Motorcycle Ride Planner · Routes · Mexico
Batopilas Canyon Descent (Barrancas del Cobre) - CHIH-80
Mexico · CHIH-80 / Creel-Batopilas Rd
The legendary adventure descent into the depths of Mexico's Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre), a gorge system larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon of Arizona. Departs the Rarámuri (Tarahumara) mountain capital of Creel, traversing pine ridges before dropping over 6,000 vertical feet down the vertical canyon walls of La Bufa to the subtropical silver village of Batopilas. The descent features dizzying, unguarded switchbacks with sheer drops into the abyss. Road Quality: The upper and middle switchbacks are now paved with concrete and asphalt, but loose rockfall, gravel spills, and unpaved cobblestone sections remain on the lower shelf approaching Batopilas and the Lost Mission of Satevó. Safety & Military Checkpoints: Deep within indigenous Rarámuri territory; ride strictly during daylight; travel with dual-sport or ADV bikes equipped with skid plates; check local travel advice in Creel before descending. Fuel Range: Fill up completely in Creel; Batopilas has small local drum fuel or single-pump stations; return ascent requires substantial fuel due to continuous steep uphill low-gear climbing.
Batopilas Canyon Descent (Barrancas del Cobre) - CHIH-80 runs 84 miles between Creel, Chihuahua and Batopilas, Chihuahua. We count about 680 corners along it, which is relentless. A hard road that rewards experience and punishes bravado.
Tank-bag quick reference
- StartCreel, Chihuahua27.7511, -107.6358
- High1,640 ft - 7,850 ft (La Bufa Rim)elevation range
- EndBatopilas, Chihuahua27.0289, -107.7411
T-CLOCS before you go: tyres and wheels, controls and cables, lights and electrics, oil and fluids, chassis and stand.
Repair within reach
- 35 miTaller Moto CreelCreel, Chihuahua
Straight-line distance from the start of the route, not driving distance.
More in Mexico
- El Espinazo del Diablo (Devil's Backbone) - MEX 40 Libre135 mi · 2150 corners
- Sierra de Miahuatlán & San José del Pacífico - MEX 175 South148 mi · 1950 corners
- Carretera Transpeninsular (Baja 1000 Highway) - MEX 11020 mi · 1850 corners
- Sierra Madre del Sur Pacific Descent - MEX 131158 mi · 1850 corners
- Sierra Juárez Alpine Ridge to Gulf Lowlands - MEX 175 North132 mi · 1650 corners
- Sierra Gorda Spine (Ruta de las Misiones) - MEX 120145 mi · 1450 corners
Questions riders ask
- How long does Batopilas Canyon Descent (Barrancas del Cobre) - CHIH-80 take to ride?
- About 84 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 2 hours of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.
- Where does Batopilas Canyon Descent (Barrancas del Cobre) - CHIH-80 start and end?
- It runs between Creel, Chihuahua and Batopilas, Chihuahua. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.
- Is Batopilas Canyon Descent (Barrancas del Cobre) - CHIH-80 a twisty road?
- We count about 680 corners across 84 miles, which is relentless.
- Is there a GPX file for Batopilas Canyon Descent (Barrancas del Cobre) - CHIH-80?
- Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.
Where these numbers come from
Distances and corner counts come from the route's own geometry, not from ratings or votes. Nothing here is crowdsourced and nobody paid to appear.