Oblatos Canyon

Oblatos Canyon (Barranca de Oblatos) is 10 km (6 mi.) n.e. of downtown Guadalajara via Calzada Independencia Norte, near the Guadalajara Zoo. This 2,000-foot-deep gorge was cut by the Santiago and Verde rivers. Thermal rivulets plunge down the red walls (except during the dry season). The greater the depth, the more tropical the climate: Papayas, oranges, guavas, bananas, mangoes and other fruits grown at the canyon bottom are marketed in Guadalajara.

A cable car leaves the rim in the morning to take workers to the power plant on the canyon floor. The best views are from the Parque Huentitán el Alto Mirador lookout area at the top of the gorge.