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The following may be taken as either rides or hikes. The Rancho del Oso has the finest herd of mountain horses and tack in the Copper Canyon area. Our horses are our own. Each trip goes out with a Mexican wrangler and an English-speaking guide/wrangler to ensure your safety and enjoyment. We have also developed the most extensive system of trails for both hiking and riding. To help riders, each destination is rated for difficulty with the designation in parenthesis and italics (ALL) for example indicates a ride suitable for first-time riders through experts; (MID) indicates a ride suitable for a mid-level rider, someone who knows how to control a horse and has some experience; (EXP) indicates a ride suitable for experienced riders only. In some cases, mid-level rides may be suitable for certain inexperienced riders. Approximate time for the ride immediately follows the difficulty rating, note that our rides have a two hour minimum and cost $10.00 per hour. Hikers in good condition will do these trips in the times indicated, allow slightly longer times for large groups or slower walkers. Guide service is recommended and is available for $3.00 per hour for a Spanish-speaking guide and $5.00 per hour for a bilingual guide. La Tortuga Our most popular ride for casual visitors, this ride has a rich variety of riding experiences. Leaving the Oso, the ride follows Arroyo de la Tortuga on easy stream-side trails that allow riders to relax, learn, and gain confidence before climbing a rocky section of trail that demonstrates the capabilities of our mountain horses
A short break is taken below a dramatic series of rocks in an area where we frequently spot parrots during the summer months. Back on the trail we follow a series of old logging roads high into the mountains then descend again to the arroyo crossing between a series of pools (good swimming holes). Return to the ranch is along the arroyo on sections of El Camino Real (ALL), 2 hours. El Cajon
This dramatic ride follows the Cerocahui road to Tascate then enters El Cajón (The Box), a beautiful canyon with high rock walls terminating in a stream-filled narrows only a few meters wide. Exit the narrows into a wide-open mountain valley then climb high into the mountains following Indian trails for a dramatic overviews of El Cajon and the mountains beyond. Descend through a heavily forested mountain valley with, time permitting, a visit to Luis, a Tarahumara friend who ranches in the area. We rate this a medium ride but have taken a number of beginners if they are not too spooky, 2 hours. May be combined with a visit to our Durazno ranch adding another hour. Cave of the Crosses Fifty three Indians lived in this cave, farming the peaceful Huetoiba Valley until an epidemic wiped them out during the time of the Mexican Revolution. Even though they were not Christians, someone painted white crosses on the wall and laid them to rest in the smoke-stained cave where they lived. Humans lived in this cave for centuries as witnessed by stone implements found there, shell beads indicate that these ancient people also traded with coastal groups or traveled to the coast. Return from the cave over a high mountain plateau with a view of the Oso nestled in the valley below (ALL) 2 hours. The Cave Parade
Visit the Cave of the Crosses then cross a high mesa to visit three remote archaeological site caves: the Hidden Cave, Cave of the Skull, and Cave of the Petroglyph. Hidden Cave is in a small valley and was walled in such a manner that it could be spotted only by someone who knew where it was
Deer have nibbled on its entrance rocks to get needed minerals, several grooves may have been used for sharpening, and the cave contains skeletal remains. Cave of the skull is best known for a skull discovered by a research expedition in 1991. The skull remains in situ, a bat colony takes refuge in this cave and a chimney near the back leads up to the mesa top. Cave of the Petroglyph features a stone carving in the form of a teardrop, its purpose remains unknown although we believe it was utilitarian. The cave also has potsherds and toe-steps carved into the rock. These steps lead to an upper level living area. Following your visit to the caves, you may either return to the Oso by an easy trail over the Mesa (ALL), 3 hours; or you may return by a more difficult trail climbing out of the valley then following the ridgeline in front of Hotel Paraiso del Oso, stopping for views of the backside of the Oso and looking down on the hotel. (MOD), 3-4 hours. Cerocahui Trails Follow trails of the Tarahumaras as you
climb Arroyo of the Ranchito through a heavily pine and oak forested valley
stopping briefly at Cave of the Skull and Cave of the Petroglyph before gaining
the Original Cerocahui trail across the high Cerocahui Pass with a view of the
pueblo as you descend to the town plaza for a cool soda and a snack. Return
along tree-shaded trails of the Cerocahui Arroyo. (EXP), 3 hours; may be
combined with a waterfall trip adding about an extra hour or two. Cerocahui Waterfall
Ride along the tree-shaded Cerocahui Arroyo then visit the 66-ft Cerocahui Waterfall. Water plunges through a narrow slot falling along rock face before splashing into an impressive plunge pool rimed by Arizona Cyprus and huge pines (ALL), 3 hours. Cerro Gallegos Ride to Cerro Gallegos and return by horse or vehicle. The ride leaves the hotel passing through El Cajon then crosses over a mountainous divide to the Arroyo de la Mina following this arroyo upstream to the Tarahumara pueblo of Porochi for a lunch break and a chance to visit the rustic church and school. Leaving Porochi, continue the climb past Cave of the Parida and past many small Tarahumara farms. Suddenly you break out onto the rim for a dramatic view of the Urique Canyon. Although not a difficult trip, we rate it (MID) because of the long hours in the saddle with no chance of a bailout. One way the trip takes 5 hours, round trip is double that. Charge is $75 per person either way with a vehicle pickup on the rim for one way riders. Urique
Descent This adventurous pack trip is often combined with other tour packages. The trip starts with a 3-hour orientation ride your first day in the area. That afternoon we pack and prepare for a morning departure to Naranjo. Leaving the Ranch, the ride climbs 1400 feet through a beautiful box canyon and past Tarahumara mountain valley ranches before arriving at the Pass of the Cross and beginning the 3500 ft descent to Naranjo. Scenery is spectacular, camping is under tropical fruit trees in an orchard where we socialize with local friends in their adobe home. Meletón and Ambrosia Mancines, our hosts, have been welcoming Oso travelers for a long time. We do a special Chihuahua discada party in the night. A vehicle pickup is provided in Urique or riders may take the optional return by horseback. Price of the ride is $300 without lodging, optional return by horse costs an extra $50, riders may also elect to spend one night in Urique at their cost and we will still do the vehicle or horse return. To do this ride, you must spend two or
three nights in the area. Price of
the ride does not include hotel accommodations before or after the ride. Many
options are available depending on your tastes and budget. Please contact us for
further information and rates. Durazno Ranch Activities High in a mountain valley we have an adobe cabin near a ranch owned by Ildifonso Frias. This cabin can be a rest area for short trail rides, a destination for breakfast or lunch rides, a romantic and remote cabin in the pines, a research station or a headquarters/cook building for group campouts.
Getting to the cabin can be about as easy or difficult as desired, a direct route takes only about an hour but crosses cliff-hanging trails. A longer, easier route takes two hours but follows easy logging trails and gently sloping Tarahumara trails. Access can also be combined with the El Cajon ride or through a much longer (6 hour) ride passing through El Cajon then following high, seldom-used Tarahumara trails. Because of the variety of trails, access to this cabin can be suitable for all classes of riders. Our riders have a special welcome with Ildifonso, an 80-year old Tarahumara Indian and his wife Virginia. Ildifonso was blind until May, 1999, when donations to our Community Action Program paid for a cataract operation that restored his sight. The cabin is equipped with a sleeping platform, table and chairs, a wood-burning stove and a basic supply of kitchen utensils, plates, silverware, etc. Because of the variety of access routes, we base our visits to the ranch on an hourly basis plus a surcharge for special activities. Breakfast or Lunch Ride Ride to the cabin then enjoy a filling ranch-style breakfast or lunch cooked over a wood stove or campfire. Relax in the shade of a pine then return to the Oso. For clients of the Oso we charge $5.00 per person surcharge for lunch at the cabin. For riders who are not staying at the Oso there is a $15 per person surcharge. This ride has a two person minimum. Overnight Enjoy a western campout under millions of stars that seem so close you feel you could reach out and touch them. We supply all food, camping gear, horses, everything but sleeping bags for only $150 per person with a two person minimum. Sleeping bag rentals are available for $10 per night. Rent our cabin for a getaway, honeymoon, research or whatever for $40 per night plus the costs of getting you there and then picking you up. Bring your own grub or we can sell you the ingredients and work with you on menu. Please remember everything moves to the cabin on the back of a pack animal - weights and quantities are limited!
The above are but a sampling of the our more popular short rides. We are the only professional horse rental and packing service in our region. Please ask for a catalog if you want additional information. Catch Diego in a free moment or over a brew if you just want to chat about horses but be aware horses are his passion and he may talk your ear off.
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de Urique, S.A. de C. V. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
