About Copper Canyon (Barrancas de Cobre), Mexico

In the heart of the Tarahumara Mountain’s in the northeast corner of Chihuahua state you will find yourself looking at the majestic Las Barrancas del Cobre or Copper Canyon. It was named this because of the stunning greenish copper hue of the canyon walls. The canyons span a total of 37,000 miles and are longer and deeper then the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The walls of the canyon could tell story after story. It is filled with legends, surprises and traditions that you will only learn about by visiting this wonderful place.

Brief history of Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon formed during volcanic activity approximately 30-40 million years ago. Deep fractures in the earths crust were formed by the tectonic activity and rivers formed in the high Sierra cut deep canyons on their way to the gulf of Mexico. The Spanish arrived in the Copper Canyon area in the 17th century. They were eventually forced out of the area and up into the Canyon cliffs after silver was discovered in the area by the Spaniards. 
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Copper Canyon tourism 

PictureBy Adrián Cerón (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
When you travel to copper canyon you will be amazed at all that there is to offer tourists.  In the midst of this beautiful natural wonder you will find zip lines, suspension bridges, and a via ferrata which consists of rappelling, rock climbing and a small suspension bridge which is accessed through a “Tarzan leap”. During your stay you will be allowed to coexist with the Raramuri community. The people in this community are full of wisdom and stories about the Tarahumara Sierra. The people that live here have made the canyons their homes for centuries and their lives are intertwined with the mountains. The people in this area are famous for their long distance running. They can often run vertical distances non stop for hours. Some of the communities in the area have received government funding to build roads, restaurants and accommodations.  

To view the beautiful scenery that is in this area you can take the copper canyon train. This runs between Chihuahua and Los Mochis. The Chihuahua el Pacifico took 90 years to complete. It opened in 1961 and the route is approximately 390 miles long and crosses 39 bridges and goes through 86 tunnels. The scenery along the winding 14 hour journey is breathtaking. The train has 64 cars, it offers comfortable seats, restrooms and a restaurant. There are plenty accommodations in the area for your stay. You have your choice between hotels or you can enjoy nature to it’s fullest and try the camping in the area. The best way for you to really explore this area is by taking the Copper Canyon tour.
Copper Canyon Mexico
click to enlarge
Popular activities include horseback rides through indigenous villages and visits to lakes and waterfalls. One of the best attractions is the Basaseachi Waterfalls on the Basaseach River. This is the second highest waterfall in Mexico and is 807 feet tall.  You will want to come prepared for the climate. The temperatures can be very low in the Canyon and much higher along the banks of the rivers and in the ravines in the summer. 
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