Chupacabras and El Paso

[Rorschach]

I started to put this under El Paso but maybe this is better. When we travel to El Paso our foremost priority is mountain biking in Juarez on the Chupacabras trails. Those who go to El Paso miss so much by not doing this. It is so easy and I just don't see the risk. The Chupacabras trails are so much better. We ride tandem so this is my bias. So the trails in general are well kept, flowy, so less technical overall. Covid cancelled the Chupacabras for us this year but we went and rode there anyway on the same day and broke the damned frame on our first ride, so wound up road riding in El Paso for the rest of the trip. 

The routine is easy and no risk:
Park at Chamizal Park on the US side. Take your passport. Go early. Most riders on these trails are off by noon. 

Ride  across the border and take the "border highway" as it's called, which is the dirt road that hugs the Rio Grande on the Mexico side. When you hit the last cross street on this road, turn left and then onto the main road to Cristo De Curiel. It's about a 10 mile slog up to the trailhead. The riding here is over the top as far as we are concerned, but only for those who take the leap and get over the programmed fear. Same route back and no waiting in the pedestrian line to cross back. We have never taken the truck into Mexico and parked at the trailhead due to the increased risk, but others do. 

It does help that my wife is from Juarez and she has done the Chupacabras on her own at least 6 times, so she knows every trail on those mountains, both current and closed trails. The family who lives along the trail provides drinks, beer, and sometimes  food for sale which is really nice. The riders are a source of income for them. It is a wonderful stop for all riders. Mountain biking in Mexico is a real treat. 

[JRIDER]

Thanks for posting about this.  Was thinking about riding it this year, but covid kept me away.  

But this ride is definitely on my to do list.