Holiday in Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre)

About Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre)

The Barrancas del Cobre – the Copper Canyon – is a vast system of six interconnected gorges in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the state of Chihuahua, which together are larger, deeper, and more diverse than the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The deepest gorge, the Barranca de Urique, reaches a depth of 1,879 meters, surpassing the Grand Canyon by several hundred meters. The name Copper Canyon comes from the copper-green lichens on the steep rock walls. The famous railway line El Chepe – one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world – winds its way over 653 kilometers through 86 tunnels and over 37 bridges from Los Mochis on the Pacific up into the Sierra Madre to Chihuahua. The journey takes about 16 hours and traverses breathtaking landscapes from subtropical vegetation to pine-covered high plateaus over 2,400 meters. Stopovers in Divisadero and Posada Barrancas offer spectacular viewpoints at the edge of the gorges. The region is home to the Raramuri (Tarahumara), an indigenous people legendary for their long-distance runners, who still live in the remote gorges according to traditional ways. Adventurous activities such as the cable car crossing over the gorge, hiking to the riverbed, mountain biking, and climbing complement the experience. The best travel times are October to November for mild temperatures and green landscapes or March to April for clear views and blooming wildflowers.