Category: Photos

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GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

Back Way To San Cristobal

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San Cristobal is a tiny village perched precariously on the steep slopes of the mountain ridge which forms the western boundary of the Valley of Oaxaca. It is usually accessed from a paved road completed in 2022. However, there are two little-used, rough jeep roads that wind their way up to San Cristobal, one of which is the route taken on this ride. The track is used by farmers to get to their small milpas on the lower slopes, but almost no one ventures higher up where the mountain is too steep and densely forested for farming. It is a delight, though, for mountain bikers looking for a challenging climb.

It is a 491 meter (1612 foot) climb up the old jeep road to San Cristobal.
The valley of Oaxaca stretches for miles into the distance.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

Hill Country West Of Matadamas

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This is the fourth in a series of weekday rides exploring the little-used back roads and trails in the hills to the west of the Mexico cuota some 20-40 kilometers (12 to 24 miles) north-northwest of Oaxaca. The town of Matadamas was the jumping off point for today’s excursion. Similar expeditions have departed from San Andrés Zautla, Santa Cruz Lachixolana and Santiago Suchilquitongo. All offer a generous amount of hill climbing in the midst of great scenery. All of these routes can be accessed on rides originating in Oaxaca as well as by using a shuttle to the designated starting points. This particular outing was a short one of 23.8 kms (14.8 miles) that lasted just 2.5 hours. It could well have been extended by riding more of the trails that crisscross the area. Be advised, though, that accessing these trails can be difficult. When looking out from the top of a ridge, one can see a number of trails off in the distance, but finding and following them is challenging, as many wind up dead-ending in a farmer’s field. Nevertheless, this is a great area for riders with a whimsical spirit of adventure.

Foothills, GPS, Hiking, MTBing, Photos

La Derivadora MTB Park

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Some local maps show a La Derivadora mountain bike park in the rolling hills to the west of the village of Santa Cruz Lachixolana on the far side of the cuota to Mexico City. There is no signage to speak of to designate the park location or point out various trails, so riders are on their own to find their way. The landscape in the area is lovely and the trails are a delight to explore. All the trails can be rated moderate and there are no technical challenges to speak of. Using a GPS to map one’s route is recommended so you can find your way back to your starting point. The ride shown on the map below was accomplished using a shuttle to Lachixolana. The park may also be the destination of a longer bike ride from Oaxaca, which would add about fifty kilometers (thirty-one miles) to the round trip distance.

It is obvious trails in La Derivadora park do not get a lot of use.
Following a faint jeep track in the mountain bike park. Where does it lead?
In places you just make your own trail.
There are miles of hills and valleys with no sign of human habitation.
Another beautiful part of the Valley of Oaxaca.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Diaz Ordaz

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The village of Diaz Ordaz is the gateway to the mountain towns of the Pueblos Mancomunados from the Valley of Oaxaca. It was the destination for a Sunday ride the weekend the community was celebrating the feastday of its patron, Santo Domingo de Guzman. The day dawned bright and clear – a perfect setting for a bike ride. The round trip distance amounted to 84.7 kms (52.6 miles), with a modest elevation gain and loss of 470 meters (1541 feet) along the way. The excursion took 6.5 hours, counting time spent having brunch in Diaz Ordaz.


Manuel and Tomo signal their pleasure in riding on a Sunday morning in Oaxaca.
Our small cluster of three riders encountered a much larger group from the Fridas en Bici club.
Peaks of the Sierra Norte in the background.
Photo op in Diaz Ordaz.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

La Concepción

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It is both a delight and a rare treat to discover a place in the Oaxaca valley never visited before. There have been innumerable rides to Jalapa del Valle in the course of more than a dozen years, using any of four different routes to get there. A wrong turn today, though, led us happily astray – into the hills around the tiny village of La Concepción. This revealed some beautiful scenery and significant hill climbs which made the day’s outing a charming adventure. La Concepción is a farming community with a patchwork of small fields dotting the landscape, most of which are tended by families using oxen to plow the steep terrain where corn is planted by hand. After visiting this charming place we continued on to Jalapa del Valle and than circled back to Oaxaca, covering 59.9 kms (37.2 miles) on the outing, which saw an elevation gain and loss of 726 meters (2382 feet). Skies were heavily overcast all day, with a couple of light rainshowers encountered in the last miles.

A panoramic view of the rolling hills around La Concepción.
Huffing and puffing on the long climb up from the valley floor.
A big smile and victory sign upon reaching the top.