Rekowata

The Rekowata area can be reached by walking from Creel or by driving in from the Creel-Divisadero highway. It includes the beautiful Rukiraso waterfall Rekowata hot springs and a viewpoint over San Ignacio Canyon.

The waterfall and viewpoint hikes are pleasant rambles through sustainable-yield pine forest that culminate in great views.

The hotsprings hike is quite different. All the hiking is on a steep narrow rough-cobbled roadway laid by hand. The labor that went into making the road is a marvel. But the point of it is to view the canyon all the way down to the stream at the bottom and soak in bath-temperature water in small concrete pools.

Camping is allowed at the parking lot and at the stream near the hot spring.

From Creel

You can drive or walk to the trailhead from Creel. Follow the highway past the Divisadero turnoff then past Km 94 to the near end of a bridge. Go right onto a dirt road and reach the tollhouse. The toll is about 20 pesos.

This is a hike with some variety. The first half takes you through a farming valley with lavish stone outcroppings and thick pine forests on the sides. Then there's a little rise to a stony ridge. Follow the stony ridge to where you can hear the falls to your left and a little behind you. There's no official viewpoint so you have to pick your way through the trees and shrubs to find a place where you can see the waterfall and catch a captivating view of the canyon.

From the Creel-Divisadero Highway

The turnoff to Rekowata is on the road to Divisadero at Km 6.8 on the left if coming from Creel. In 2.2 mi (3.5 km) pay a toll of about 20 pesos per person. In 1.6 mi (2.5 km) just short of Km 6 reach the trailhead for the Mirador the viewpoint for San Ignacio Canyon. Going on in 1.1 mi (1.8 km) reach a good place to park. Or go on another .4 mi (.6 km) to the official parking lot at Km 8.3 on the cobbled road.

The trailhead for Rukiraso waterfall is on the road toward the Rekowata hot springs at Km 7. Look for a break in the line of rocks on the left side of the road. There may be the lower part of a tree trunk with its roots attached standing next to the trailhead. A few meters further on the road is a wide spot where three or so cars could park.

The walk to the waterfall is entirely in a pine forest. It requires crossing a stream and you may have to range upstream or downstream to find some rocks you can step across on. If the stream has pushed the rocks out of position it's possible you'll have to wade across. On the plus side you can't get lost because you'll always have the canyon as a landmark; you just have to navigate around the side-gullies.

4x4 vehicles make the trip all the way down to the hot springs even though that requires pushing fallen boulders off the roadway. If they meet traffic going the other way someone has to back up quite a long distance. Of course the problem is getting back up to the top. The surveyor got back from the official parking lot with his low-powered minivan so any car should be able to do that part. If you care for your car though consider parking at the beginning of the descent and doing the whole thing on foot. There is a clear space on the left just as the road starts downhill.