Cumbres Del Ajusco National Park
One of the challenges nearest to Mexico City is Cerro Ajusco. At just under 13,000 feet, it lies about an hour and a half southwest of downtown, on a road known for the occasional kidnapping. Make it past that, and the meandering highway threads up the side of the mountain, now dotted with apartment buildings, then threads its way into the extinct volcano’s lava dome. At the top, a tall white cross towers against a piercing blue sky, and hikers can take in the sight of the city unspooling across the horizon below.
Directions: This out-and-back hike will take you 4–6 hours. Start at Cabana Vicky restaurant, and follow the sign to “Albergue Alpino Ajusco,” cross a hanging bridge, and turn right. You’ll find a path that cuts through the woods for about a third of a mile, then starts to climb. You’ll reach Eagle Peak (with three crosses) and then see the taller peak farther on. If you hike back down to the road from there instead of retracing your steps, you’ll probably need to flag down a ride to get back to your starting point.
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