West Ridge south of Presa Peralillo

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Photo ofWest Ridge south of Presa Peralillo

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Guanajuato Hiker

with 1 trail buddy

575 26 540

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Trail stats

Distance: 3.26 mi
Elevation gain: 745 ft
Technical difficulty: Difficult
Elevation loss: 682 ft
Max elevation: 8,934 ft
TrailRank: 48
Min elevation: 8,345 ft
Trail type: One Way

Moving time: one hour 48 minutes
Time: 3 hours 11 minutes
Coordinates: 942
Uploaded: July 29, 2019
Recorded: July 2019

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near Puerto de Santa Rosa, Guanajuato (Mexico)

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Trail photos

Itinerary description

This route is up onto the high ridge just south of this delightful lake on the SE edge of Santa Rosa de Lima, near Guanajuato. it is not terribly difficult but much of the route is off-trail so a decent sense of navigation skills is an asset. While we took a route up a valley about 3/4 of the way down the west side of the lake, it did involve some very steep climbing without trail to get to the top of the ridge. The views from there are wonderful. For an easier route, follow our route in reverse. There is a decent trail at the beginning, and although it is easy to loose, the path is much gentler and you can usually pick up some type of animal path to get to a saddle just past the high point of the ridge we climbed. From there, it is a wonderful, mostly flat route heading south. The terrain here is as wild as I have seen around Guanajuato,, with canyons and cliffs below steep forested hillsides. While we didn't go all the way today, another 20-30 minutes further is the end of the ridge with cliffs cascading off three sides into deep valleys below.
Although the trail was recorded as one way, it is actually a circular route. The recorded time is for the return trip.
To get to the trailhead, turn up into Santa Rosa from the Guanajuato-Dolores Hidalgo Highway. Follow the road up through the two past the cell phone tower turn off. At the top of the hill, keep left and follow the better road downhill for another 5 minutes or so. If the gate to the Presa is chained, you can park here and add another 20-30 minutes each way to the journey. Generally, there is a gatekeeper, who will collect 70 pesos for access. To note, there is decent camping on the lake, many campsites with firepits.

Waypoints

Near start of trail at north end of Presa Peralillo

To do either route, follow a well-trod trail along the west edge of the lake.

Trail along Presa Peralillo

Follow trail along west side of lake.

Presa Peralillo

About half way along the west edge of the lake.

Presa Peralillo

Campsite on Presa Peralillo

This is perhaps the best campsite on the lake although it is one of a couple that requires hiking into. The rest are drive in.

Heading up the valley from a small meadow near the campsite.

There is not much of a trail here and you can easily use it. The basic idea is to simply gain elevation heading up between two ridges. As an alternative, you can continue another 15-20 minutes along the lake, then follow a better trail on the east side of the main ridge. The last photo shows the starting point for that route.

Valley to west of ridge

Typical valley flora

Junction

This is not so much of a junction as a decision point: to continue up the valley or head up the steep hillside to a rocky outcrop viewpoint near the high point of the ridge.

Looking north from close to high point to the Presa

There is a nice large rocky outcrop here that is great for a break or a snack or simply to take in the surrounding mountains.

Looking south

The mountains to the south are more rugged with steep canyons and few signs of human habitation. Future exploration!

More vistas

all along the ridge are great vistas. Beyond the cellphone tower on the higher ridge to the west is El Cubo and roads to Calderones and Guanajuato.

At lookout looking towards Santa Rosa

Ridge trail

The ridge trail varies from being open rock bluff to open oak forest to gnarly alpine scrub. That noted, there are generally easy routes to follow, some of which involve skirting the higher outcrops.

Photo

Another view back towards Presa Peralillo

Presa Peralillo

Rock outcrops to the Southeast

Photo

Vista to the South

Former mine site to the west

This 'appears' to be a former mine site although perhaps just a large hacienda. It can be accessed from El Cubo to the southwest of Guanajuato.

Valley far down below to the east.

Following an easier route on the east side of the ridge.

Instead of following the same route back, it appeared that we could stay well below the top of the ridge and find a route back with less off trail hiking. It indeed turned out to be the case.

Photo

End of route back at Presa Peralillo

As noted in the original description, starting the ridge ascent from this point would be much easier. There is a decent trail for the first half hour and lesser trails beyond that. There is a bank of cliffs that one has to go around. I expect there are trails on both sides of the cliffs. We came down on the north side, which I expect would be the easier way to go, then to follow along the top of the cliffs to the south.

Starting point when doing the trail in reverse

At the end of a inlet near the end of the lake, look for a plastic pipe sticking out of the ground filled with concrete with a piece of rebar sticking out.

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