El Fuerte to Reforma

This log covers the paved road from El Fuerte beyond Chiox and then onto the dirt road leading past many small pueblos and crossing the Huites Lake on the Chalan (ferry) before continuing up the arroyo to La Reforma. The mileage given to the ferry was at the end of the rainy season with fairly high water. During drier times the ferry departure point can move 3-5 miles closer to Choix so be sure to ask locally and/or note tire tracks in the dirt road as you travel. If all the tracks turn left as you head towards the ferry, chances are good that the ferry has moved! Be advised that this road goes through some rugged country with little chance of assistance and with activities that most strangers best avoid.

MILE	DESCRIPTION
0.0	Plaza in El Fuerte, take the main road out of town the one that goes through the fancy castle-like arch welcoming visitors to town. At the highway intersection turn left towards Choix.
31.0	Gas station before entering Choix, this is your last sure chance for gasoline on the trip.
31.6	Go left at main intersection, you will almost immediately take a right
31.7	Turn Right on a bypass around town. If you want to go into town, Choix has a decent hotel, the Real de Minas, a bank with an ATM machine, and all types of stores and services. Unfortunately, we encountered no good restaurants
34.3	Turn right off pavement onto a dirt road, a sign at the intersection points to Los Mesquitones however a sign for Tubares could well be added in the future.
38.7	Angle left on the less traveled road. The larger road going straight is the new road built to Tubares by the huge gold-mining operation at Sauzal.
40.0	Cross bridge over the arroyo in the pueblo of Tasajares.
40.4	Turn left at a main intersection
45.5	Pass through pueblo of El Nacimiento
47.7	Continue straight, the left goes to Mesquite
48.0	Keep to right, a hard left takes you back to Mesquite
54.0	Ferry departure point at high water be prepared to pay 50-100 pesos per vehicle. After crossing the ferry follow the road up the Arroyo de Reforma, WARNING: This road is subject to major flooding during heavy storms.
60.6	Abandoned mining operations on both sides of road
61.2	Abandoned milling operations for mine. According to Rosenda Muñoz, who plants crops on the property, the mine produced mostly lead and zinc with some copper, silver and gold byproducts. He said it closed about 1980. Many signs of the operation remain including living quarters still used by local people.
61.3	Major "T" intersection. Turn Left to continue into the Sierra to Cerocahui. Right goes into Reforma, to Encinitos (about 1.5 miles), and onto Lluvia de Oro and then to Sierrita where the road dead ends. Round trip to Sierrita is 20.8 miles from the "T" intersection. Snacks and some food are available at the Encinitos store which usually has gasoline at high prices. WARNING: the road beyond Encinitos leads to the abandoned gold mining town of Lluvia de Oro (Rain of Gold). This road has many dangers, the least of them the road itself. We strongly urge that you do not not to go to Lluvia de Oro nor to La Sierrita without 4WD and a Spanish-speaking guide who knows the people and customs of the area.
Note: Go to the Reforma to Cerocahui log to continue.