El Chico National Park, National park in Hidalgo, Mexico
El Chico National Park is a protected area in Hidalgo state with dense forests of pine, oak and fir across 2,739 hectares (6,765 acres). The landscape shows steep mountains and rock formations between 2,320 and 3,090 meters (7,610 and 10,135 feet) elevation, cutting through several valleys.
The protected status began in June 1898 to shield the forests from uncontrolled logging driven by mining operations. This made it the first national park area in Mexico.
The park connects to Mineral del Chico, designated as a Pueblo Magico, where visitors experience Mexican traditions through local architecture and regional customs.
The area offers opportunities for camping, rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and wildlife watching across different zones. Management is handled by CONANP and the Hidalgo state government, which maintain visitor facilities and trails.
The area sits at the natural boundary between the North American and Neotropical zones, which allows for an unusual mix of plants. It hosts six of Mexico's nine conifer genera along with 545 different plant species.
Location: Hidalgo
Inception: June 6, 1982
Operator: CONANP y Gobierno del Estado de Hidalgo
GPS coordinates: 20.20722,-98.73111
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31
Hidalgo state sits northeast of Mexico City, connecting volcanic landscapes with more than two thousand years of human settlement. The region extends from high-altitude pine forests to semi-arid canyons, with geological processes having created basalt columns, cave systems with thermal springs, and marble formations. Colonial monasteries from the 16th century stand alongside mining towns that emerged during the Spanish era, while the archaeological site of Tula served as the capital of the Toltec civilization that preceded the Aztec empire. Visitors can walk among the hexagonal basalt columns at Prismas Basálticos, bathe in the warm pools of Grutas de Tolantongo, or view the stone warrior statues at Atlantes de Tula. Mining towns such as Real del Monte preserve their narrow streets and historic mines, while the Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque, a 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage structure, carried water across distances through a series of tall arches. National parks like El Chico protect mountain forests, the Metztitlán Canyon Reserve hosts desert ecosystems, and Atezca Lake offers views of calm water surrounded by forested hills. The combination of natural variety and centuries of history makes Hidalgo a place where each visit reveals both geology and human adaptation to this demanding environment.
Monumental Clock of Pachuca
8.9 km
Ex monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico
9.6 km
Cristo Rey de Pachuca
8.6 km
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
9.8 km
Historic Archive and Museum of Mining in Pachuca
9.1 km
Plaza Juárez
9.4 km
Acosta Mine Museum
9.5 km
Municipal Hall of Pachuca de Soto
8.9 km
La Asuncion Parish, Pachuca
8.7 km
Rotonda de los Hidalguenses Ilustres en Pachuca
9.9 km
Fototeca Nacional
9.6 km
Plaza Constitución
8.7 km
Teatro Hidalgo Bartolomé de Medina
9.4 km
La Maestranza
9.8 km
Cuartel del Arte en Pachuca, Hidalgo
9.6 km
Paste Museum
9 km
Zona de Preservación Ecológica Cerro del Lobo
9.4 km
La Dificultad Mine Museum
9.2 km
Site Museum and Interpretation Center Mina La Difficulty
9.2 km
Edificio de las Cajas Reales
8.6 km
Saint Francis Theater
9.8 km
Centro Cultural El Ferrocarril
9.5 km
Museo de Medicina Laboral
9.6 km
Museo de Mineralogía de la UAEH
8.8 km
Museo Casa Grande
9.7 km
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Pachuca
9 km
San Antonio mine
1.6 km
Foro Cultural Efrén Rebolledo, Pachuca
8.8 kmVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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