Category: Ride Routes

Information on places to ride your bike with route information (typically GPS and map), towns passed through, points of interest along the way, and maybe even photos

Foothills, GPS, Hiking, Mountains, MTBing, Ride Routes

San Pablo Etla Mountain Park – Loop 3

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There is an abundance of trails in the hills above San Pablo that are suitable for mountain biking. Here is another loop ride that is a variation on the theme established earlier with Loop 1 and Loop 2. The starting point and access routes are the same, but the lollipop loop that is the heart of this ride is different.

The biker attempting this ride will clock 9.1 miles (14.6 km) and find him or herself climbing and then descending a total of 2164 feet (650 meters) on mostly singletrack trail that winds through forested hillsides, often on rocky tread. The hardest climb, though, is on a dirt road that leads to the parking lot and community building at the new Mountain Park above San Pablo. After that, the grade of the singletrack trail is more moderate.

GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Outing, Photos, Ride Routes

Cuajimoloyas to Lachatao

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If downhill is your favorite direction, then the ride from Cuajimoloyas to Lachatao should get you really excited! Both of these villages are part of the Pueblos Mancomunados, a collection of eight very small communities high in the Sierra Norte mountains of Oaxaca state, about 30 miles northeast of the capital of Oaxaca. Cuajimoloyas sits at an altitude of 10,398 feet (3169 meters), while Santa Catarina Lachatao registers 6986 feet (2129 meters) on the altimeter.

This particular ride follows dirt roads that connect the two. You can also ride between these villages using a singletrack footpath that covers a portion of the distance before linking with the same roads – but taking the path requires hiring a local guide (to support the local economy and prevent your getting hopelessly lost in the forest).  If you look at a map, you will see that it is also possible to extend the ride by doing a detour to Yavesia on the way to Lachatao – again using either dirt roads or unmarked footpaths in the woods. And, of course, you can make this either a one-way or out & back trip.

However you accomplish the ride, there are logistical considerations. Both towns are rather remote. There is bus and colectivo service to each place from Oaxaca city every day. But there is no service between these villages. We managed a one-way ride by leaving our van in Cuajimoloyas and hiring a resident of Lachatao to haul us back to our starting point. That wasn’t cheap (400 pesos) but was better than the alternative – which was to crank back up over 4500 vertical feet  over 18 miles and riding several hours after sunset.

The route shown begins at the ecotourism office in Cuajimoloyas, where you pay the 50 pesos per person fee to enter the communal lands, and ends at the village church in Lachatao. The distance between the two is 18.4 miles (29.6 km). The elevation gain along the way amounts to 1116 feet (340 meters), while the downhill totals 4530 feet (1381 meters). The downhill sections are fun and fast! Our group managed to complete the ride in about three hours, pausing frequently to take photographs. We also had a late breakfast in Cuajimoloyas and stopped for lunch in the very pleasing restaurant next to the church in Lachatao, which precluded our trying to ride back to Cuajimoloyas under our own power while there was still daylight.

Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Outing, Photos, Ride Routes

San Felipe – West Side Loop

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Colonia San Felipe del Agua is a favorite neighborhood for mountain bikers living in Oaxaca – whether gringo ex-pats or natives – because of the proximity of a network of great singletrack trails in the hills just above the community. It is a quick (if not exactly easy) ride from one’s front door to any of a number of satisfying trails. These are remnants of old jeep roads connecting San Felipe with Viguera; various pedestrian and animal paths; and some access trails created during the installation of a high-voltage power line across the mountains. The trails are often badly eroded and overgrown with vegetation, but they are generally rideable – if you can find them! And that’s where this web site comes into play. We’ve mapped the area so you can locate the trail that tickles your fancy on any given outing. Be forewarned, though: the trails are not marked, and can be difficult to find in heavy brush, even with a map. Your best bet is to download trail information into a GPS unit and have that with you when you go exploring the territory – or hook up for a ride with one of the locals who knows the area.

This particular ride is a loop that connects several of the individually-named trail segments found on the “Trails” page of this web site. It begins and ends at Colosio Park (intersection of Primero de Mayo and Loma Oaxal), covers 7.9 miles (12.7 km) and has an elevation gain & loss of 1750 feet (533.4 meters). While some sections are fairly steep and riding in the woods can be tricky, this outing is rated “Moderate,” as there are no serious technical challenges along the way. Expect to finish the loop in 60 to 90 minutes, depending on your biking ability and riding style.

Specifically, this route uses the following trails segments, which are detailed on the “Trails” page of this web site: (start) LBR to LNR to TTT to R to LNR to RR to WFR to SP to CM to LBR (finish).

 

Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Outing, Ride Routes

San Pablo Etla Mountain Park – Loop 2

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Here’s another loop ride in the foothills above San Pablo Etla. Similar to Loop 1, but a bit shorter and less strenuous, it utilizes some of the many trails that flow over the hillsides and through the valleys nestled up against the mountains that form the eastern rim of the Etla valley.

You will pedal your way 8.6 miles (13.8 km) around this loop, with your legs and lungs working to accomplish 1851 feet (564 meters) of elevation gain and loss in the process. This ride is rated “Moderate” for physical exertion and technical challenges.

 

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Outing, Ride Routes

San Lorenzo Cacaotepec to Jalapa del Valle

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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.