5124 feet (1562 meters), while the main palace complex in Mitla is the high point, registering 5594 feet (1705 meters) above sea level.

Be sure to use sunscreen and carry plenty of water. There are numerous places enroute to stop for snacks, lunch, a cold drink, some ice cream or a snowcone.  Invite some friends to ride along, make a day of it and have an enjoyable time!

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GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

San Felipe Tejalapam to Santa Maria Peñoles

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If you are looking for a ride that will take you seriously out of the Oaxaca valley to a place where most of the inhabitants speak Mixteca, you might like this trek. The ride is entirely on a newly paved (in 2023) AMLO road that climbs steadily from San Felipe Tejalapam, going in a westerly direction up and over a ridge (high point 8027 feet at Recibimiento) and then dropping down to Santa Maria Peñoles. You are likely to encounter an equal number of pedestrians and vehicles along the way – which is to say, not many.

The total round trip distance is 31.0 miles (50.0 km), with an elevation gain and loss of 4335 feet (1321 meters). The highest point along the way is 8027 feet (2447 meters). It is a consistent uphill grind from San Felipe to where the road crosses over the ridgetop; then its downhill all the way to Santa Maria.

If you begin and end the ride at the Zocalo in Oaxaca city, the round trip distance jumps to 57.0 miles (91.7 km). Add another 7.0 miles (11.3 km) if your starting point is San Felipe del Agua.

The newly paved road to Peñoles winds up the mountainside going west from the Valley of Oaxaca.
The unrelenting climb goes for eight miles to Recibimiento – easy pedaling on an ebike.
A welcome sign, indeed, after climbing over 2400 feet (732 meters).

Foothills, GPS, Hiking, MTBing, Photos, Ride Routes

Tlalixtac – Lower Mil Rios Trail

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The small village of Tlalixtac lies 5.4 miles (8.7 km) east of Oaxaca city, a short distance north of the main highway to Tlacolula and Mitla. A number of good bike rides pass through this little town. This particular outing originates at the town square and proceeds on dirt roads and rocky singletrack up into a nearby mountain valley that provides water and firewood to the inhabitants of Tlalixtac. The road exists to service the four dams constructed in the lower part of the valley. Beyond the dams the path gradually diminishes until it is a narrow track through the forest — sometimes smooth and flowing; at other times studded with rocks. A skilled biker can ride the whole thing; average riders will likely have to hike-a-bike from time to time. There are fifteen creek crossings between the dams and the cascada at the far end of the valley (that makes 30 crossings out & back), but many are dry or have little water, depending on the time of year. There are no grand vistas to lure you up this trail, but you will surely enjoy the shady, winding path into the hills. This is also an excellent hiking trail, so feel free to ditch your bike and continue on foot if the going gets too intimidating for two-wheeled travel.

The distance from the Tlalixtac town center to the cascada is 13.7 miles (22.0 km) round trip, with an elevation gain and loss of 1283 feet (391 meters). If you choose to ride from the Zócalo in central Oaxaca (as shown on the second map below), you will accumulate a total of 24.5 miles (39.4 km) on the round trip, and the elevation gain & loss will amount to 2602 feet (793 meters).  Either option is a pleasant ride.

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