Creel - Horizons Event 2005

[k7]

Someone asked me offline about getting from the US to Creel via Hermosillo and the timing and route. Here's my response:

Sorry it took me so long to reply. I'm glad that JC spoke up.

One suggestion would be for you guys to meet on Saturday night somewhere down on the border. Sundays are easier to get across and the earlier you hit it, the better. Nogales is pretty busy but an easy crossing.

From there, it's a very nice road to Hermosillo via Highway 15.

From there, pick up Highway 16 and plan to spend the night in Yecora. Highway 16 is like the Tail of the Dragon on steriods. Don't let it scare you but down take too long to get there either. Each time, I've had to ride the last 30-50 miles at night and if you find yourself in this situation, slow down and watch for animals. If you meet a big truck or really even see headlights, it's best to almost stop and get off the road. The big logging trucks take up a lot of room.

Fill up w/ gas in Hermo and in Yecora. The King Hotel in Yecora is really your only option. It's the left past the Pemex going down the dirt road....unless they paved it. Take a right on one of the first streets and then a left. Small town... don't worry!

There are two places to eat just off the highway in Yecora. They may appear to be closed depending on the hour but they'll welcome your business. Just knock on the door if you're running late.

From there, enjoy the ride into Creel. Stop and see the falls at Basaseachic. Fill up with gas at the first Pemex station you see after Creel as you get close to Basaseachic.

As you travel east on 16, the area turns into rolling valleys and lots of agriculture. It reminds me of Washington state. Big valleys, rolling hills, etc.

Here's a good map of the area:



(Tons of maps at here. You'll want Snoroa and Chihuahua.

It's a very nice road and a pretty hard right hand turn. Watch for gravel in the turn-off. Someone always drops their bike there. Highway 127 I think.

There's another option. From the area of the falls to the Creel, there is a dirt road that others road last year. I was going to ride it but, I got through the border last year and then the border was shut down. Since I found myself alone, I went ahead to Yecora but wasn't going to ride the route by myself. Others road it, no problem.

Here's what it looks like:



The gps maps are from http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/road_map.htm They're a little clunky but pretty good maps. I won't give you my software copy of them but I'm happy to send you my tracks from last year if I still have them. They're from a Garmin V and would probably be useful. I'll have to confrim that I have them but I'm about 90% certain I have it from at least Yecora to Creel.

IF YOU WANT THESE TRACKS, EMAIL ME OFFLINE PLEASE!

US to Yecora is a pretty long day..don't sit around Hermosillo... keep pushing. Yecora to Creel is a pretty easy day. Slow down, enjoy the ride. If you're hung up at the border, stay in Hermo and then it'll be a long hard ride to Creel but doable in a day.

I think a good decision point would be to see where you are at 3 PM. Before 3 PM, keep pushing to Yecora. After 3 pm, you might consider staying in lovely Hermo. You can ride but expect to arrive after dark. Seriously, slow down, watch for animals and other vehicles, etc.

What else did I miss?

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by k7

..........What else did I miss?

Nothing, really. Good info.

I rode the dirt rd into San Juanito and it really wasn't a problem. Rocks within the road bed in sections and you can have ice patches early in the morning.

[k7]

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

Nothing, really. Good info.

I rode the dirt rd into San Juanito and it really wasn't a problem. Rocks within the road bed in sections and you can have ice patches early in the morning.

Hey - this is to help the new guys, the uninitiated... those who haven't traveled these roads before. The older, more experienced, grizzled travelers like you can teach me a few things. Hope you're fully recovered by now.

[gaspipe]

That little section of gray/white line from Vicente Guerrero south to 16 used to be gravel, but it is paved now. At Guerrero, there is a 1/4 mile of dirt that is the bypass around the southwest side of town. That will save time from having to ride into Mateos or Cuauhtemoc then back west on 16 to Tonachi.

Originally Posted by k7

[dtop1]

For those who have the time to do Nogales to Creel in 3 days, I rec. the following. Take rt 2 east at Imuris south of Nogales. At Cananea head south on 89 (called the Rio Sonora route - the route of the conquistadores and settlers) which is a 2-lane twisty road in OK shape that goes through some nice country. Detour off the hwy to see the town of Arizpe (great, fortress church with the remains of the conquistador de Anza laid out in the floor of the church under glass with boots and brass buttons still visible.) Then stop in Huepac and Aconchi to see the churches. Spend the night in Hermosillo - rec. the Hotel La Finca, P470 dbl, at Calle Matamoros and G. Madrid ( a few blocks from the center of town.) This is a very nice hotel with pool, bar and a restaurant.
The next day do Hermosillo to Basaseachic. You'll arrive early enough to see falls at the top and walk part way down to a viewpoint called La Ventana if you're ambitious. The next day ride to Creel either by the paved road or the dirt road to San Juanito. At the turnoff to the dirt road is a road to a lookout to see the falls from the other side of the canyon; well worth the short detour. Dan

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by dtop1

..............
The next day do Hermosillo to Basaseachic. You'll arrive early enough ..........

You'll still want to get an early start...and you will be tired when you arrive....and you won't own a chicken strip...:)

There are a few motels/cabins on Hwy 16 just before the Basaseachic turn-off. There's one right at the intersection, a couple south(in town) and cabins, on the left, just before the entrance. The cabins are/were clean, fairly newish, $50 per, propane water heater, propane lamp/lantern, wood stove heated, attendant onsite.....

[dtop1]

Originally Posted by Lone Rider

There are a few motels/cabins on Hwy 16 just before the Basaseachic turn-off. There's one right at the intersection, a couple south(in town) and cabins, on the left, just before the entrance. The cabins are/were clean, fairly newish, $50 per, propane water heater, propane lamp/lantern, wood stove heated, attendant onsite.....

There are a couple of cabins across the street from the gas station for about $25 and the woman in the main house will cook meals for you. They are rustic but OK. Dan

[chirider]

i'm leaving chicago oct 2nd and hope to ride the long way to Creel from the east. any takers? anyone done this before and have imput? thanks in advance!

[dtop1]

Originally Posted by chirider

i'm leaving chicago oct 2nd and hope to ride the long way to Creel from the east. any takers? anyone done this before and have imput? thanks in advance!

If you are coming in from the east you could cross the border at Presidio and head for Parral where you'd spend the night. Then take the back way in to Creel past Guachochi, one of the best moto roads on the planet. It doesn't look long from Parral-Creel but it's a full day because of the thousands of curves. But Chicago-Presidio is a 3 day ride then Presido-Parral-Creel 2 days so that would get you into Creel a couple of days before the rally starts. You could spend a couple of those days riding aound and through Big Bend Park in Texas. Dan

[chirider]

anybody been through the eagle pass or laredo border check? i was thinking this far east actually. but thanks dspot I may do presidio. I was camping via suv in big bend last year and wished I was on my GS! Might consider that. Cheers!

[mars]

Originally Posted by gaspipe

That little section of gray/white line from Vicente Guerrero south to 16 used to be gravel, but it is paved now. At Guerrero, there is a 1/4 mile of dirt that is the bypass around the southwest side of town. That will save time from having to ride into Mateos or Cuauhtemoc then back west on 16 to Tonachi.

where did you get that map?

[gaspipe]

www.maps-of-mexico.com - they are free, and online.

Originally Posted by mars

where did you get that map?

[dtop1]

Originally Posted by gaspipe

www.maps-of-mexico.com - they are free, and online.

They are free and online but not very accurate. The graphics are nice but they are just not reliable IMO. Dan

[scorpion]

My working plan is to leave El Lay Friday night, cross at Nogales Sat AM. Ride to guaymas or (?) for the night, then on to Mazatlan by sunday pm. Then diablo espina on the uphill to durango > parral > creel by tuesday pm. Not sure if I could do the last leg in a day.

All subject to change depending on who wants to ride.

[westnash]

[quote=scorpion]My working plan is to leave El Lay Friday night, cross at Nogales Sat AM. Ride to guaymas or (?) for the night, then on to Mazatlan by sunday pm. Then diablo espina on the uphill to durango > parral > creel by tuesday pm. Not sure if I could do the last leg in a day.

Some of this might be ambitious if you plan to enjoy the ride. The Parral to Creel is a full day ride. LA to Nogales is a good ways too, leaving LA in the evening.