San Felipe |
Length round-trip circuit = 10 km. Exertion index = 285 going 25 returning. Maximum elevation = 1943 m.
Above the Oaxaca suburb of San Felipe del Agua is a regional park Parque Comunal de San Felipe with cascading streams in their own arroyos. While the bony mountains are hot and dry the arroyos are shady and green. The turnaround points are two waterfalls.
Get to the trailhead by taxi or bus. To go by bus to the turnaround point described below go east 2 blocks from the Zócalo to Reforma Street and catch a bus marked "San Felipe" (credit to Bruce Whipperman Oaxaca).
If you have to drive
the way to get there starts at the intersection
of Heróico Colegio Militar with Heróica Escuela Naval Militar. Go west
on Esc. Naval Militar to Emiliano Zapata (the northern extension of
Nezahualcóyotl) and go right. Follow the worn pavement tracks as they
zigzag and you'll come to a traffic circle on your left with a statue
of an Indian chief on a pedestal surrounded by statues of Indian women;
on your right is a white
ornately classical building. Go right on the
other side of the white building onto Calzada San Felipe del Agua. In
1.1 miles (1.7 km)
at the top of the rise
you'll reach a church on
your right. 1000 meters (.6 mi) beyond that you'll reach an
intersection with a bus turnaround point on the forward right corner.
Go left here on a dirt road and reach the park entrance in 300 m.
There's a registration booth where you sign in and out.
It is possible to get from the little waterfall to the bigger one without backtracking if you're okay with scaling cliffs. For sane people it's probably better to backtrack.
Thanks to Dave Atherton for this great tip.