Motorcycle Video Blog: The Road to Batopilas Pt. 1 (Copper Canyon Mexico)
My Second day in the Copper Canyon region of Mexico I found myself confronted by several obstacles as I tried connect the towns of Urique and Batopilas. The old route followed many loose and washed out roads that ran along the cliffs of the canyon. After encountering a landslide nearly 100miles into the wilderness I was faced with a choice: push on towards Batopilas or go back.
Back story:
In October 2014 I rode my motorcycle from Colorado to Guatemala (approximately 5000 mi.) I went off the map several times pushing the capabilities of my fully loaded KLR650. You can follow my blog at:
Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico - Copper Canyon
A day in the life - Somewhere in the Copper Canyon
Copper Canyon (#3): Batopilas Canyon
The Copper Canyon is truly one of the Western Hemisphere's great scenic and cultural journeys. The Sierra Tarahumara (Copper Canyon) belongs on the wish list of most every traveler. It is fast becoming Mexico's most popular soft-adventure attraction while also catering to hardcore backpackers, day hikers, mountain bikers, bird watchers, historians, and naturalists. On a map the trek looks like a simple train trip between the Chihuahua, capital city of the state by the same name and the small city of Los Mochis in Sinaloa near the Sea of Cortez. In fact this journey showcases not only one of the world's great engineering feats, but also some of the world's most awesome scenery and the most primitive aboriginal culture left in North America. The name, Copper Canyon is used as a general reference to the Canyons. A more proper name might be Sierra Tarahumara, since the Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre in Spanish) is but one of six massive gorges in the area covering 64,000 sq. kms (25,000 sq. miles). Also of note is the fact that copper was never mined in great quantities here. The term refers to the copper/green colored lichen that clings to the canyon walls. Furthermore, a main draw to the region is the rich indigenous Tarahumara culture.
This canyon system is four times larger than the Grand Canyon in the United States. Four of its six canyons are deeper than the Grand - some by over 1,000 feet. An incredible variety of ecosystems further distinguish the region. Highlands are home to snow-covered mountain peaks, sparkling lakes, and enormous stands of old-growth Ponderosa pine and oak. The area's plunging gorges sprout wild rives, towering waterfalls and sub-tropical forests. Semi-arid coastal plains to the west support large sugar cane and rich vegetable farms, while valleys to the eastern (Chihuahua) region are home to peach and apple orchards and vast grasslands. Complimenting the area's awesome natural attractions is the equally interested Tarahumara (Raramuri, as they called themselves) Indian culture. These semi-nomadic people number around 50,000, many are predominately cliff and cave dwellers eking out a meager substance from simple farming, ranching, and handicrafts. Men are noted for their remarkable running ability, competing in grueling races that stretch non-stop for over 100 miles at times.
Ciudad Batopilas ... Although there were various mining centers that were formed at the bottom of some canyons, none can compare with the mineral richness of the Batopilas Canyon. The veins of La Bufa and those of the town of Batopilas itself reached renown of a world level. Its mining towns and mines characterize and identify this canyon. In spite of the fact that the climate is extreme in the high regions of the canyon range, in the winter it is possible to admire a curious phenomenon - while the surrounding peaks are covered with snow the depths of the canyon are a subtropical or tropical climate year around. Due to this, towns like Batopilas have flora and fauna with many different characteristics than in the Sierras above. Oranges, papaya, mango, avocado are regular staples of the inhabitants. Batopilas is considered the Treasure of the Sierra Madre because of it's historic past and present beauty. Founded in 1709 as San Pedro de Batopilas when the Batopilas mines were discovered, the small pueblo slowly, but steadily flourished due to this mining activity.
Welcome to Copper Canyon in Mexico
Copper Canyon is a group of canyons consisting of six distinct canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the southwestern part of the state of Chihuahua in northwestern Mexico. The overall canyon system is larger and portions are deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona.[1] The canyons were formed by six rivers that drain the western side of the Sierra Tarahumara (a part of the Sierra Madre Occidental). All six rivers merge into the Rio Fuerte and empty into the Gulf of California. The walls of the canyon are a copper/green color, which is where the name originates.
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Start of Batopilas to El Fuerte on the dirt road, Copper Canyon, Mexico
Batopilas to El Fuerte part 3, Copper Canyon, Mexico.
Coming into Batopilas on the sealed road, Copper Canyon, Mexico
Copper Canyon, Batopilas, Mexico
This short video is is of our motorcycle ride leaving Batopilas, Copper Canyon, Mexico. The road out of town is in the midst of construction as they pave the route from Creel to Batopilas.
Copper Canyon Motorcycle Adventure 2019
Motorcycle Adventure trip down baja and into the copper canyon
Batopilas to El Fuerte part 2, Copper Canyon, Mexico.
Copper Canyon Mexico
Zooming the world’s (now second) longest zipwire over 2.5 km across Copper Canyon at 120kph, then a 4x4 drive down through the canyon at 10kph!
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Copper Canyon, Mexico - Road from Batopilas Oct. 2014
This was the unfinished road from Batopilas heading back up towards Creel. This video is started right after the bridge that crossed the river in the canyon. Ride was a lot rougher than the video shows. On a 2002 BMW r1150gs Adventure
Explore the Deepest Canyon in Mexico! / Batopilas - Urique
Today we are gonna go to the deepest of all canyons, Urique! How far we can go with ToraZ?! How do we travel safely around Mexico? I'm gonna tell you a little tip too! By the way, why there are so many dogs in Mexico??
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Mexico 2017 - GS Adventure through Copper Canyon
A great adventure through the heart of Mexico's Copper Canyon.
Shot with GoPro Hero3+ on a FeiyuTech WG-S gimbal and a Hero Session on my helmet.
Batopilas to El Fuerte part 4, Copper Canyon, Mexico.
Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico Copper Canyon
Copper Canyon Tour-Copper Canyon and El Chepe Trainride
Tour the Copper Canyon and ride the El Chepe train from Divisadero to El Fuerte on Grand Circler Travel's Northern Mexico and the Copper Canyon Tour.
Tour Copper Canyon
A sneak peak of information about Copper Canyon, Mexico.
Check out this amazing footage of the Chepe train route and destinations between Los Mochis and Chihuahua, Chihuahua.
Copper Canyon is an impressive place for those interested in adventure, train travel, hiking, birdwatching, and the great outdoors.
Copper Canyon Journey #1
Jeep ride into Mexico's wonderful Copper Canyon