Ruinas Arqueológicas de Cuarenta Casas
Located about 37 miles north of Madera is the archaeological compound of Cuarenta Casas (forty houses). You must travel about a half of a mile on a dirt road surrounded by a pine forest in order to get to the parking area. There is a marked trail that leads you to the Garabato creek, where you start a 900 feet steep climb. You mustn’t try to climb the cliff outside this trail, for it is dangerous.
The Cueva de las Ventanas (window cave) is the most accessible, the largest and the one with the most preserved constructions, regardless constant pillaging. Archaeologists have identified several elements (the wall’s shape and the typical T-shaped doors and windows) that confirm the close relation among those that inhabited Cuarenta Casas and Paquimé. Maybe it was an extension of the latter. Carl Lumholtz gave a detailed description of this area, but it wasn’t until 1980 that the Anthropology National Institute carried out a serious study of this site.
There is a hypothesis that says that these caves served as refuge for native merchants on their way from Paquimé to the Sea of Cortez, because there are certain elements that correspond to natives from Sonora as well as Chihuahua. Tuesday thru Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Mogollón Complex
This archaeological site located 29 miles from Madera, almost at the bottom of the Huápoca Canyon. You get there via a dirt road, generally in good condition, leave your car and walk half of an hour to get to this cave.
This site consists of the Cueva de la Serpiente (snake’s cave) and the Nido del Águila (eagle’s nest). The first one is a large rock shelter with 14 adobe rooms, Paquimé style.
This place is breathtaking with the rooms or houses seemingly hanging in the middle of the canyon, because they were built at the cliff’s edge. The cave has two lookout points, east and west, and the complex runs through the cave, from one end to the other. The other cave consists of only one room, similar to those in the Snake’s Cave. Tuesday thru Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Huápoca Bridge
If you follow the Papigochi River you come upon a spot called “Huápoca” (which gives its name to the canyon), where you will find a bridge. It was built in 1950 atop the high rock walls that form the canyon.
On one of the bridge’s ends is a chapel built for the Santo Niño de Atocha, the Sierra’s patron saint. From this bridge you can admire a magnificent view of the canyon and river.
La Cueva Grande
This site, located 44 miles west of Madera, is perfect to enjoy the view of the bottom of the Huápoca Canyon. As you get closer, this enormous cave will awe you, but what impress you more are the houses in its interior, a legacy of the Paquimé people. At the cave’s mouth you can see a large, complete, well-preserved two-story house, with log roofing in perfect shape.
During the summer one can admire a beautiful waterfall, starting at the peak of the rock wall and ending at the caves entrance. Tuesday thru Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Huápoca Hot Spring
Before crossing the Huápoca Bridge, there is a path that goes down to the river and ends at a hot water spring. The water gushes from a crack in the rocks at a very pleasant temperature, forming a small waterfall and several small ponds on its way to the river.
A sandbank makes this place more appealing. Nowadays the spring has been adapted as a bathing resort with three pools.
Real del Bosque Hotel and Museum
This small museum, located in the hotel Real del Bosque in Madera, exhibits some archaeological pieces of the Paquimé culture, mainly pots and grinding stones; as well as a mummy found in one of the region’s archaeological sites.
Trout Hatcheries
One of the activities that have developed in recent years in Chihuahua is aquiculture. There are 80 registered fish hatcheries registered throughout the State, dedicated mainly to breeding trout, catfish, carp and tilapia.
This activity is growing more in the Sierra municipalities, mainly in Madera, Guachochi and Bocoyna, among others. The area’s characteristics are ideal for hatcheries, reason why it has grown in the last couple of years.
La Manga Ranch
Located 30 minutes from Madera, it is a leisure and recreation spot where you can rent fully equipped cabins for 4, 6 or 10 people.
The view is magnificent: pine trees, large boulders and a wide stream, used to raise rainbow trout.
Visitors can also go mountain climbing, horseback riding, fishing and more. To top it all, you can enjoy the small zoo, which houses anteaters, ostriches and deer, amongst other species.
