Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Central America and Mexico
Central America and Mexico Topics specific to Central America and Mexico only.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 31 Jan 2006
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Mexico Help-Copper Canyon and beyond

Heading to Copper Canyon with a group of maybe five riders. Crossing at Nogales, then to Hermosillo to Mex 16 to
Creel. Any one know of any good side trips along the way?

Big dual sports so we aren't doing any technical dirt, we can go to Batopilas OK, but nothing more technical than that. We can go to Divisadero too, not sure how much further we could make it..

Any other "reasonable" places to explore?

Has anyone taken Mex.24 which goes from Parral west to the coast and Highway 15? The map says "Not Reccomended for Travel" but its a very old map. Any direct experience or "stories"?

We want to visit Zacatecas. Any tips? Places to stay? Things to do?

Thanks,
Patrick
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 1 Feb 2006
MoroCycler's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Posts: 164
When you leave Creel try the road that goes by Guachochi (23) then to San Pablo Balleza (20) then south to the (24) road that goes NW to Hidalgo del Parral, This is a beautifull trip, beautiful neat twisty road.
It will take from 4 hours to 8 hours to do it depending on your speed & skills.
Beware of tree shades, there might be slight ice on the road if early or late. It is going to be cold by this time.
In Parral there is budget hotel called Turista Hotel, it is good & clean, maybe 400 pesos 2 people.

If you ride near Gudalajara drop me an E-mail.

Have fun

Humberto
MoroCycler

__________________
THE Motorcycle JOURNEY is making known the unknown.
http://www.morocycler.smugmug.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 1 Feb 2006
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Norwich Ontario Canada
Posts: 30
Hi Patrick; I would second Humberto's recommendation from Creel to Parral. It is an absolutely lovely ride. The short ride from Creel to Divisadero is not to be missed. Lovely pavement, lots of curves and vistas. Also across from the train station at Divisadero is a lookout that takes your breath away. ( note that I am a flatlander!) I am not familiar with #24, but my map shows the pavement ending atYerbitas. If you have the time, go down to Durango, then take #40 west towatd Mazatlan. This is commonly referred to as the Devils Backbone. You will never forget it. Enjoy your trip. Wish I could be there. Neil W.
Quote:
Originally posted by mollydog:
Heading to Copper Canyon with a group of maybe five riders. Crossing at Nogales, then to Hermosillo to Mex 16 to
Creel. Any one know of any good side trips along the way?

Big dual sports so we aren't doing any technical dirt, we can go to Batopilas OK, but nothing more technical than that. We can go to Divisadero too, not sure how much further we could make it..

Any other "reasonable" places to explore?

Has anyone taken Mex.24 which goes from Parral west to the coast and Highway 15? The map says "Not Reccomended for Travel" but its a very old map. Any direct experience or "stories"?

We want to visit Zacatecas. Any tips? Places to stay? Things to do?

Thanks,
Patrick
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 1 Feb 2006
Mr. Ron's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, for now...
Posts: 792
In Parral i always stay in the Hotel Acosta, near the plaza. Its in the lonely planet. From the roof you have a beautiful view of the city, and a double room was only 240 pesos. You can park up to two bikes in the lobby. Diddo on all the road recomendations, especially the Devils Backbone. Bring your heated vest, it gets cold up there!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 1 Feb 2006
Mr. Ron's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, for now...
Posts: 792
Zacatecas...good choice. You should look up my friend Frederico...Casas (his name is veeeerrry long) His family has a hostal on Av. Juares 222. He´ll surely help you out. Stay a few days, its a great city!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 1 Feb 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Mimbres, New Mexico, USA
Posts: 510
Hey Patrick,

If you get to Zacatecas, be sure to take the cable car ride across the valley the old part of town sits in. You get a couple hundred feet off the ground. There are 2 Spanish cathedrals there, and the Plaza de Armas is great for people watching. The hotel we stayed at was right in that area, and had a private parking ramp. I see if I can find the name.

Hope we meet up again,

Andy (from Creel '04)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 2 Feb 2006
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Hi Andy!
Thanks for the tips on Zacatecas! Thanks also to Ron, 'Berto, and Mack as well for the tips.

Andy and I shared a room in Creel at the HU event in Oct. '04. This trip, which will be in late April, we plan to explore a bit more of Mexico. It will be my 3rd trip to CC.

In '98 I rode on 23 down to Parral but we kept going to Durango. Then did the
Espina del Diablo to Mazatlan. Fun road.
But this time I'd like to try to get to the coast via 24 if possible.
I'm searching for info on this road.

Andy, I've heard about that cable car, sounds cool, thanks. Have you done any good rides lately? Any planned? Any luck
with the Texas bike mag?

We may also get over to Real de Catorce,
near Matehuala. Cool ghost town. Anyone
been there?
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 3 Feb 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Norwich,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 1,051
For a neat hotel in Parral go to the plaza at the east end of the Zona Centro, next to the mercado and go south off the west side of the plaza on the short street and find Hotel Acosta. Last fall a room for one there cost me only 220 peso and they let me park the bike in the lobby.Very nice plac , with a view of the city from the 4th story! And this was one of the more expensive hotels.
__________________
http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 3 Feb 2006
Ride Far's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Central New York
Posts: 344
Patrick, the Federico of Zacatecas that Mr. Ron mentions was at the HU meeting at Creel in October 2004 ... you may have met him there ...

He's a KLR rider & put me up at his family's hotel, called Plaza del Carmen on the main square, ideal location. If you haven't seen it before, Zacatecas is not to be missed! Suerte~~

[This message has been edited by Ride Far (edited 03 February 2006).]
__________________
http://ridefar.typepad.com
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 4 Feb 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Norwich,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 1,051
More Copper Canyon stuff.Fom Basaseachic go to the east end of the cluster of villages and take the parkroad to the viewpoint on the south side of the Candamena Canyon, full view of the fall. Then leave the park and turn southeast instead of back to Mex 16. This is a wonderful well maintained gravel road , all bridges , 80km to San Juanito and the paved road south to Creel. At Guachochi go into town and follow the route markers to La Sinforosa, easy in DRY weather! avoid if raining ,19km dirt road through pine forest and farms to a fantastic overlook point of the deeeep canyon, hike to the falls there.
Mex 24 is paved all the way to Guadalupe y Calvo where ther are good, inexpensive hotels, great forest and canyon scenery en route.

[This message has been edited by Sjoerd Bakker (edited 05 February 2006).]
__________________
http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 1 Mar 2006
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Thanks again for the tips Sjoerd. I've never been to the overlook at the falls so we will definitley do that.

On 24 I can see this road goes to Guadalupe y Calvo, my question is, do the dirt roads shown on some maps connect back up to 24 further to the west,
as shown on some maps?

Thanks,
Patrick
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 4 Mar 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Norwich,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 1,051
I did the road to Guadalupe y Calvo in Sept´05, a real gem, great scenery ,good pavement and curves all the way to the town of GyC.
There is indeed a dirt road connection to the Pacific section of Mex24. I was too chicken to try it, alone on a KLR, but I did ask around about it when I was in GyC.The start of this connector is actually 21km east of GyC at the village of Yerbitas (Aserradero Yerbitas because of its sawmill ) .Folks there told me that it was "transitable" in good weather, and there were tracks there for pickups (4WD?) .
Somwhere there must be a report from some more hardy offroaders who have done it. My 1987 Pemex atlas already shows a graded dirt&gravel road as far as Los Frailes and from there it became lesser quality track to the pavement at Stgo. de los Caballeros,Sinaloa.
The folks at Yerbitas also mentioned the danger posed by narco growers and other nasty types who seem to favour the region for their illegal businesses. I do know there is a drug growing industry problem in the area, but have no knowledge of how accurate the claims of the dangers are , or if it just folklore. Should you wander into an opium patch inadvertently it could be serious trouble for you.
PS : anybody can get to Divisadero - the road there from Creel is only 8years old and beeeeeutifully laid out smooth curvacious asphalt 55km to San Rafael, a short gravel loop goes to the canyon rim at Divisadero ( and a $200US+ per night hotel!!!)
See the website www.bigdogadventures.com
for a an article on dirt roading in the Copper Canyon.

[This message has been edited by Sjoerd Bakker (edited 04 March 2006).]

[This message has been edited by Sjoerd Bakker (edited 04 March 2006).]
__________________
http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 8 Mar 2006
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Thanks again Sjoerd for the detailed response. With all the development in the area I was thinking its possible the dirt section may be paved by now, or improved. Seems it would be a vital link
to the coast, no?

Anyway, my Guia Roji shows a dirt road
linking the two sections of 24. What we'll
do is send out a scout! I'll look into the
drug thing. We will be there in April, so
hopefully thats not harvest time so maybe
things will be slow? Dunno.

Gracias por todo!

Patrick
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 8 Mar 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 41
yes yes....thanks again.....making more efficient use of our time there with your reccomendations...thank you HU
__________________
life is good, always free flow!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 9 Mar 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Belgium , Wi. USA
Posts: 30
There's a road that goes down through the canyon and comes out in Choix, just up from rio forte. It wasn't that difficult, maybe a little harder then the one to batapilas. Justin from Rosens rides gave me the route. I did it in 2003 and had no problems, other then the ferry across the presa was broke and had to hire a fishing boat to take me across.I did run down a landing strip, accidently, with a bunch of covered pickups on it, they didn't bother me and pointed me in the right direction. Justin has a new motel in cerrocauhi, since I've been there last.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:44.