Are Jalpan/Sierra Gorda fairly safe?

Yes, definitely taxis in Pinal, and many collectivos leaving for places like Cuatro Palos (early in the morn I think)... I think some of the natural locations need 4x4 vehicles to reach, at least in certain seasons. You might just have to arrange the timing with a driver as collectivos can be scarce and only go out/back on a schedule.

My recollection is around 3 hours from QRO to Pinal. There are a couple of neat hotels there as well... I was going to stay longer but ended up hanging out in Jalpan. It seems like a great place to spend a few days.

I was thinking about a Queretaro trip with a stop in Pinal de Amoles.

Thought I should say, in case you were thinking of a trip at this time, the weather has been unstable the last few days. The day I went through Pinal on my way to Jalpan, it would have been nice to go to the viewpoint in the afternoon. Every day since then the weather has been deteriorating. The day I went back through Pinal towards Cadereyta, the town was completely socked in (but maybe a nice clear window in the afternoon). Today, it has been raining all day from Leon to Aguascalientes. It would be good if you can confirm nice weather for your trip to the viewpoint.

I wouldn't be going until next year, no earlier than May. I was last in Queretaro in September, 2014. In addition to Queretaro itself, I visited Tequis, Cadereyta and Bernal. I've always wanted to visit the missions, and Jalpan in particular. Pinal de Amoles looks like a place I would like, as well. Thanks for all the information, glad to hear it's possible to view the missions without a car.

Bus -- 1st Class Primera Plus gets to Pinal from Queretaro in 2.5 hrs. There are also both Primera Plus buses from Mexico (that go via San Juan del Rio and bypass Queretaro) and 2nd class buses (Flecha Blanco, if I am not mistaken) from Queretaro that take longer.

Peter826 - given you interest in colonial architecture and churches, I am sure you'll be delighted to visit Mision Bucareli that is very different in style and setting (and time of construction) from the famous Franciscan missions of the region (Jalpan, Landa, Conca...) You can get a taxi or collectivo from Pinal to take you there. The ride is long and bumby but totally worth it.

Hikes - in February, we did a hike form the Mirrador 4 Pallos to Mission Bucarreli. It is a 6000 ft descend from cloud forest (we could not see a thing and it was rather coldish and moistly at the Mirrador) to semi-desert (things got clear, beautiful, and progressively warm/hot starting about 30 min into our 5 hrs hike) - over the distance of about 7 miles. We hired a local adventure company in Jalpan to bring us to the mirrador and to guide us to Bucareli. Instead of hiking back, the adventure company brought a van (we were 8 people) to Bucareli so after a late lunch they took us back on a van (so yes, we cheated.) The ride was rather long but, at places, quite spectacular.
Experienced hikers/trekkers perhaps can do w/o a guide - an AllTrails app on my iPhone had the hike mapped and we basically did not deviate from the route that the app outlined during our hike with the guide. Then again, I felt a bit more secure in this super gorgeous but remote and deserted area being accompanied by a local.

There is also a super easy hike (rather, a walk) to Puente del Dios/ Rio Escanella a bit east from Pinal, that is very beautiful and pleasant. As we discussed about a year ago here on the forum, this place should only be visited during the dry season (late Nov/Dec - Feb) b/c the path is flooded in the wet season (there is an alternative - high - road - but it is absolutely not the same.)

Taxis - yes, there are taxis to take you everywhere in Pinal - but I failed to ask the prices. I will go there again in 2019 and will try to remember to do so :)

Cheers,
/alter

alterigor, great posting with info about that area! That sounds like a plan. Combine an organized hike with guide and a ride back to Bucarelli (I don't have the stamina to do the round trip walking back up hill to the cloud forest) with a combi and hike in that area near Pinal.
I was glad to hear that Primera Plus has a bus to Pinal from Querétaro! -- a well-run bus company with comfortable buses and generally quite punctual departures from experience using them.

Mmm, a little confused now. Google maps shows a road from Mirador de Cuatro Palos to Bucareli above Pinal de Amoles, and it's 28 kms by road or foot according to them. The area is above Pinal and not Jalpan, and it's 28 k to get to Puente de Dios from Pinal according to the maps as well.

Mirador de Cuatro Palos to Bucareli

Sorry, one more comment. That hike you mentioned to Puente de dios is from Rio Escanella and not Pinal. My mistake, but still confused about the mirador hike. However, I can't find Rio Escanella on the map. Maybe it isn't marked.

Hi,

So this map shows the car path between Mirrador 4 Pallos and Bucareli. The hike goes via mountain - google map does not show it but, as I mentioned, you can find it in the trekking apps such as AllTrails for iPhone. https://goo.gl/maps/nbif5DevzsP2
If you select terrain view in google maps, you'll see a significant altitude gain from the Mirrador to Bucareli.
Note that the unpaved road from Hw120 to Bucareli is of ok quality, though zigzags a lot, so slow. The unpaved road from Hw120 to mirrador is horrendous.

I do not think an exact map for Rio Escanela hike :( But, unless I am very much mistaken (I don't think I am), this is it: https://goo.gl/maps/QKFjbhYCAyz -- take 120 from Pinal past turn off to Cascada Chuvije to the turn off (there are signs) to Rio Escanela/Pueno de Dios and follow unpaved road (fine conditions mostly) to the parking site/ entrance to the park. There is campground that in local brochures I have is called Rio Escanela but goole maps has it as Pena La Gloria.

Those are indeed two different locations and can be done on two different days. You can also stay overnight in Bucareli - they have a new zipline and comfortable campground next to it.

Thanks for the clarification. You obviously have a car or van but I don't so I will have to hire a car, something I have done here a number of times during my life here without a hitch. It seems there is little accommodation in Pinal but far more in Jalpan de Serra. And besides, I like to see those monasteries.

It's a sorry sight that every pueblo is putting up those sculpted and oversized multi-colored signs of their cute towns. We have one here in Pátzcuaro, and they are now pervasive. Oh well.

I saw en ecotourism company marked on the Google map of Jalpan. I assume that it was out of that town that you and that group took the organized trek to el Mirador and down the hill. Let us know.

Hi,

Well, yes, I have traveled through Sierra Gorda between Queretaro and Xiltila a number of times since 2010, on public transport or rental cars. Last time, we traveled by private cars. We called a Jalpan-based operator (there were several listed in a brochure and there were several listed on the Queretaro gov travel site ) and they came with a van in the morning to take us to Mirrador 4 Pallos and do a hike with us. I would not take my car to Mirrador or Bucareli, to be honest.

We went to Rio Escanella ourselves b/c the operator said the road was ok in February and we would be fine with our cars (which was the case) but if you need a transport, an adventure tour operator like this, of course, will take you there, though taxi may perhaps be cheaper.

I do not know if there are Pinal-based guides for Mirrador-to-Bucareli trek.