Why should I choose Copper Canyon Trails over others?
We have been hiking in the area since 1991. We love to spend time in the barrancas, and we would be honored to give you a perspective that you'll probably find nowhere else. Besides our wilderness experience, rigorous First Aid training, and years of presence in the area, is our commitment to help the natives and our respect of their culture. We are taking you there to see the area from their point of view. When opportunities arise we respectfully get you into contact with the locals.

How many people are in your groups?
Burro trips can take four to 12 people. Every trip has two English speaking guides, and a local Spanish speaking guide, and our cook. A full trip may use 18 burros and 2-3 arrieros. We try to maximize your experience while minimizing our impact in the fragile canyon ecosystem.
Hiking trips are limited to four people, which could be 6 or 7 total with guides.

Are there any physical requirements?
You should be in good physical shape. You will have to sustain hiking for 6 to 8 hours on the first day to the Urique River trip. The Oteros River trip requires hiking 6 hours/day. You might think it is easy going downhill, but it is much tougher on your body, particularly the knees. After lunch the first day of the Urique RIver hike, the trail is steeper, there are more loose rocks, the temperature rises as it is later in the day and at a lower elevation, and by now you're a little tired. IT IS NOT A RACE, but you have to keep moving to get to water located at camp 2000 feet below. The Oteros has less dramatic elevation changes. The hike to the Urique Marathon has an incredibly steep section, but you've got 3 days hiking to prepare.
To get in shape, you might consider descending 300 flights of stairs. That's usually not practical, but you get the idea. To really get the idea, now dump rocks and rubble, sized from softballs to birdshot, on the stairs. Now go up and down the stairs with 2 gallons of water in your daypack! Muy loco, no?
People in flat country can at least find a highrise building or stadium and regularly workout on the stairs with a partially loaded (1.5 to 2 gallons of water) daypack. You're trying to achieve a steady sustainable rhythm up, at a slightly elevated cardiac rate; and to develop your quads and maintain your equilibrium going down. Don't sprint, Hike For An Hour!

What is included in the burro trips?
More appropriately, what is not included are visas (or tourist card, $23 USD, valid for up to 180 days and obtained at your point of entry), sleeping bag and pad; Pesos for incidental drinks and snacks, crafts, and tips. Typically, you'll want to change about $150 USD into pesos. (We suggest a $35-$50 USD tip per client to be divided by the the Mexican crew).
See "What to Bring" for a complete gear list.

What is included in the backpacking trips?
You need your own backpack (About 70 liters/4500 cubic inches), tent (optional), sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and if it's hot a cotton or silk sleeping bag liner is comfortable; as well as clothes and essentials, including your own first aid kit that you normally carry (whistle, compass, flashlight, knife, basic blister and soreness stuff). We provide kitchen tarps, stove, food, snacks, treated water, and good coffee. Good Coffee and a French Press! are an essential element to good morale.
See "What to Bring" for a complete gear list.

Where do I get information on the area?
See our reading list, or look on the Peoples Guide to Mexico website for access to maps. Most of these books, and topographic maps at 1:50000 or 1:250000 scale are available at the Mission Store in Creel. Coming from the coast (Los Mochis or El Fuerte), Creel is NOT on the itinerary. If you find a book you like, but can't buy it where you live, we'll look for it at the Mission Store when we transport the gear to the trailhead. The Urique trip is on two maps at 1:50000 scale (equivalent to a 7.5 minute topo) G13A21: San Jose Guacayvo and G13A31: San Rafael. We're only on about 2 inches of both maps (naturally). It's also on the 1:250000 G13-4:San Juanito. Cost is $10 each.

What else is there to do in Chihuahua?
Chihuahua is the largest state in Mexico. If there was a home for the "Marlboro Man", this would be it. There are cowboys, horses, tack shops, and cattle all over the sierras. There are cowboy boots made of ostritch, ant-eater, eel, frog, iguana, caiman, rattlesnake, turtle, and even cowhide; most available with matching belts, and available in more than 64 colors! Be forewarned: Boots made from endangered species will not be allowed past US Customs. There are Mennonite communities making cheese, and guilds (campos) making everything from farm implements and machinery to swingsets and solar hot water heaters. They are also responsible for the apple crop, rivaling the Yakima valley of Washington state. Mexico's highest and 3rd highest waterfall are in the Barranca Candamena. Viewpoints for Cascada Basaseachi are an easy walk from the pavement, but it's best to have a guide for Piedra Volada. Ruins of cliff dwellings comparable to Mesa Verde, and of "ancient puebloans" comparable to Chaco Canyon are available to those with sufficient time to get off the pavement. Start with Cuarenta Casas near Madera or Paquime near Neuva Casas Grandes. Most others are "unimproved". Horse rides, rafting, climbing, canyoneering, singletrack biking, and "motocross" in the sierras vie with more refined city pleasures. The minimum time required for an unrivaled holiday featuring Chihuahua with the CHEPE train and a visit via ferry to the Gran Desierto of Baja requires 2 weeks. The pottery of Mata Ortiz is world famous, and is now included in the collections of several museums. All this, and we haven't mentioned the socio-ethnic allure (or the impressive physical endurance) of the Tarahumaran indians, and lesser known tribes, or the twenty some churches and missions of the Jesuits who were expelled in 1767! ...ah! Chihuahua.

When is the best time of year to go?
Most tour books recommend NOT going in the summer. This is the time of the monsoons. The storms are spectacular, and the humidity saps your strength. Any trips need to take advantage of bridges or vados to cross the rivers. There's also the chance of landslides blocking routes or traintracks. Spring and fall offer good climate on the rim, but the canyon bottom tends to get hot. Winter on the rim can bring freezing temperatures and hailstorms, but it's still possible to swim in the canyon. That being said, it's all just a matter of what you like.

What kind of insurance should I carry?
Evacuation insurance and travel insurance are strongly recommended.

How do I get a visa?
IF YOU DRIVE visas are obtained at the border or the checkpoint where you get the temporary vehicle importation hologram.