San Joaquin Road

San Joaquin Road

Mexico, north-america

Length

43 km

Elevation

1.47 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! San Joaquín, a charming mountain town nestled deep within Mexico's Sierra Gorda mountains, is calling your name. Think ancient ruins, mystical caves, and views that'll make your jaw drop – we're talking cascading waterfalls, dramatic cliffs, and maybe even a tunnel or two!

But the real star of the show? The road that gets you there. Buckle up as you leave Highway 120 and climb from a desert canyon at 1,470 meters above sea level into a lush, forested wonderland, topping out at 2,450 meters in San Joaquín. That's a whopping 1,000-meter elevation gain in just 43 kilometers! Get ready to witness landscapes morph from arid desert to towering, scenic mountains. This drive is a total feast for the eyes!

Where is it?

San Joaquin Road is located in Mexico (north-america). Coordinates: 24.3621, -101.1850

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Road Details

Country
Mexico
Continent
north-america
Length
43 km
Max Elevation
1.47 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
24.3621, -101.1850

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