Hype:
About 30 minutes from Pinal de Amoles, Puente de Dios is a popular tourist attraction for the area. Visitors hike approximately 1.2 miles up the Rio Escanela from the trailhead to a natural bridge crossing the river. Not only is it incredibly beautiful, but there are half a dozen waterfalls pouring down through the natural bridge through vertical tunnels.
Trail Condition: Class 3 (Trail may have sections where hands are needed. Trail may not be visible in spots or may not exist at all.)
Time: 2-3 hours
Length: 2.5 mile round trip
Elevation Gain: 150 ft
Fees: Entrance
Recommended Ages:
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![]() | 4-11 |
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![]() | 20-49 |
![]() | 50-69 |
![]() | 70+ |
Recommended Months to Visit:
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Navigate to 21.196451, -99.605001.
By Jeremy Dye
Jeremy Dye, Luke Galyan, Tracy Kwan, Ryan Hone, Napo Acuna,
On day 4 of my Mexico trip, we did La Barranca Canyon. The approach hike was awesome because we hiked on footpaths that went between two properties. The property lines had rock walls that must have taken years to build, and we hiked right between them. It was very scenic. We suited up in our wetsuits then proceeded down canyon. This canyon had some big rappels at the beginning but still had some jumps and slides.
At one point in the canyon, a rattlesnake was sitting on a rock right next to where we needed to pass. I got within a foot or two of it before noticing it. We couldn't find any sticks or anything to use to flick it out of the way, but Tom found a way to climb up and over the constriction so we were able to go around the snake without disturbing it.
Near the bottom of the canyon, we left the watercourse and hiked along a trail instead. It followed a water pipe carrying water from the river to a community.
The trail gained a lot of elevation, but it was faster than walking on river cobbles. The trail dropped us back in the watercourse at Puente de Dios (Bridge of God), which is a natural bridge over the river.
Puente de Dios is a tourist attraction. Not only is it incredible beautiful, but there are half a dozen waterfalls pouring down through the natural bridge through vertical tunnels. We soaked in the water and took a bunch of pictures and took showers under the waterfalls.
Then we hiked down the trail to the parking area. When we got out, we got reprimanded for doing the canyon without the necessary permits. Whoops. We crammed into Napo's car for the first part of the shuttle, then several of us waited at a fork in the road while the drivers got the other vehicle and we all went back to the Airbnb.
El Cerrito Archaeological Site