Geography
The Copper Canyon, known in Spanish as Barranca del Cobre, is located in the southern part of the state of Chihuahua. The area includes many small towns, including Batopilas, Unrique and Creel, which is the area's supply center. It comprises three canyons connected together which, as a whole, are four times larger than the U.S. Grand Canyon.
Terrain
The area has a variety of ecosystems. There are snow-covered mountain peaks and towering ponderosa pine and oak trees in the highlands. The gorges have wild rivers, towering waterfalls and sub-tropical forests. Semi-arid coastal plains offer the proper terrain for sugar cane and vegetables. Valleys in the Chihuahua region are home to vast grasslands, as well as peach and apple orchards.
Activities
There are two primary recreational options for visitors to the Copper Canyon region: day hikes and backpacking journeys. Most visitors take the train through the canyon, which makes stops for day hikes around the canyon rim. More adventurous visitors can venture deeper into the canyons for a first-hand glimpse of the cliffs and caves in the canyons.
Weather and Climate
Fall is the ideal time to visit Copper Canyon, after the summer rains have refreshed the vegetation and waterways are once again full. Visitors should take note of the area's two distinct climatic zones: alpine and subtropical. In the highlands, the alpine climate brings mild temperatures from April through October, with rain showers from July through September; and snow and colder weather in November through March. At the bottom of the canyons, subtropical weather prevails, with very hot and humid temperatures from May through July and warm temperatures for the remainder of the year.
Fun Fact
Copper was never mined in significant quantities in Copper Canyon; the name actually refers to the copper/green colored lichen that grows on the walls of the canyon.
