Researching the best hikes in the Copper Canyon has turned out to be more challenging than expected. My ragged copy of Mexico’s Copper Canyon Country: A Hiking and Backpacking Guide (1994) is amusing, but badly dated.
I’ve been there before on the standard Gringo route, day hiking. Perhaps I’ll go back this winter for some serious multi-day canyon busting.
The Copper Canyon (Spanish: Barranca del Cobre) is a group of canyons consisting of 6 distinct canyons in the Sierra Tarahumara in the southwestern part of the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. The overall canyon system is larger and portions are deeper than the Grand Canyon in the neighboring United States although the Grand Canyon is larger than any of the individual canyons.
The system is transversed by the Chihuahua al PacÃfico railroad, known by the nickname “Chepeâ€. It is both an important transportation system for locals and a draw for tourists.
Mexico established the Parque Nacional Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon National Park) to showcase this remote area.
The canyon is the traditional home of the indigenous Raramuri (Tarahumara) people.
I’ll order the Moon guide by Joe Cummings, the world’s best guidebook writer in my opinion.
Leave a comment if you have advice on longer treks in the canyons.
besthike.com 