Audubon hosts Picachos hike

Audubon hike in Los Picachos

Saturday, November 11, 8am

Free for members/100 pesos for nonmembers

Reservations: 152-8159

Los Picachos, with peaks over 8,000 feet high, is an extinct volcano that looms over the town of San Miguel de Allende. It is rarely explored due to a lack of vehicle access and its sparse human population—characteristics that have preserved the unique habitat. 

A hike sponsored by Audubon will be led by Mario Mendoza García, a naturalist who has made many visits to the Forest Reserve of La Cañada de los Pajaritos, located on Los Picachos and administered by El Charco del Ingenio.

The mountains are covered by grazing land and dry scrub on the lower slopes. Tropical deciduous trees, some rare and endangered, are found in the numerous canyons of Los Picachos, while higher up the volcano one encounters extensive oak woodlands.

The upland oak forests contain at least seven distinct species of the genus Quercus, as well as other species of trees. The greatest variety is found in the canyons, which is home to some rare species of tropical deciduous trees in danger of extinction. Representatives of many other plant families (including a small but fascinating carnivorous plant) as well as native mammals, birds and reptiles are protected by the geographical isolation of Los Picachos.

It was precisely this natural diversity and its proximity to San Miguel that led the conservation group Cante to acquire, in 1991, a piece of land in one of the best-preserved parts of the Picachos range. The concern that led to the purchase was the growing threat caused by a variety of long-established but destructive practices, such as overgrazing, land clearing, hunting and collection and capture of wild plants and animals, as well as the removal of timber, soil and stone. The planned objective was to work intensively to conserve a central area, La Cañada de los Pajaritos (Canyon of the Little Birds), with the goal of having the entire range officially declared a protected natural area within the foreseeable future.

The purchased area was fenced, a modest encampment was built, minimal security was established to prevent depredation and a preliminary survey of the flora and fauna was carried out. At the same time, filtrating dams were constructed using stones available in the area. The purpose of these dams, built over the river bed, was to slow the rate of flow of water during the rainy season to conserve both soil and moisture. In addition, two more dams were built to hold water year-round, principally for the use by wildlife during the dry season. White-tailed deer were also introduced into the reserve. After a period of adjustment in captivity, they were released and adapted to their new habitat without difficulty.

During this initial phase, a variety of scientific and technical advisors (botanists, zoologists, geologists, and so on) visited the reserve. Their observations helped greatly in assessing and conserving not only the reserve and its resources, but also those of the entire range. Nevertheless, and despite visits by state and federal officials, the conditions were not considered suitable for the entire Picachos range to be declared a protected natural area.


Over the years, a number of groups have organized visits to the reserve. These visits, although primarily focused on the appreciation of the landscape and nature, also offer a chance to see pre-Hispanic remains, such as rock paintings found in caves in the mountains. Camping trips and excursions to the Picachos mountains can be arranged through the information center at El Charco or by email to charco@laneta.apc.org 

Audubon San Miguel is presenting a much-awaited hike in Los Picachos. Participants should meet at 8am at the Oxxo near Pemex at the Gigante glorieta. Pickup trucks and 4-wheel-drive vehicles to transport hikers are more than welcome because the ascent is rugged. We will climb 2,600 meters, and the difficult hike is approximately 3.6 miles each way. Hikers should bring water and lunch. Call Al Lerner at 152-8159 for reservations.