West Ridge south of Presa Peralillo
near Puerto de Santa Rosa, Guanajuato (Mexico)
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Trail photos
Itinerary description
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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