Lake 7 km southeast of Acaxochitlán
A forest-ringed reservoir southeast of town with boat rides, kayaks, horseback rides and molote stands on the shore.
El Tejocotal is a reservoir in the pine-covered hills about 12 kilometers southeast of Acaxochitlán, close to the border with Puebla. It is the only Hidalgo piece of the Necaxa hydroelectric system, a chain of five dams (Necaxa, Tenango, Nexapa, Tejocotal and Los Reyes) built from 1903 by the Mexican Light and Power Company to send electricity to central Mexico. The rest of the system lies around Huauchinango, just over the state line.
The dam is still part of that hydroelectric system, but for most visitors El Tejocotal is simply the place to spend a weekend afternoon. Colorful rowboats and launches wait at the shore, kayaks and ATVs are for rent, and you can ride horses along the tree-lined edge of the water.
The food is half the reason to come. Stalls and small restaurants around the dam sell the region's molotes, oval pockets of chile-seasoned dough stuffed mostly with potato and topped with salsa, cheese, lettuce and onion. Mornings are often misty in this part of the sierra, so bring a jacket.
What to see and do
Take a rowboat or launch ride on the reservoir.
Rent a kayak, or an ATV for a loop around the shore.
Ride horses through the woods along the water.
Eat molotes and other local snacks at the stalls by the dam.
Getting there
El Tejocotal is about 12 kilometers southeast of Acaxochitlán's main square, roughly 20 minutes by car toward the Puebla state line along the Tulancingo–Huauchinango road (Highway 130). Signs point to the dam from the highway; a car or taxi is the easiest way to go.
7 km southeast of Acaxochitlán
Directions from Acaxochitlán on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather cool
Presa El Tejocotal shares the climate of Acaxochitlán, 7 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Mar, Apr, May.
Make Acaxochitlán your base
Presa El Tejocotal is an easy trip from Acaxochitlán, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Acaxochitlán
-
Cascadas de Chimalapa
· Waterfall · 5 km away
Acaxochitlán's best-loved waterfalls, with pools to swim in below the falls; locals still leave offerings here. -
Zona Arqueológica de Huapalcalco
· Archaeological site · 17 km away
A small Teotihuacan-style pyramid under basalt cliffs near Tulancingo, with cave paintings among Hidalgo's oldest traces of people. -
Tenango de Doria
· Town · 20 km away
Mountain town where the colorful Otomí tenango embroidery was born; buy pieces straight from the women who stitch them.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.