Cumbres de Monterrey National Park

The Basics

The spectacular Cerro de la Silla peak dominates the city’s skyline, but there’s no need to only experience the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park from a distance. Most visitors in Monterrey consider Chipinque Ecological Reserve—a self-contained web of easy to moderate hiking and bike trails, black bears, and butterfly sanctuaries—the gateway to the park, although taking a guided tour of the García Caves (Grutas de García) is another great starting point. Further highlights are the Horsetail Waterfall (Cascada Cola de Caballo), Cenote Pozo del Gavilán, and the Huasteca Canyon, where you can tackle any number of rock climbs.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Rock climbers won’t want to miss the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, which is known for top-notch rock climbing in both the Huasteca Canyon and Potrero Chico.

• Wear sturdy shoes for a visit to Chipinque or the García Caves, as both have sometimes slippery pathways.

• Visiting the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park is a great way to escape the summertime heat in downtown Monterrey.

• Cumbres de Monterrey National Park is not fully wheelchair accessible, although some hiking paths in Chipinque may be stroller accessible.

How to Get There

Cumbres de Monterrey National Park covers close to 695-square-miles (1,800-square-kilometers) and can be accessed from the towns of Santiago, García, and more. However, the easiest point of access from Monterrey downtown is the Chipinque Ecological Reserve. Make it easy on yourself and take a taxi or rideshare to the main entrance.

When to Get There

There’s no bad time to visit the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, although some attractions—such as the García Caves—open for longer in the summer months. Visits to the Chipinque Ecological Reserve makes for a refreshing escape during the midday Monterrey heat, while rock climbing is best attempted during the cooler winter period.

National Parks in Mexico

If you want to climb more mountains, you can’t miss the Nevado de Toluca National Park, famed for its snowy peaks and twin lagoons. Alternatively, cruise down the Sumidero River in the Sumidero Canyon National Park, or dive in at Cozumel’s Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park near Cancún.