Road to Batopilas
 

I'm riding from Ohio to Creel soon. My question is about the road down into the Canyon. First I heard it is only for off-road bikes, and I've also heard it is regularly traveled by buses and trucks.

We reserved a rental Nissan 4X4 for the canyon, but now I'm wondering if my BMW RT will make it down the trail. Once down there I'd like to ride to Parral, and on south.

What is this canyon road like? How likely am I to spill along the way? Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Do It
 

You should have no problems on your RT, just don't be in a hurry. Trying to go too quickly down that road could easily end up in tears. It's such incredible country along the route that you should take your time anyway!
Try to get a room at the "Hotel Mary" in Batopilas, It's very cheap (about $10 to $15 if I remember correctly) they have a small restaurant on site and secure parking at the rear.
Also, take a ride to the "Lost Mission" in Satevo about 10 kms past Batopilas. It's a very cool place!

The dirt portion of the road from Creel to Batopilas is only about 65kms, and it will likely take about 3 hours on an RT, but it is certainly do-able. You should try it - you'll love it!
A word of caution though, I wouldn't think of doing it on road tires if it looks like rain, it can get pretty greasy on smooth rubber in the wet.

Have fun!

Hotels in Batopilas
 

Hi msg996,

Thank you about the Hotel Mary as one of the hotel in Batopilas. Do you know how to find the telephone number or e-mail address of this hotel to make a reservation in English ? I don't even know where to begin to find information about this Hotel Mary.

Thank you again,

Hotel Mary's phone number is 649-456-9097. I put in a yahoo search for hotel batopilas and 4 options came up. Enjoy the trip the most difficult part is right at the beginning but don't get put off after about ten minutes it gets much easier.
Garry

Thanks, MSG.

Sounds like a do-able ride if the road isn't wet. Now I need to convince my riding buddy to cancel the rentatruck and make the ride. We have a reservation in Batopilas, I just don't remember if its the Hotel Mary or another. Must be another, since I recall the price being $50 for 1 night.

Anyone care to comment on the road from Batopilas to Parral?

Well...fantastic.....might be a good description. :)

You may have to clutch the RT a hair when hitting some of the tight hairpens coming back up the canyon outta Batopilas. It'll be a great ride for y'all. Good memories...and all that...

Botopiles
 

I rode the road 6 years ago and did it on a 1981 Goldwing. If you take it slow and it does not rain you should be fine. A friend of mine rode down on a goldwing with his wife on the back. She did not ride back out on the bike but did ride all the way in. Larry

Three buddies and I did the road last February on GSs, and had no problems...even with road oriented tires. Watch for some silt beds before you drop into the canyon...

It's a great ride...now, the back way to Tubares...no way I would take an RT on that!

Here's a write up of our trip:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/repo...nyon/index.php

Have Fun!

-H-

I'll be there in about 10 days with plans to ride the caanyon backroads/trails with 2 other riders.

Do you where maps and directions could be found?
I planned to hit up the 3 Amigos guys in Creel.

The three amigos map is the one to use. It's pretty up to date, and while not 100% easy to follow, will for the most part get you to Choix.

If you'd like, hit me with a PM of your fax # or address and I'll send you a copy of mine.

Just an FYI, a group of Tucson riders were held up at AK-47 point there (outside of Tubares IIRC) earlier this year, so while we didn't have any issues, keep a watchful eye.

-H-

i have no idea either way but on other forums i saw this AK-47 hold up being discussed as being a rumor or at least unconfirmed. again i have no idea but would like to know since i'm heading to that area at the end of october.

Here are the links to the trip reports with the holdup....

http://www.seatrider.com/left%20side...n%20mexico.htm

http://www.seatrider.com/left%20side...mexico%202.htm

Hope that helps.

-H-

Hey H!

Here is my trip report from the area: http://www.expeditionswest.com/adven...dre/index.html

I would not ride a street bike from Batopilas to Satevo. Several washouts and lots of loose rocks, etc.

If I was in Batopilas on a road bike I would take it to Satevo. The road does get rougher past Batopoilas but by taking your time, it will be safe. Go early in the morning if you want to get out of the canyon that day on a road bike.
brian

road to Batopilas
 

hey there,

We just rode to Batopilas last week. It was a AWESOME road. You need a entire day to ride it as the photos are non-stop. As far as your bike. Just take your time and you'll be fine. We couldn't say enough good about the entire two day ride.
Watch for the locals driving down to Batopilas they tend to drive pretty fast on the corners too. They know the road so well it is most likely easy for them.
Enjoy and make the most of the day, stop at the bridge half way down for a swim in the river. Make sure you pack a lunch too. water and more water, for drinking.

kella

Welcome to the neighborhood, Scott! Now get a bike and come to Mexico with us!

The road to Satevo Mission wasn't, IIRC, any worse than the road down the canyon. Maybe it was graded more recently when we went. Now, that being said, no way would I take a street bike on the road to Rodeo/Tubares/Choix....but then again several of our GSs had "street" oriented tires on 'em (Michelin T66s)...so....

-H-

The road..
 

Lots of good advice above! I rode down to Batopilas last october with 2 other riders. Spectacular road. The day we rode down was only my 8th day back in the saddle after 15 years without riding. There were a few sections that were very "exciting." Several times me met vehicles and would have to move towards the edge of the road. There was no guard rail and the drop off was vertical. If you're afraid of heights, you won't be needing an espesso at the bottom! Like they said above, go slow and enjoy it. One of the fellows I rode with lost his bike over a cliff the next day on the ride out. The bike fell some 60 feet before crashing into some trees- which kept it from falling the rest of the way into the river. The rider managed to bail on the road and is lucky to be alive. The bike, of course, was hammered. The other rider had left earlier in the day. In the end, I stood alone at the bottom of the canyon looking up at the cliffs above- and wanting to anywhere but there! The road on to Parral is in great shape and beautiful...on to Durango too. Enjoy your trip to the canyon, it's worth the effort.

gulp, uh, yeah thanks that really, uh, helps...

Will that keep me from going to Mexico...no way...I'm more likely to get mugged in Phoenix! It's just a note to remember to keep your "radar" up wherever you are....and keep some extra funds elsewhere on the bike and your person....

-H-

yeah, i was just kidding. i live in east oakland and travel to get OUT of the kill zone. i think they passed 118 murders here this year. it's funny how everyone asks me if i'm afraid of bandidos in mexico and how they would never go "down there". "oh, but you speak spanish" they say as if an assailant cares more about what language you speak than what's in your wallet.

4-5 days ago:
The road to Batopilas is in very good shape. It's truly Gold Wing-able with some care.

Anyone at the HU rally do the back road to Tubares and Choix? If so...care to give a conditions report?

-H-

Back route from Batopilas to Urique via Tubares:

Steep and loose sections leaving Batopilas, able to ride across Rio Urique with one other person on each side of the bikes (6" deeper and would have been a no go), long haul from river to Urique with some steep and loose sectons, arriving at night sux...

Gracias!

This Feb/March we're looking at doing Batopilas from Choix...I've run it the other way, and have to say some of the sections kinda have me concerned.

-H-

Thrre guys on KLR's will be attempting it this January...I have lots of off road experience the others do not. Should we try it or not?

Thanks for any advice.

Dan

If you're just planning for Batopilas and back, sure, without question, go do it. It'll be a kickass time.

Juanita's, a hotel, is a nice place to stay. Huge rooms, clean, ride into the courtyard, etc. About $23 a room for one person. Right across from the SE end of the plaza, no sign. She's a gem. Ask for it. One of the 'bars' is just across the plaza.

No, I meant all the way through to Choix.

Dan

See if they're OK with the 1st 3-4 miles out of Batopilas. If so, go on.

Yup, you'll know in the first 30minutes if it's gonna be ok. You'll gain about 1500 vertical feet in the first 15 minutes! We did it last year on 3 R100GSs and 1 R1100GS. No one had any real issues, but those without TKC80s found the climb out interesting. There's little traffic, so the real x-factor is the Rio Fuerte...no bridge...If it's running too hight to cross...you gotta turn around.

-H-

Thanks for the help guys. hltoppr I will hit you with a PM, I would really like a copy of the Three Amigos Map.

Thanks... Dan

i crossed from urique-mesa de arturo to choix last week. there is a bridge over the rio fuerte where we crossed. all of the roads in the area are passable, they are after all mining and logging roads and if a loaded mining/logging truck can do it a motorcycle should be able to do it. i was on a klr and traveled very light so the one time i dropped my bike i was able to pick it up alone without having to unload anything. injury was my main concern since a broken hand or foot could make getting out of there really interesting. at the gas stop in cienegitas, the next village after mesa de arturo, the guy warned me not to stop for anyone after tubares because of the risk of assault but i was not that worried about robbery. i saw a police patrol heading up the mountain, locals claimed the cops were responsible for most robberies. two way radios with in helmet speakers were key for us in this area to keep tabs on each other and i would advise using them. if i can figure out how to post my gpx route i will or can email it to anyone interested.

I will also be going that way in January. I will leave Austin somewhere between Jan 14th and 18th. I am going all the way to Baja via Creel/Batopilas/Choix.

I did the same route last year with very little offroad experience. It took me 12 full hours of riding with a 2 hour break due to sheer exhaustion. I ended up dropping the bike 8 times while climbing the 7 miles of switchbacks out of the canyons. Don't get discouraged though! I wasn't nearly as prepared as I should have been.

This year I will carry more water, I will fill the tank before leaving Batopilas (6 gallons is just barely enough to get from Creel and coast into Choix) and my bike won't be geared so high for extended highway use.

If you're interested in meeting up, let me know. There are a few turns, that if you miss, will take a lot of interaction with the locals to get back on track. I'm pretty sure I remember most of them!

Can you post any more info about this route? It sounds like you went from Urique west to Mesa de Arturo then south down to Tubares, then...??? And ended up in La Reforma and on to Choix? I haven't been to the area but am headed down in 6 weeks and am trying to gather info. I'm comfortable in the dirt but will be alone on a loaded KLR so I don't want to take too many risks.

Thanks!

-Luke

that's the route exactly. la reforma is just a spot and choix is the first big town you'll come to. there are some steep sections where being loaded down could whip the old back end around because of the sand and loose rock or the dreaded front tire wipeout, you choose. my handguards were money very well spent. how long will your trip be? and are you going to do the baja crossing on the ferry?

haggeo, I would love to have your gps route, please email me. What tires did you use for your ride and how did they do?

tardypizza, we don't have a definite start time yet, we were discussing earlier in the month, I will keep you posted. We are planning on crossing the border at Douglas and riding from Agua Prieta> Huachinera> Mesa Tres Rios> El Largo> Tutuaca and then probably to Creel.

I am not really sure how to get to Urique, but would like to explore that area as well before doing the Batopilas> Choix route. The other 2 guys are planning to go further south, I don't have the time so I will blast out on the pavement probably.

Did the Tubares loop yesterday
 

Not for an RT !!! But awesome.

I was solo on a loaded 1200 Adv., and so was very apprehensive about dropping the bike in the river (water just below the knee). If I flooded the engine there I would truly have been stuffed without any help to get it out of the water. Walked my Jesse's and electronic items accross the river just in case. Got round in around 6 1/2 hours, and was feeling very pleased with myself after crossing the river etc., with about 18 miles (of 80) to go, and hit a couple of bumps when I should have been paying more attention and dropped it! Also, I actually had to stop and let the bike cool down on the long climb nearing Batoplias - my temperature gauge was in uncharted territory.

Slept very well last night, and rode up out of Batopilas early this morning - awesome road - tonight in Parral.

Incidentally, you couldn't wish for a better place to stay than the one I did at Cerocahui:

http://www.rosensrides.com/html/hotel.html

Justin, who runs the Moto Lodge in Cerocahui and rides a KLR650, is a nice guy who gave me plenty of tips, and also orgainses trips/tours from Arizona to the area.

If anyone would like a GPS (GPX) file of the route let me know.

You got me nervous again... I live in fear of having those oh-so-nice boxes on the bike break my leg.

The trip is going to be almost 2 months but I plan on going all the way down to Yucatan so I unfortunately won't have a lot of time to play in Copper Canyon. I'm not going to Baja--I'm coming in from Texas at Presidio and going through chihuahua, hoping to hit the coast somewhere south of los mochis. I'm not interested in planning much of the trip in advance, but I'm delighted to hear I can get through to Choix... CC was what initially lit the fire for this whole trip, after all.

Thanks

-Luke

guia roji has a route from copper canyon that comes out south of los mochis. i don't have the atlas here but i remember thinking that would be the last resort if we couldn't find a way out from mesa de arturo. the western flanck of the mountains here have a few routes going to the coast it's just a matter of getting close to where you want to cross and asking the locals. many people told us it was impossible but these were people who live in towns along hwy 16 that runs between chihuahua and hermosillo. they said we would have to backtrack west on hwy 16 to a road that heads south toward ciudad obregon, then down to the ferry at topolobampo! most mexicans do not travel very far from their own towns except for medical treatment in larger towns or other exceptional reasons. in san juanito we could not find one person who had been down to urique but the owner of the hotel asked every delivery driver who came in that morning if they knew of a route west out of the canyon and they all said they'd heard of such a route. of course the owner's brother said "no...imposible" and we all had a laugh after he left. many times we were directed to the paved roads because they assumed that americans would not want to travel on the discomfort and danger of terraceria, at the military checkpoints this was often the case. everyone will help you in any way they can especially in the back country where they will help you the most. city folk are useless for any information about the outback.

what kind of tires will you be on?

Yeah, I have the Guai Roji right here (I'm fighting off a cold, giving me the perfect opportunity to actually start preparing for this trip of mine). They show a brecha going south about 40-50km to Mesa Larga and then you can pick from several routes to the coast... I just would rather do it as "interestingly" as I safefly can.

I'm going to be giving these much-talked-about Mefos a shot... which is another iffy thing in my mind because I've never had anything less knobby than K270s on it. The Mefos are better than straight street tires but not that knobby, and I've never ridden them. They'll be almost new at that point, though, since I'm changing tires in a hotel in Texas before crossing the border... I figure most of the trip will likely be on pavement so I wanted something that is fun, not just doable, on tarmac.

Thanks for all your help.

-Luke

haggeo, what tires were you using?

IanC, what tires were you using?

We are debating over full knobs or TKC-80's. For the length of our offroad trip full knobs would probably be best...the other 2 guys would have to change tires somewhere for the rest of their trip.

Thanks... Dan

I was on TKC-80's

I ran some kinda Dunas rear tire made in Brasil, like a Scorpion AT or Trail Wing, and was OK between Bat and Urique.
I get wood over these posts, so y'all need to....keep posting. :)

Just some steep and loose road sections to deal with. No rough 2 track.
If it was really wet, I'd want knobs....and a friend.

IanC, how many miles did you get out of your TKC-80's?

Dan

I ran TKC 80s on my R100GS last February from Batopilas to Tubares, and they saved my arse...

This year we'll likely do the Tubares to Batopilas route, and I'll have TKC 80s on my R1150GSA for the entire Mexico Trip...

I get about 5-6K out of a rear tire, and 8-10K miles out of the front.

Running 32psi front/36psi rear for highway travel.

-H-

Batopilas
 

H.
Do you have any rubber left when you return home to the driveway? I can't get 5K miles on anything but Tourances. Be careful on that BIG hp'd new bike! It will eat those TKC's. Have fun.
Allen.

Good to see you Allen!

The TKCs I put on the 1150 in August are toast now....so I've got a couple more coming, and will put a new set on before the next Mexico trip!

At least gas is cheap, as tires can add up!

How's the new 1200GS Adventure!

-H-

We are stealing this thread-sorry!
 

H,
I am, in fact getting it today. 6000 mile service, and a bunch of electrical add-ons, intercom, Centech fuse box and socket ports. Had the final drive drive cleaned for mental security! Leaving it in Phx for the winter. I'll give you a call one of these days.
Allen.

bravnug

I've been getting as much as 5.5k rear and 10.5k front, but that's pushing it! (miles)

Haggeo,
I would REALLY like to see your GPX of your path through the mountains:thumbup1: . Please contact me.

I believe there are files shared in the GPS forum at Adventure Rider Motorcycle Forum.

road to Batopilas
 

I rode a goldwing honda down there in 2000 and it was a 1981 1100. I have a friend that rode in with a honda goldwing 1500 with his wife on the back. She did not ride back out on the bike as they were with another guy on another goldwing and he could not ride his out. They put his in a truck and they both rode out in the truck and the other guy rode his goldwing out. Just take it slow. They take all kinds of pickups and school buses on that road every day. There are spots that you just have to go slow but you should have no major problems. It is a great trip.

Bump for any current conditions of the Rio Urique crossing between Batopilas and Tubares....

Anyone have some recent info on water depth and current? We'll be there in about a week with 5 big dual sports!

-H-