Location:
Sierra Madre Occidental Mountain, Chihuahua
State, northwest Mexico
Closest major airport: : Gral.
Roberto Fierro Villalobos International
Airport aka Chihuahua Intl. (CUU)
Nearest town/city: Creel (pop.
6,500), a small town known as the “Gateway
to Copper Canyon.”
Other important cities/sites nearby:
Chihuahua City (capital), 150 miles away
Web site:
www.paradiseway.com/coppercanyon
One of the most spectacular regions in
Mexico is the Copper Canyon (Barrances del
Cobre), four times larger and deeper than
the Grand Canyon and located on the steepest
part of the western range of the Sierra
Madre Occidental mountain range in the
northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. Copper
Canyon is actually a series of six massive
gorges covering 25,000 square miles and
featuring breathtaking waterfalls, lakes,
rivers, impressive biodiversity and
indigenous groups, all of which spell
endless possibilities for adventure and
cultural and ecotourism activities.
Contrary to its name, no copper has been
found in these canyons - the name actually
refers to the copper-colored lichen found on
the canyon walls. Four of the six canyons
are deeper than the Grand Canyon and two of
the most spectacular include La Barranca del
Urique, the deepest at 6,165 feet, and
Sinforosa Canyon, known as the “Queen of the
Copper Canyon,” because it is the most
dramatic in terms of narrowness and
verticality, resulting in one of the most
challenging hikes in the region. Sinforosa
Canyon plunges 6,000 feet, with 300-foot
waterfalls pouring into the Verde River at
the bottom. Mexico’s highest waterfalls can
be found at Copper Canyon: Piedra Volada at
1,486 feet is the fourth-tallest in the
world and the tallest by far in Mexico; and
the Basaseachi at 807 feet is the
fifth-tallest waterfall in North America and
the second-tallest in Mexico.
A terrific way to enjoy Copper Canyon
without breaking a sweat is to take a ride
on the Pacific-Chihuahua Railway (also
called El Chepe). The journey is normally
taken east, beginning in the coastal town of
Los Mochis in Sinaloa. Visitors traverse 86
tunnels and 39 bridges through the Sierra
Tarahumara, climbing to heights of 8000 feet
above sea level, and can make strategic
stops in quaint towns and scenic points
along the way. Some of the towns include El
Fuerte, built in 1564 by Spanish
Conquistador Don Francisco de Ibarra as a
military post; Divisadero; and Creel, a
small logging town known as the doorway to
the Tarahumara Indian settlements featuring
nearby Tarahumara caves, as well as lakes,
waterfalls, pine forests and strange rock
formations. The Tarahumara Indians, who call
themselves Raramuri or the “light-footed
ones,” are one of the few remaining
indigenous groups in the region.
Extreme sports are a major part of the
action-packed trip to Copper Canyon. From
mountain-biking paths that wind through the
forest from the lumber town of Creel toward
the canyons, to the rock-climbing craggy
peak of El Gigante in Candameña Canyon, the
region offers a variety of high-energy
activities
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12/5/2006
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COPPER CANYON LINE
CELEBRATES 45 YEARS OF SERVICE
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| Copper Canyon Line
celebrates 45 years of service
The Copper Canyon Line, considered by
many the most scenic rail trip in North
America, celebrates its 40th anniversary
this week. Known officially as the
Chihuahua - Pacific Railway, the line
operates passenger trains - now the only
passenger trains in the country -
between Chihuahua City and Los Mochis,
near the Pacific Coast. Tracks twist
through the Sierra Madre, crossing 37
bridges and running through 86 tunnels.
The right-of-way skirts Copper Canyon,
four times larger than Arizona's Grand
Canyon. Although the trip takes only 13
hours, many passengers overnight at
different points along the way.
Completed in 1961 as a means of
opening one of the most remote parts of
Mexico, the railway was acquired by a
private company in 1998. Since then 14
million dollars have been invested in
upgrading passenger cars and improving
service.
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