g to the Copper Canyon
region from Mexican and US cities.
By car, Madera is located to the south of Nuevo Casas Grandes and to the northwest of
Chihuahua. There are two main routes from Ciudad Juarez. The longer but more interesting
route follows Highway 2 westward to Janos then south to Nuevo Casas Grandes and
Buenaventura. Take Route 28 to Gomez Farias and about 11 Km out of town, watch the signs
for the turnoff to Madera. The distance from Ciudad Juarez to Madera by this route is
about 540 Km. The other is to take the toll road to Chihuahua. Exit at El Sueco and travel
to Buenaventura where Route 28 leads to Gomez Farias and Madera. This route from Ciudad
Juarez to Madera is approximately 490 Km.
||Huapoca Suspension Bridge
From Chihuahua, take the Cuauhtemoc toll road (Highway 16) for 101 Km to Cuauhtemoc and
continue along Highway 16 to La Junta. Follow the signs to Guerrero, Matachi, Temosachi
and on to Madera. The total distance from Chihuahua to Madera is about 285 Km.
To visit the ruins, a good road leads to the Cuarenta Casas site and Cueva del Puente
approximately 45 Km to the north of Madera. Cueva Grande (66 Km) and the Anasazi caves (33
Km) are reached along a dirt road to the west from the roundabout at the entrance to
Madera. Along this road just out of town, is the turnoff to the Sirupa Canyon region where
the caves of the La Rancheria complex (50 Km) are located.
Substantial walking is required to visit the cave dwellings. Hiking
boots are preferable for steep paths and loose scree especially in the rainy, summer
months. Clothing should be comfortable and season appropriate. Remember that the sierras
are cooler than the barrancas and even in summer months, a light jacket is needed. A
flashlight is helpful for exploring the interior of the dwellings as well as the recesses
of some caves. Within the canyons, bring a swimsuit and towel to take advantage of the
refreshing rivers and thermal springs. All food and water must be carried into the canyon
as no supplies are available outside of Madera.
Five main cave complexes are spread along the length of the
Huapoca Canyon and its side canyons and arroyos. The distance between the sites, poor
roads and the necessity of a one to two hour walk to each site makes it impractical to
visit more than one complex in the course of a single day. An exception is the Cuarenta
Casas site which can be combined with the Cueva del Puente. Both are located along the
same paved road but an early start is recommended due to the requisite hike to the sites
The best way to explore the Huapoca Canyon is by private 4WD vehicle with the option of
camping when convenient. However, most visitors must make do with the limited tourist
infrastructure of the region. Using Madera as a base, day trips can be undertaken to the
cave dwellings. Tours are offered by the Motel Real del Bosque for groups of 4 to 6
depending on the destination. A more convenient alternative is to negotiate your own tour
with a local taxi driver. The cost will vary but approximately $20 - $25 per hour is a
The few hotels in Madera are more expensive than comparable hotels in Creel. The Motel
Real del Bosque, located at the entrance to town, is considered to be the best hotel
available and it has a good adjoining restaurant. Travelers arriving by bus may find the
Parador de la Sierra and Motel Maria to be more convenient as they are located within
walking distance of the bus station and other restaurants. Their facilities are not modern
but rooms are clean with private bathrooms and hot water. Nearby grocery stores have a
good variety of canned and fresh foods for picnic lunches and to supplement the mostly
fried meals available in the restaurants.
- Consider including a trip to Paquime when visiting the Huapoca Canyon. Their related
history will make this journey more interesting.
- Dont try to incorporate all the canyons into a single Copper Canyon adventure.
Each canyon is unique and should be explored leisurely. The Huapoca Canyon offers the best
examples of thousand year old Paquime-style cliff and cave dwelling