Puente de Dios
Sierra Gorda’s jewel is undoubtedly the ‘Bridge of God,’ a rock arch etched out by the Escanela River. You can swim in the chilly pool under the arch, or get massaged by waterfalls that trickle through the rock (more so in rainy season). It’s a 30-minute hike along Cañón de la Angostura (Canyon of the Narrows), with a crystal-clear river, curious rock formations, and steep canyon walls.
The area is surrounded by local folklore and mystery; a drunk man once rambled that it was home to the devil and was then tied up a tall tree with no memory; a woman was also found perched on a rock wall that was otherwise impossible to access and required expert help to get down.
At the height of rainy season (July to August), the water can rise above the river trail. You can still reach Puente de Dios by taking the higher trail of 1–2 hours, which also leads to Peña de la Gloria waterfall, which only forms in rainy season. There are several ‘Puente de Dios’ in Mexico, so put ‘Sierra Gorda,’ ‘Pinal de Amoles,’ or ‘Queretaro’ to get the right one. From the main road, it’s 5km of windy dirt road to reach the Escanela River and Mina Grande community.