Cumbres de Monterrey and Cola de Caballo

The Mountain National Park (1939) That Backs Monterrey, The Largest In North Eastern Mexico, With Cola De Caballo (A 25 M Waterfall), La Huasteca Canyon And The Chipinque Ridge. The Day Escape For The City, Busy At Weekends, With The Falls Strongest After Summer Rain · Santiago, Nuevo León

Cumbres de Monterrey is the big mountain national park that backs the city of Monterrey, the largest in north-eastern Mexico. For most visitors it means a handful of easy excursions: Cola de Caballo, a waterfall of about 25 m near El Cercado, roughly 35 km south of the city; La Huasteca, a canyon of tall grey rock walls on the western edge of Monterrey; and the Chipinque ridge, with a small eco park, pine forest and hawks riding the thermals. Beyond them the Sierra Madre trails climb into cool, empty high country. This is the day escape for the city, so weekends and holidays are crowded and weekdays are calm. The falls are strongest after summer rain and thin in the dry months. It suits families, short hikers and anyone staying in Monterrey with a free day. It is worth the detour if you are already in the city and want green air; it is not a reason to fly to Mexico, and serious hikers will find bigger mountains elsewhere. Summer storms can flood canyons quickly.

Cola de Caballo (Horsetail Falls) near the town of El Cercado, Santiago, about 35 km south of Monterrey; coordinates approximate, Santiago, Nuevo León, Mexico

The park areas and trailheads generally open in the morning and close in the late afternoon, and each entrance sets its own hours, so confirm locally. Cola de Caballo usually keeps daytime hours every day, and the Chipinque eco park has a gate that opens early for hikers and closes at dusk. La Huasteca is a public park area open in daylight. Walking the free roadside stretches and viewpoints costs nothing. Entry to the falls area and to Chipinque normally carries a modest charge, and some trails are CLOSED after heavy rain or when canyon paths are flooded. Gates are CLOSED at night, and the park roads are not safe to drive in the dark or in fog.

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