Zacatecas is a landlocked state on Mexico's north-central high plains, built on more than four centuries of silver-mining wealth. Its capital, also named Zacatecas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for pink cantera-stone Baroque and Churrigueresque architecture spilling down steep hillsides, the Cerro de la Bufa cable car, and the former Mina El Eden silver mine. Beyond the capital, the state offers the Pueblos Magicos of Jerez, Sombrerete, and Pinos, the pre-Hispanic ruins of La Quemada, and the mining hub of Fresnillo, the state's most populous municipality.
Top trails
Routes worth lacing up your boots for.
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1
El Campanario Trail, Sierra de Órganos
The park's signature marked trail, threading between eroded rhyolite columns up to 60m tall that gave the Sierra de Órganos its name and its long career as a backdrop for Western films.
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2
La Cueva del Toro Trail, Sierra de Órganos
The second marked trail in Sierra de Órganos, a short desert walk to a rock shelter known as the Bull's Cave, set among the same eroded rhyolite towers as the park's more famous route.
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3
Circuito Central Trail, Sierra de Órganos
A longer unofficial loop connecting several of the park's most photogenic rock clusters, giving a fuller circuit of Sierra de Órganos than either of its two officially marked trails alone.
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4
Cerro de la Bufa Summit Walk
A short, steep walk up the hill that dominates the eastern skyline of Zacatecas city, ending among an 18th-century chapel, equestrian statues of the revolutionary heroes of the 1914 battle, a meteorological observatory and sweeping views over the historic centre.
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5
Cerro del Grillo Ridge Walk
A shorter, quieter climb on the western side of the valley opposite Cerro de la Bufa, reaching the departure station for the teleférico cable car and giving views back over the historic centre from a different angle.
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6
La Quemada (Chicomostoc) Hillside Ruins Walk
A walk up through the fortified ceremonial centre of Chicomostoc, better known as La Quemada, climbing past a ball court, the Hall of Columns and dozens of stone terraces to the hilltop Acropolis overlooking the valley.
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7
Cerro de las Ventanas Archaeological Trail, Juchipila Canyon
A climb to one of the highest points of the Juchipila Canyon, where a small pre-Hispanic archaeological zone takes its name from window-like openings in the hilltop rock, with sweeping views down into the canyon's orchards and cliffs.
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8
Sierra de Cardos Pine Forest Trail
A forested canyon walk through the Sierra de Cardos above Jerez, one of the greener corners of Zacatecas state, combining pine and oak woodland with rocky canyon stretches used locally for rappelling and zip-lining.
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9
Cañón de Juchipila Rim and River Trail
A descent from the rim of the Cañón de Juchipila down toward the river that carved it, through walls that rise as much as 1,300 metres in places, with orchards, thermal springs and quiet river pools along the valley floor.
Trail difficulty levels
Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.
Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.
Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.
Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.
Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.
When to hike
Seasonal conditions in Zacatecas.
- Dry Season
- October to May brings clear skies, cool mornings and the most reliable trail conditions across Zacatecas' high plains, sierra ranges and canyon country
- Rainy Season
- June to September brings afternoon thunderstorms; canyon routes such as Cañón de Juchipila can flood quickly and forest tracks in the Sierra de Cardos turn muddy
- Winter Note
- December and January mornings can be cold at altitude around Sierra de Órganos and Sierra de Cardos, with occasional frost; layered clothing is recommended
Local hazards
What to watch out for on the trail.
Hazard: High-altitude sun exposure; Zacatecas city sits near 2,440m and hilltop viewpoints climb higher still
Hazard: Limited water sources on most routes; carry all water needed for the hike
Hazard: Flash flooding in the Cañón de Juchipila and other canyon systems during summer rains (June-September)
Hazard: Thorny desert vegetation (cactus, nopal, yucca) along drier lower-elevation trails, especially in Sierra de Órganos
Hazard: Limited cell phone signal in the Sierra de Cardos backcountry and deeper sections of the Juchipila canyon
Hazard: Uneven, centuries-old stonework underfoot at archaeological sites such as La Quemada and Cerro de las Ventanas