Trekking is a popular activity worldwide, with some trails, like the Pacific Crest Trail in the United States, attracting nearly a million visitors annually. While Mexico boasts countless long-distance trails, very few have been developed specifically for sport tourism.
However, hikers in Aguascalientes are working to change that with the development of a 100-kilometer trail, El Camino de la Asunción. Recently, a group of trekkers from Jalisco took the trail for a test run.
Below is a trip report by Matteo Volpi, founder of Volpi Outdoor Gear in Guadalajara.
Flowers and turtles
On the evening of September 12, eleven members of the Guadalajara hiking group Secta Volcánica arrived at San José de Gracia and set up camp in Parque Alameda. We started hiking the next morning at 6 a.m., joined by seven hikers from Aguascalientes.
From the start, we entered a green desert landscape, dotted with prickly-pear cacti and St. Peter’s palms, a yucca that resembles a Joshua tree. It was a beautiful sight, with everything in bloom. It felt reminiscent of my time on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Our first stop was La Santa Cruz, a hill topped with a massive cross. The climb to the top offered stunning views of a picturesque canyon. From there, we could also see the small town where Hidalgo fled after the Battle of Puente de Calderón, adding a historic layer to the experience. Being there during Mexico’s Independence holiday only made it feel more “Mexican.”
The timing was perfect, as the region had experienced rare rainfall, leaving the landscape lush and green. Afterward, we hiked down into the canyon, where we encountered more St. Peter’s palms and even some turtles—an unexpected bonus.
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