SIERRA TARAHUMARA: HOME OF NORTH AMERICA'S DEEPEST CANYONS

The Copper Canyon area of Mexico's Sierra Madre is a large plateau of volcanic tuff deeply cut by rivers. The Tarahumaran Indians began to migrate here from the fertile plains of Chihuahua about 500 years ago. As Spanish efforts to find slave labor for their silver mining operations increased, the Indians adapted to these inaccessible canyons. Today, Copper Canyon Trails is retracing these fabulous routes, and providing adventurous travellers with an unparalleled hiking opportunity in North America. Cascada Basaseachi from the Barranca Candamena Knowledgeable guides have painstakingly researched the routes, some of which were pioneered by Gary Zeigler and Amy Finger of Adventure Specialists 30 years ago! We feature burro-assisted hikes carrying little more than a daypack. You'll enjoy five nights in the canyon with a variety of hikes during the day to challenge the most experienced hikers. Burro trips are fully supported. We carry roomy expedition tents, and a fully stocked kitchen complete with a cook! Come and join the expedition!!

We offer several self-supported backpacking trips. Backpacks are more like a "no pain, no gain" experience. All backpacks are custom designed. We have a number of trailheads in the area from which to choose. The hikes are more demanding, but allow passage through some routes too difficult for burros. The routes and level of difficulty can be tailored to your level of experience. Novice backpackers need not worry, though. You don't have to get far away from the crowd to enjoy the spendid natural environment and tranquility that the canyon country has to offer. We'll even help you choose a new route, if you've been here before and want to expand your repetoire.

If you're short on time, but have the desire and stamina, we can fulfill your most aggressive itinerary. Or if you're looking for peace and solitude, birdwatching rare species at the extremes of their range, soaking in hot tubs miles from the nearest road, or discovering waterfalls during the rainy season, we can make your dreams a reality. Contact us to customize a trip.

PIEDRA VOLADA: MEXICO'S HIGHEST WATERFALL

Also known as the Sierra Tarahumara, this deeply fissured country at the junction of the Mexican states of Sinaloa, Sonora, and Chihuahuais boasts some canyons deeper than Arizona's Grand Canyon. The Barranca Candamena is home to Mexico's highest, and third highest waterfalls. Piedra Volada, Mexico's highest waterfall at 1200 feet was only brought to the attention of the outside world in 1996. A network of trails cross the area, leading past ruins of mining camps and abandoned bridges not maintained since the heydey of the mule trains carrying silver bullion. It would take a lifetime to know the whole area, but we employ local guides who are intimately connected to it all. From their perspective, we get a rare insight into this fascinating environment. We can also arrange a "road trip" tour with day hikes that highlight ruins, waterfalls, and local flora and fauna from the tropical to the temperate. Whether you're looking for singletrack mountain biking, rock climbing and bouldering, or canyoneering, Copper Canyon Trails can create the itinerary!

Piedra Volada faces El Gigante in the magnificent Baranca Candamena. Mexico's highest waterfall only flows during the rainy season. The 3000 foot (1000M) El Gigante challenges big wall climbers We camp out, or stay in rustic lodges. Accommodations may be spartan as much of the region is without electricity, but the meals are filling and the locals are friendly. We may experience remote ranch life for some meals. Group size is from 3 to 12 clients, always with 2 English speaking guides. Small group size gives us the opportunity to maximize your experience and minimize our impact. Backcountry meals are typically prepared using local ingredients as available.

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CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIP

Any of our trips can be customized with regard to your schedule, pocketbook, or other specific needs. We can work with you to maximize your time in the canyons. Independent travelers often include a Baja bound ferry at the end of the trip, or a second night in the colonial town of El Fuerte. Shoestring travelers joining us at the canyon rim can greatly reduce the trip cost.

Copper Canyon Trails is recommended by the definitive Mexico travel guide, Carl Franz' People's Guide to Mexico. We recommend this timeless travelbook not only for its perpetual usefulness, but for its entertainment value in reliving the pitfalls of a savvy gringo travelling in Mexico. Carl and his partner Lorena Havens have forgotten more about Mexico than most anybody will ever know, but they stay current and have a well used website where comments and up-to-date information are appreciated.

We inherited our Urique burro crew from Gary Zeigler and Amy Finger of Adventure Specialists. Gary, a world renowned authority on the Inca, and Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, recently discovered the Inca city of Llactapata, greatly increasing our knowledge of the importance of the Machu Pichu complex. They offer personalized tours in the Andes.

Tarahumaran celebration of Semana Santa (Easter) Copper Canyon Trails supports and works with Center for Biological Diversity. Their efforts to call attention to the fragmentation of fragile desert ecosystems have demonstrated the interconnectedness of diverse habitats; and Sky Island Alliance. Their pioneering efforts to document the larger habitats required for large mammals with the help of citizen-scientists have produced data that is used to establish wildlife corridors between distant mountain ranges; the "sky islands" separated by "desert seas". They have recently documented native jaguar hunting ranges as far north as southern Arizona. Please check out the websites of both of these worthy environmental organizations based in Tucson, AZ. We also support and admire NativeSeeds/S.E.A.R.C.H. For years this non-profit organization has maintained the integrity of distinct plant species in the Desert Southwest, including the Sierra Madre and the Colorado Plateau. In this GMO world when airborne pollen can compromise indigenous species, forever eradicating hereditary traits, this is an increasingly arduous task. Recently a seed farm has been opened in Batopilas to grow-out local seeds.

Those concerned with indigenous inhabitants, particularly with a hankering to run 30 miles or more for a gourdful of Tesguino should contact Caballo Blanco, founder of the Club Mas Loco, and promoter/participant in ultra-marathon events held yearly in the Sierras.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

BY AIRPLANE

Currently there are direct or one-stop flights to Los Mochis, Sinaloa (LMM), or Chihuahua, Chihuahua (CUU), from Atlanta (ATL), Phoenix (PHX), Houston (HOU), and Los Angeles (LAX), among others US cities. Currently, the most eye-popping deal was LAX to LMM on Aeromexico with 6 weeks notice for $400.00 USD!! (As of August, 2008) Shop early, and compare, as things are changing rapidly with the airline industry. Our tours can accommodate your arrival in Los Mochis, or Chihuahua. Previously, we emphasized Los Mochis arrivals to give you the Copper Canyon Train experience. Frankly, once you HIKE the canyon, sitting still for hours and admiring the views is a bit anti-climactic. Neverthless, CHEPE does provide one the world's best train rides, and it's so close the United States. Travelers from the United Kingdom will find Chihuahua connections much easier than Los Mochis.
Canyon Quote
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
and sorry I could not take both...,
I chose the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

There are daily afternoon flights to Los Mochis (LMM), Sinaloa, from Tucson (TUS), AZ, on AeroMexico at 1-800-237-6639. The 4 hour flight costs about $US 750.00. LA has recently added twice weekly Los Mochis flights on Delta, 1-800-221-1212. Houston and Dallas now have Chihuahua flights. If you don't have a travel agent, you can try ours: Earl Fox, at earl@totaltraveltours.com, 1-800-732-3023, Fax: 719-473-9921, in Colorado.

BY BUS

Hikers at a shallow ford in the Rio Urique If you don't want to miss any scenery, you can go overland. Buses leave hourly from dawn to dusk from the Nogales, Sonora, bus station (camionera central) for Los Mochis. An easy border crossing connection can be made directly to this station from the bus station in Tucson or Nogales, AZ. You'll have to get to the hotel on your own after the 14 hour ride as the Copper Canyon Trails representative only meets clients at the airport. Los Mochis Hotel information is provided upon request. El Paso Greyhound can put you directly into Chihuahua, with three connections a day to Creel/Divisadero; and two to Basaseachi. Some El Paso hotels have free airport shuttles.

After the hike you can continue on, by train or bus, to Chihuahua City. There are convenient connections to U.S. cities via El Paso, TX. The cathedral area downtown is very picturesque. A large plaza with a centrally located gazebo is flanked by porticos. As sunset approaches, this area becomes a social center as prospective or perpetual couples make the paseo. There is a lot of revolutionary history in this town, and a Pancho Villa museum in a period palace called Quinta Luz.

BY CAR

Driving Directions from Tucson.

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