Sierra Juárez, Oaxaca, Mountain range in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Sierra Juárez is a mountain range in Oaxaca characterized by steep peaks and deep valleys formed from sedimentary rock. The terrain alternates between forested slopes and open highlands throughout the range.

The range takes its name from Benito Juárez, the prominent Mexican leader who was born in 1806 in the village of San Pablo Guelatao located within these mountains. This connection to a major historical figure has shaped the region's identity.

Zapotec communities in this region preserve their traditions through sustainable forestry and run shared ecotourism initiatives together. Visitors can experience these practices directly and meet the people who maintain them.

Federal Highway 175 links the range to Oaxaca City, about 62 km away, and continues toward Tuxtepec. The road climbs from 500 to 3,250 m, so expect frost and heavy rain at higher elevations. Several Zapotec villages along the route offer cabins, camping and guides for hiking and mountain biking.

The alligator lizard Abronia juarezi lives only in this range and carries its name. The Sierra is also Mexico's richest region for butterflies, and it shelters threatened mammals such as jaguar, ocelot and brocket deer, plus the dwarf jay. No official nature reserve exists here; conservation relies on community forest management and ecotourism enterprises offering cabins, camping and guides.