A series of unmarked dirt roads out of Guachochic lead 13 miles to this spectacular view of La Sinforosa Canyon which is nearly 6000 feet deep and 70 miles long. Copper and Urique Canyons are slightly deeper but not as long. Animals known to inhabit the area include puma, deer and fox but we were told deer are not a problem on the local roads and we didn't see one our entire trip. The intermediate and lower levels of the canyon support lynx, jaguar, raccoon, otter and wild boar to name a few.
This suspension bridge leads to the trail to the bottom of Sinforosa Canyon. Jeff's motorcycle is visible on the road. Once again, the locals said we could ride our motorcycles over the suspension bridge but there is little point as it quickly turns into a foot only path. I guess Mexicans just revel in the thought of being on a motorcycle and being free to ride it wherever you might choose.
Unlike the most rugged areas of the U.S., people actually live in these canyons, in places that are inaccessible except by foot and pack animals.
This is a rather fanciful (and simplified) artists depiction of the Canyon Complex. It is 75 miles as the crow flies between Guachochi on the right edge and Creel in the upper center.
Hwy 23 north towards Creel.
A high valley inhabited by the Tarahumara who are said to be the oldest strain of native americans.
Wow! The entire region just had a magical feel to it.
Pasigochi Mountain on the right.
Click for the full panorama.
Arareko lake on Hwy 127. A local Tarahumara woman has bread for sale baked in a wood-fired oven.
Hwy 127 30 miles north of Creel on our way to visit Basaseachi National Park.
This is the same valley the Copper Canyon train runs through on it's way north to Chihuahua.
Just outside the park entrance looking over the outskirts of the town of Basaseachi.
Inside Basaseachi National Park.
View from the top of Basaseachi Falls.
Basaseachi Falls taken from the park access to the south. Jeff and I noticed an interesting visual phenomenon here. If you stared at the middle of the water cascading down the rock face for 30 seconds or so then glance at the cliff to the left, you will see the rock distort and move upwards, like a waterfall in reverse only made of distorted rock. Strange!
A typical small plot of corn near Huevachi. A UFO (probably a bird of prey) flies by above.
Same location looking the opposite direction.
This bull was looking pretty menacing until I pulled my camera out and then he adopted a more friendly expression as if he wanted to look cute for the camera. Sometimes we would encounter a lone bull on a steep and narrow one lane road with no place for the bull to go. It was scary to ride by them, I had visions of one of them taking offense to the sound of my engine and teaching me a little lesson about just who really owned that stretch of road.
Every house in remote areas had a patch of corn and they all use wood to heat their homes and cook their meals. Midway between San Juanito and Huvachi.
La Calera, nothing more than a handful of homes and a few gardens.
Sometimes when we would stop our motorcycles in a remote place the local inhabitants would hear us and move a little closer to investigate like this youngster on top of the rocks.
San Ignacio de Arareco not far from Creel. Notice the man who has climbed on the roof to see what was going on.
Isn't he cute?