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Madera
Madera is a good jumping-off point for a number of places of interest. About three hours south of Casas Grandes and high in the pines of the Sierra Madres, Madera offers a welcome retreat from the summertime heat. The town has a bit of a frontier and undeveloped feel to it. Those who enjoy exploring on their own will find much to occupy their time. Madera was founded in 1906 just prior to the Mexican Revolution. American businessmen recognized the lumber potential surrounding the area and built mills and housing for workers to turn the pine forest into finished wood products for American markets. Businessman Fred Pearson constructed his Mexico Northwest Railroad from Pearson (present-day Mata Ortiz) south over the Continental Divide to Madera specifically to transport the wood products originating from each community. Business was brisk and brief. By the time revolutionary fighting stopped, all had been lost.
North and west of Madera are several archeological sites. The first is along the road to Huápoca where the road begins its descent toward the Papigochi River in the canyon bottom. From the sign, a short distance down a side road takes you to the Conjunto Huápoca parking area and three sites - Cueva Serpiente, Cueva El Mirador, and Cueva Nido del Aguila. Two of the three sites have had restoration work performed, are accessible, and can be explored. Bring good walking shoes or low boots, a day pack, snacks, water, and be prepared to scramble down and back up on the trail to Serpiente. Serpiente requires the most work and offers the most reward. The site is built on a narrow finger of land projecting into the canyon and each side of the site opens onto a different view of the canyon. After Conjunto Huápoca, the road drops to the bottom of the canyon and crosses the Rio Papigochi on a one-lane suspension bridge. To the left before the bridge lies the Huápoca thermal spring & pools while straight ahead lies the Cueva Grande archeological site. Cueva Grande requires a short and easy hike to reach. Once there, the structures are located in a protected overhang behind the cliff face which frequently has a small spray of water falling over its face. Don’t forget your camera on these outings! Finally, twenty-seven miles on the highway north of Madera is the turnoff to the archeological site of Cuarenta Casas (Forty Houses).
For birders, the area north of the turnoff to Huápoca is a good place to see thick-bill parrots. The birds congregate in large groups in the highest hills and can be quite noisy. It will be helpful to go with someone who has visited the area before or seek a local guide in Madera.
The Huápoca pools offer the perfect setting for a relaxing soak & swim. Located alongside the Papigochi River, the site originally was nothing more than a hot spring emerging just above river level. Chihuahua State has since built two large swimming pools amply filled with a continuous supply of warm water. Overnight camping is available if one of the four spaces is empty. A short distance downstream along the riverwalk is the original source of the springs. Bring everything you need and be sure to include a picnic lunch and spend a couple of hours in this unusual and beautiful spot! A minimal entry fee (~25 pesos/person) is required.
This suspension bridge crosses the Rio Papigochi just after the turnoff to Huápoca
and is shared with logging trucks.
South of Madera lies Basaseachic National Park and the Basaseachic waterfall. This area is better explored by staying overnight in the town of Guerrero. Located on the edge of Candameña Canyon, the Basaseachic falls drop freely for 806 feet! A short walk from the parking area at the end of the road takes you to the top of the drop where you can approach the edge as much as your nerves allow. A surfaced and steep trail takes you to the bottom of the canyon and the falls. A second vista is available approximately five kilometers east of the Basaseachic turnoff on the main road at San Lorenzo. For a minimal entry fee, trails access several overlooks facing the falls across the canyon. Here the scale of the canyon is most obvious. Ambitious hikers can hike from here to the falls itself.
Discovered in 1994 and relatively unknown today is Piedra Volada - a seasonal waterfall south and slightly west of Basaseachic. Here the scale of Candameña Canyon is even larger - Piedra Volada drops 1486 feet, the world’s seventh highest for a free drop! When flowing, this is the highest waterfall in Mexico, otherwise it is Basaseachic. Piedra Volada can be accessed by a cross-country trail from the San Lorenzo overlook side. It can also be seen from across the canyon. Access is south through Cahuisori by road and requires local knowledge.

Much more awaits and this brief description does not begin to cover it all. Whether your interests are in natural history or simply exploring, you will find plenty to do. Take a look at the video on Madera (Una Tierra por Descubrir - A Land to be Discovered) in our media page and check out the other episodes on You Tube. Then stop by our office and we will help you get started!