hiking around GTO

[jberkowitz]

Greetings,

Have just arrived in GTO for six months with my family, wife Rosemary son Max (13) and daughter Francesca (12).

Am looking for info. on local (accessible by bus or from town) hikes, or if there's a local hiking group.

Much appreciated,

Jake Berkowitz

[martinebilodeau]

I'm not living in Guanajuato yet - my goal is to be there in March, but I had the same thought about wanting to join a hiking club. If you haven't seen the thread, go to STARTING A HIKING CLUB IN GTO. You'll be able to add your name to the list. It looks like Steve has been pretty active organizing hikes. Hope to see you guys on the hills in March!

[Mike]

My favorite place for trail running/hiking is Parque Ecol?gico El Orito. It has barriers at the entrances to limit cars, and a short graded road through the park. From the road there are miles of trails where you can do loops, hike up to Sta. Ana, or to Valenciana. I am still finding new trails there.

You can access El Orito from the Soriana grocery in San Javier. Take any bus marked "San Javier" or "Soriana," it is the last stop before the bus heads back into town. When you get off the bus follow the road around to the back of Soriana and take either your first right (calle abajo) or second right (calle arriba), each will funnel you up into the park. El Orito is .6 mile up from Soriana.

There is also good hiking in most directions in the hills surrounding GTO, with some trails, and more backcountry type hiking.

Otherwise there is always La Bufa, accessed by walking 15-20 min. up a callejon (maybe saucillo?) from Paseo de La Presa or take the bus up for the ISSSTE hospital which is adjacent to the La Bufa access.

[J Anoni]

I just got done having a conversation with my gardener concerning Parque Ecologico El Orito. According to him the park is not secure for walking or jogging in his opinion, nor is parking of private vehicles at any of the entrances secure. He says there have been incidences of robberies of people walking and jogging on the main trail loop. He says that he has heard this on the local TV station, the newspaper, and by word of mouth. When I asked him if he thought it would be OK to ride a dirt bike through the trail loop, he said that would probably be OK. My gardener has lived in Guanajuato for 65 years, and is an avid jogger, and is familiar with all jogging locations in the city.

[Mike]

Interesting. I've been going there 2-3 times per week and have never seen anything dodgy or felt unsafe in any way, but I suppose anything can happen. I've probably been warned about every area of Guanajuato at one time or another.

[J Anoni]

I had been touring the loop starting from the 3rd entrance off the Panoramica, up past Calle Abajo and Calle Arriba, and dirt biking from there to the Valenciana Mine and back, for some years now without incident. However, my gardener stated it was joggers and walkers who were targeted, rather than bicyclists and motorcyclists. What interested me about the original post here, was for a new walking location, and even though I had been biking the area for quite awhile, I was not aware that it was called Parque Ecologico de Orito. I think I am going to refrain from walking it for now. It really is a shame.

[raquelita]

A woman I know was walking there with her amiable dog this year-2014. Two young guys as I remember took some things. I know they tied her to a tree, she thinks to get a ransom. But as her cell phone wasn't working, she couldn't call and they left.

[grumbalina]

I take my dog hiking along the trails that run underneath the cliff faces to the right as you come into GTO from Marfil. There's a parking lot next to ISSSTE on the Panoramica, and there's a main trail that starts there. There's a trail that goes all the way up to the cliffs -- you can actually drive it. There are also trails all throughout the area. There's a small group of cows living in the area and a sheep herd goes through regularly. I have a fairly large dog, so I've never had an issue. I rarely see anyone out there when I go hiking. There's a bit of glass along the trails closer to the parking lots, but further in, it's really nice.

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Oops! I didn't realize how old the original thread was! LOL.

[peddler665]

That's OK grumbalina . I for one appreciate the Photo & the Info.
At 72 I am still able to do a bit of hiking.
I spend my Summer in the Trinity Alps of Northern California doing up to 1,200' of rise from trail head & 9 miles round trip.
I "Ain't" fast but I'm steady.