| Enough
cycling possibilities exist in the vicinity of Rancho Cerro Gordo
to make bringing your bike worthwhile. The cliffs are only a few minutes'
ride away, and the way back to camp is a coast downhill; a bonus after
a hard day's climbing! Hidalgo's shops and markets are also conveniently
accessible, making the use of motorized vehicles completely unnecessary
for the cycle-equipped Potrero climber.
If you ride your bike up
past the canyon walls and into the 7600-acre area encircled by steep
mountain walls that gives Potrero Chico its name, you will discover
a network of scenic roads and trails with breathtaking views and
hidden secrets like "El Nacimiento", a natural, abundant
spring with waterfall and bathing pool, or "El Encino Gordo",
an ancient, massive oak tree; both curious sights in an otherwise
dry and scrubby desert landscape (see MTB Circuit
1). Careening back downhill through the canyon after a refreshing
dip in the spring, you'll think how strange it is that the great
majority of climbers who visit the Potrero never stray more than
a stone's throw of the canyon walls, unaware of the treasures that
lie just beyond.
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