A rolling route that starts in an ash-tree grove beside the historic Hacienda de los Arquitos, passes through the village of Los Arquitos and follows the shoreline of the Los Arquitos reservoir before continuing to the Chichimeco dam. Good birdwatching and almost no shade past the first kilometre.
Los Arquitos lies in Jesus Maria municipality, immediately northwest of Aguascalientes city, and takes its name from the arched aqueduct works of the historic Hacienda de los Arquitos that still stand beside the trailhead. The route is a 9 km round trip with around 180m of cumulative gain, usually walked in three to three and a half hours, linking the Los Arquitos reservoir to the neighbouring Chichimeco dam across rolling farmland and low scrub-covered rises.
The start is easy to find but not easy to reach without a car: about 45 minutes northwest of the capital via the Jesus Maria road, with no scheduled bus service to the hacienda. Vehicles are parked informally near the ash-tree grove at the hacienda, where mature fresnos give the only meaningful shade of the day. No fee, gate or permit applies; the reservoirs are CONAGUA water infrastructure and the land between them is a working agricultural landscape of maize fields and grazing.
From the grove the path runs through the village of Los Arquitos and out onto the reservoir shoreline, a mix of hard-packed dirt track, gravel and short stony sections. Past the first kilometre shade disappears almost entirely, which is the defining characteristic of this route and the reason an early start matters more than fitness. The shoreline is followed around the water body, with several inlets where the path drops close to the waterline and can be muddy after rain, before the route climbs gently over a low rise and drops toward the Chichimeco dam. That dam wall is the natural turn-around; walkers with more time continue a short distance along its far shore before retracing.
Birdwatching is the strongest reason to walk here. Both reservoirs hold herons, egrets, coots, kingfishers and, in winter, substantial numbers of migratory ducks, with the shallow inlet ends the most productive spots. The best conditions come from October to April, when water levels are low, the shoreline path is dry and the temperature is mild. There are no refuges, taps or toilets between the two dams, and mobile coverage is patchy across the middle of the route, so water and an offline map should be sorted in Aguascalientes city before setting out.
Trail facts
- Trail area
- Los Arquitos, Municipio de Jesus Maria, Aguascalientes
- Best season
- October to April, when water levels are low and temperatures are mild
What to bring
- Trail shoes with grip
- 2 litres of water per person
- Sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
- Offline map downloaded before leaving the city
Location
Hacienda de Los Arquitos, Los Arquitos, Jesus Maria, Aguascalientes, Ags., Mexico
21.9469, -102.3897 View on map
Highlights
- The arched aqueduct works of the historic Hacienda de los Arquitos standing at the trailhead
- Shaded ash-tree grove at the start, the only real canopy on the route
- Shoreline birdwatching on two reservoirs, with herons, egrets, kingfishers and wintering ducks
- A rolling 9 km link between the Los Arquitos and Chichimeco dams through working farmland
- Wide open views across the Jesus Maria valley from the low rise between the two reservoirs
Tips for visiting
- Start early. Past the first kilometre there is almost no shade for the remaining 8 km of the round trip.
- Download an offline map in Aguascalientes city; mobile coverage is patchy across the middle section between the dams.
- Carry 2 litres of water per person, as there are no taps, shops or toilets between the two reservoirs.
- Inlet sections drop close to the waterline and turn muddy after rain, so October to April gives the driest footing.
- Bring binoculars for the shallow inlet ends, which hold the densest concentrations of waterbirds in winter.
- The Chichimeco dam wall makes the natural turn-around; continuing along its far shore adds distance with little shade.
When to visit
October to April brings mild temperatures, dry footing and the peak of the wintering waterbird season. Early morning is the clear preference given the near-total absence of shade after the first kilometre.
Accessibility
The dirt tracks near the hacienda and village are broadly level and firm in dry weather, but the shoreline sections are stony, uneven and occasionally muddy, and the route is not wheelchair accessible. There are no toilets, benches or accessible facilities anywhere along the way.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Los Arquitos to Chichimeco walk?
The route runs about 9 km round trip with roughly 180m of cumulative gain, taking three to three and a half hours at a steady pace including stops for birdwatching.
Can the trailhead be reached by public transport?
No scheduled bus reaches the hacienda. Visitors drive or take a taxi from Aguascalientes city, a journey of around 45 minutes northwest via the Jesus Maria road.
Is there any shade on the route?
Only at the start, in the ash-tree grove beside the Hacienda de los Arquitos. Past the first kilometre the path is effectively unshaded, which makes an early start important.
What birds can be seen at the reservoirs?
Herons, egrets, coots and kingfishers are present year-round, joined by significant numbers of migratory ducks in winter. The shallow inlet ends are the most productive viewing spots.
Is a permit needed?
No. The reservoirs are public water infrastructure with open access, and the land between them is farmland where walkers should keep to established tracks and field margins.