Lake 4 km south of El Oro
A clear reservoir in pine and cedar forest just south of El Oro, with trout fishing, rowboats, cabins and a shoreline trail.
Presa Brockman is El Oro's backyard. A few kilometers south of town, at around 2,870 meters, a reservoir lies in a bowl of pine and cedar forest, and on a calm morning the trees reflect in the water so clearly that it is hard to tell where the shore ends. Like much around here, it is a leftover of the mining boom: the dam was built to supply water to the mining companies that made El Oro rich in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Today it works as an ecotourism area. A trail loops around the water for walkers and mountain bikers, and the park has palapas, play areas and open space for picnics. Fishing is the classic pastime, with rainbow trout as well as carp, catfish and bass, and you can rent a boat to get out on the water. Swallows, hummingbirds and ducks are easy to spot, so it is a pleasant place for some quiet birdwatching.
The neighboring Presa Victoria, a smaller reservoir just to the north, adds another stretch of water and forest. Country houses, cabins and small restaurants serving trout dot the area, so many visitors make a night of it rather than a quick stop.
What to see and do
Walk or bike the trail that circles the reservoir.
Rent a rowboat or try fishing for rainbow trout.
Eat trout at one of the small restaurants near the shore.
Watch for ducks, swallows and hummingbirds in the early morning.
Stay overnight in a cabin and bring a warm jacket, as nights are cold at this altitude.
Getting there
The dam is about 5 km south of El Oro, roughly 10 minutes by car on the road toward Villa Victoria and Toluca; follow the signs for Presa Brockman. Taxis from El Oro's center can take you there, and you can arrange a pickup for the return.
4 km south of El Oro
Directions from El Oro on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Presa Brockman
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Presa Brockman.
Tours & activities
Guided tours, tastings, and day trips in and around Presa Brockman.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Weather cool
Presa Brockman shares the climate of El Oro, 4 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Make El Oro your base
Presa Brockman is an easy trip from El Oro, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Tlalpujahua · 5 km away
More around El Oro
-
Temascalcingo
· Town · 18 km away
Hometown of landscape painter José María Velasco, with white-glazed ceramics made in nearby Santa María Canchesdá. -
Cerro de Altamirano
· Mountain · 19 km away
A forested volcanic hill north of El Oro where monarch butterflies gather on the summit each winter. -
Santuario Sierra Chincua
· Nature reserve · 21 km away
One of Michoacán's best-known monarch butterfly sanctuaries, open in winter, across the state line beyond Tlalpujahua. -
Santuario de la Mariposa Monarca La Mesa
· Nature reserve · 24 km away
A monarch butterfly sanctuary in the forests of San José del Rincón, open in winter, with cabins, guides and horseback rides.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.