Copper Canyon Mexico
DYI Adventure Tour
This ride is fantastic: Read the ride review from Olivier de Vaulx of UPSHIFT MAGAZINE
Ride was fantastic here are the pictures from the riders
About this ride
This is a 7 day adventure bike oriented ride, starting in Douglas AZ at the USA-Mexico border and then traveling down the Mexican mainland to Copper Canyon. We will spend 3 days in Copper Canyon exploring the wonders.
This ride is adventure bike oriented meaning there will be a lot of back paved roads and some dirt roads. You will need to be able to ride many dirt sections. Some sections can be tough if the weather turns bad. We try to have easy options for any tough stuff but one can never really know, so come prepared. There will be scenic, easier options when possible. The ride will focus on seeing Copper Canyon and experiencing the local culture and people! The days can be long, sometimes 8 to 10 hours of riding.
Copper Canyon and the road to Batopilas
The ride will include motels each night. Riders will need to carry their own personal gear on their bikes.
Experienced riders only, intermediate and advanced riders only.
Riders will want to bring a reliable bike in good condition. There are few services in this area of Mexico. Riders need to come prepared to repair their own motorcycle on the trail and that often includes flat tires.
New tires, tubes and chains are recommended.
DYI: Do it Yourself Adventure: This ride is designed to be a self-guided adventure. As GPS units have become both more powerful and easier to use, it has enabled anyone to be able to easily find their way along the trail. For many, this allows them to just experience the trail without the burden of getting lost.
Buy the Self Guided ride packet:
The ride packet includes a ride plan booklet, daily large 11x17 maps, daily small maps for your tank bag or pocket and a custom micro SD card with complete GPS maps for your Garmin GPS unit. Note: It includes: routes with options for easy and hard choices, gas stops, meal stop suggestions and motel suggestions.
Copper Canyon Rides Packets $69
Notes: I suggest you plan and order early. Normally I ship within a week. But sometimes I run out and it can take me several weeks to get new cards and maps. And sometimes I am out riding and building new adventures so that can be hard too.
Copper Canyon, in northern Mexico, is a series of massive canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. Popular for hiking, it gets its name from the copper-green hue of the canyon walls. The famous Chepe (Ferrocarril Barrancas del Cobre) train connects the region via over 80 tunnels and nearly 40 bridges. Divisadero, a photo stop on the line, offers views into Urique Canyon
Yoda Roberto
Master Yoda gpsKevin
View the ride maps
OK since many of you like to study more detail about the ride, below are the ride maps.
I put these ride maps on the web page because I know a few of you love looking at the ride detail and dreaming about the ride.
Legend:
The Blue lines are MAIN routes
The Red lines are Harder routes
The Green lines are Easy options
The Black lines are the out and back viewpoints
FAQ's
Q: Do I need to import my motorcycle into Mexico?
A: Riders will need to obtain a $60 import permit and leave a deposit of $400 with the Mexican government that will be returned after your bike is returned to the USA. After signup, riders will be given more information about this.
Q: What bikes are good for this ride?
A: Small and large adventure bikes can work well. The routes have options suited for both types of bikes.
Q: What gas distance range should my bike have?
A: I would suggest that on some days you carry enough fuel to make 200 miles due to the fact that sometimes the route can have issues and it is good to have a little margin.
Q: What is the total distance of this ride?
A: The ride is 2,500 miles. Some ride days are long up to 320 miles.
Q: Do I need a Passport?
A: Yes, we will be crossing the US and Mexican borders; both countries require passports.
Q: How does the ride navigation work?
This is a self-led GPS ride; all riding is on your own. You are responsible for your own riding. You will be given a GPS map file and instructions on how to use your Garmin GPS unit. People will hook up in small groups of less than 6 riders and tend to ride together. You are not encouraged to ride alone. You are responsible for your own riding and yourself.
(see my ride Navigation Video)
Q: How do I make the GPS stuff so easy?
I develop very high quality ride maps custom for our ride. They come from much of what I and others have ridden. I take the best from all my rides and make new ones.
(See my Custom Ride Maps Video)
Q; What do I do if I don't have a Garmin GPS?
A: Buy one, you need it. We will show you how to use it. You can get a great one for under $200 bucks.
(See gpsKevin's gps recommendations)
Q: Is the riding really on my own?
A: Yes, but everyone hooks up and rides with a friend, or a new friend or me.
Q: Do I need insurance?
A: Yes, you must carry proof of medical insurance and liability insurance for yourself/motorcycle.
Q: Would this be a good ride for new riders?
A: No, this ride is for intermediate and experienced riders only. The riding has easy route choices and tough route options. Each evening we will study the following day's choices. You will find lots of supportive people at the ride.
Are you right for this ride?
When something goes wrong on a ride, would your riding friends say that you are more likely to need help or more likely to give help? You should be in the more likely to offer help camp. This ride is filled with riders that are more likely to give help, so most of the time the riders never need help. Additionally there is all the normal stuff: come prepared to maintain your bike, fix your bike on the trail, repair flat tires, deal with bad weather and rain and make a joke or two.