Ruta de los Dinosaurios Coahuila Desert Circuit

This 180-kilometer backcountry loop cuts through the Sabinas Basin near Saltillo, where 70-million-year-old Cretaceous fossils weather out of exposed badlands. The route follows ranch roads and fossil hunter tracks through the desert where Coahuilaceratops and other Mexican dinosaur species were discovered, crossing dry arroyos and navigating around massive gypsum deposits left from ancient seas. Key waypoints include the Cerro del Pueblo Formation exposures and the technical descent into Cañón de la Hacienda.

Moderate to difficult rating due to loose sand, sharp limestone, and route-finding challenges across unmarked desert. Requires high-clearance 4WD with skid plates, recovery gear, and GPS navigation. Best tackled April through October when flash flood risk is minimal. No permits required but notify local ejido officials out of courtesy. Carry extra water and fuel—nearest services are 80 kilometers away in Saltillo. You’ll gain access to some of North America’s most significant paleontological sites while experiencing true Mexican desert solitude.