The huge Bosque la Primavera that hugs Guadalajara’s west side now has two signposted Interpretive Trails. I described the first one in my September 13, 2013 column and here comes a report on the second.
Forest Ranger Ezequiel García told me the new trail starts near “the third official entrance” to the forest, which is located about five kilometers northeast of the town of Tala. To reach the place, we would have to drive over eight kilometers of bad roads. Fortunately, García was at the wheel of a big camioneta which negotiated the ruts without a problem, plowed right through the deep puddles and slid across the muddy stretches we faced along the way.
From Tala we reached “Entrance Three” in about half an hour. The interpretive trail is a loop about two kilometers long, relatively level and unencumbered, just the sort of path where you can take the whole family for a Sunday stroll. Nine large, double-sided signs tell visitors a lot about the flora, fauna and geography of this part of the forest. Another theme presented is “The Five Senses” and how they operate in the creatures inhabiting this woodland.
The trail begins in a wide, flat meadow. It then drops down into a hilly fairyland dotted with curiously shaped rocks of all sizes.
“This is the Tala Tuff,” explained García, “Rocks composed of light-weight rhyolite or pumice.”
Here’s a place to let your imagination run wild. Some of these rocks have the shape of armchairs or bathtubs, others resemble walls, sometimes straight, sometimes curved. There are even circular walls which look man-made, but aren’t. Most bizarre of all are the Fairy Footstools, which look like tree stumps but, in fact, are the upper ends of long rhyolite cylinders protruding vertically from the ground. These, García said, are fossil fumaroles, formed when hot gases rose through a pyroclastic flow some 95,000 years ago.
Along the trail we came upon all sorts of wildflowers, including some exquisite white orchids my guide had never seen here before. Of course, we ran into beetles, butterflies, birds and frogs, but most memorable was a little lizard sunning itself while clutching a plant stem. It was in the sort of picturesque pose every photographer dreams of stumbling upon.
The only problem with this hike is the drive from Tala to Bosque Entrance Three. I have put two possible routes on Wikiloc.com. Both require high clearance. The shorter route (Highway 70 to Caseta 3) looks more like a river than anything else in the rainy season. The longer route (Tala to Caseta 3) is a lot drier. According to García, both routes are “much friendlier” during the dry season. If you would like a guide to accompany you along either of the Primavera Forest Interpretive Trails, you can reach García at the Bosque’s headquarters inside the Concentro Plaza on the corner of the Periferico and Avenida Vallarta, call him at (33) 3110-0917 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
How to get there
From Guadalajara, head west on the highway to Nogales (extension of Av. Vallarta), following the “libre” signs before taking Highway 70 heading southwest toward Ameca. Near Tala, take one of the two Wikiloc routes described above. Primavera Forest Entrance Three is located at N20 40.586 W103 38.670. The Interpretive Trail (a loop) starts at N20 40.291 W103 38.665 and you’ll find it at Wikiloc under “BLP Int Trail2.” The fossil fumaroles are at N20 39.993 W103 38.462. Driving time from Guadalajara is about one hour.