Parque El Tecolote Mazamitla

I hiked to here from Centro Mazamitla and back again. My review is on the hike to here. It took about an hour and a half at a slow place to go one way, but the hike was incredible. The most difficult part as far as steepness is concerned, is when you're first leaving Mazamitla. After that, even though you're climbing the entire way, it's such a gentle and easy incline, that there are no issues. And the hike is STUNNING. You walk along dirt roads that at first are surrounded by trees and pastures, and then just forest and mountain scenery. As soon as you leave town and get off the cobbled roads the rest is dirt roads and way easier to walk on. Once I turned off of Cuauhtemoc my Google maps stopped being anywhere close to accurate, but the route is easy-peasy and well marked with signs. One vehicle passed me on the way up, none on the way down. Saw 3 people on horseback. The rest was all to myself. I did the hike Feb 16th, 2023. The trees and breeze keep things cool. Because it's such a gradual incline, it's not the least bit difficult. The scenery you get on the way up, as well as checking out some incredible houses/cabanas is fantastic. Parque El Tecolote itself.. I have no idea about. I had planned to check it out and do hiking within the park. There's some weird gate when you turn off from Cuauhtemoc for it, but nobody was there. Once I got to the actual park itself, there is a much smaller gate that looks like it has a small place to collect entrance fees or something. Nobody was there. I walked into the park... and it was empty. I walked past a place where people camp and didn't see anybody. I walked to a place that looks like it's the main admission area, with bathrooms and some other buildings. Nobody was there. It was just me, a Canadian who doesn't speak Spanish, like I was standing in the middle of an abandoned amusement park. So I left. I enjoyed the hike to the place so much that I didn't even care. And I enjoyed the hike back down just as much as I did the hike up. I stopped and ate snacks and drank water and just enjoyed the hike and the incredible vistas. After 3 plus weeks in Guadalajara, I genuinely needed this. Perfect blue skies, fresh air, the scent of pine forests, and beautiful views. If you're up for it I would highly recommend this as a hike. That's specifically what I came to Mazamitla for, and between this and the Cascada El Salto hike (see my review on that for another really good hike and secret trails) I have no disappointment whatsoever. The town itself is nice, but you can see it all in an hour. Getting out and enjoying the location is what it's all about.

I hiked to here from Centro Mazamitla and back again. My review is on the hike to here. It took about an hour and a half at a slow place to go one way, but the hike was incredible. The most difficult part as far as steepness is concerned, is when you're first leaving Mazamitla. After that, even though you're climbing the entire way, it's such a gentle and easy incline, that there are no issues. And the hike is STUNNING. You walk along dirt roads that at first are surrounded by trees and pastures, and then just forest and mountain scenery. As soon as you leave town and get off the cobbled roads the rest is dirt roads and way easier to walk on. Once I turned off of Cuauhtemoc my Google maps stopped being anywhere close to accurate, but the route is easy-peasy and well marked with signs. One vehicle passed me on the way up, none on the way down. Saw 3 people on horseback. The rest was all to myself. I did the hike Feb 16th, 2023. The trees and breeze keep things cool. Because it's such a gradual incline, it's not the least bit difficult. The scenery you get on the way up, as well as checking out some incredible houses/cabanas is fantastic. Parque El Tecolote itself.. I have no idea about. I had planned to check it out and do hiking within the park. There's some weird gate when you turn off from Cuauhtemoc for it, but nobody was there. Once I got to the actual park itself, there is a much smaller gate that looks like it has a small place to collect entrance fees or something. Nobody was there. I walked into the park... and it was empty. I walked past a place where people camp and didn't see anybody. I walked to a place that looks like it's the main admission area, with bathrooms and some other buildings. Nobody was there. It was just me, a Canadian who doesn't speak Spanish, like I was standing in the middle of an abandoned amusement park. So I left. I enjoyed the hike to the place so much that I didn't even care. And I enjoyed the hike back down just as much as I did the hike up. I stopped and ate snacks and drank water and just enjoyed the hike and the incredible vistas. After 3 plus weeks in Guadalajara, I genuinely needed this. Perfect blue skies, fresh air, the scent of pine forests, and beautiful views. If you're up for it I would highly recommend this as a hike. That's specifically what I came to Mazamitla for, and between this and the Cascada El Salto hike (see my review on that for another really good hike and secret trails) I have no disappointment whatsoever. The town itself is nice, but you can see it all in an hour. Getting out and enjoying the location is what it's all about.