Urique  

This little mining town is reached from Creel by riding the train as far as Bahuichivo and the once-a-day bus to Urique. It doesn't get a lot of foreign visitors probably for three reasons: the journey is slow and tedious; accommodations choices are limited; and the hikes available have lower payback ratios than those around Creel and Batopilas.

But travelers to Mexico often ask for destinations that are less touristy and Urique has that feature even though it can meet travelers' basic needs.

In 2004 the Hotel Cañon Urique seemed to be the only one operating with small basic rooms that were clean and comfortable with private bathrooms and hot water. There also is a hostel called Entre Amigos operated by an American with a quixotic approach to hostel design and management. The Restaurant Gran Cañon del Urique shares ownership with the hotel; the two face each other on the main street. The other choice at least in 2004 was Restaurant Plaza which is favored by the hostel's clients.

Urique offers three hiking routes. The Naranjo hike and the Guadalupe Coronado hike are similar following streams up canyons. In fact they share their first segments. Both cover arid terrain but there are cool shaded arroyos on the way.

Naranjo Trail Data    Urique to upper suspension bridge: Length = 7.8 km. Exertion index = 465 going 145 returning.    Upper suspension bridge to Naranjo: Length = 2.5 km. Exertion index = 335 going 10 returning. Maximum elevation = 1183 m.

Follow the jeep track upstream and go past the suspension bridge. Stay on the left side of the stream as far as the next suspension bridge. If in doubt always go uphill and parallel to the stream. When you reach the upper bridge you may be content to rest amid the cascades and pools just downstream. That makes a worthy destination by itself. To go on cross the stream and follow the donkey trail up the hill. At the top Naranjo will turn out to be a scattering of houses on a plateau.