11 Lakes and Lagoons in Hidalgo, Mexico: Map & Photos

11 lakes and lagoons

Hidalgo has 11 lakes and lagoons with their own page on Puebloteca, near the Pueblos Mágicos of Metztitlán, Mineral del Chico, Acaxochitlán, and Huasca de Ocampo. The closest to a pueblo is Presa El Cedral, 2 km from Mineral del Chico; the farthest out is Laguna de Atezca, 25 km from Metztitlán.

Lakes and lagoons are at their best early in the morning, when the water is calm. Many have boat rides and lakeside fish restaurants, and get busy on weekends.

Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.

The Lakes and Lagoons 11

Presa El Cedral · Lake · 2 km from Mineral del Chico
A forest reservoir run by the local ejido, with rowboats, trout fishing, cabins, horses and zip lines.
Presa El Jaramillo · Lake · 4 km from Mineral del Chico
A small dam on the park's southern edge near San Miguel Cerezo, a quiet spot for a walk and a picnic.
Presa San Antonio · Lake · 4 km from Huasca de Ocampo
The 1910s dam that feeds the prisms' waterfalls, built over a sunken hacienda; boat rides, horses and fishing.
Presa El Tejocotal · Lake · 7 km from Acaxochitlán
A forest-ringed reservoir southeast of town with boat rides, kayaks, horseback rides and molote stands on the shore.
Laguna de Metztitlán · Lake · 15 km from Metztitlán
A natural lake at the north end of the canyon, a Ramsar wetland where white pelicans spend the winter.
Presa Zimapán · Lake · 15 km from Zimapán
A huge reservoir and 203-meter dam wall in the Infiernillo canyon, with boat rides, kayaking and fishing on the Hidalgo–Querétaro border.
Laguna de Atezca · Lake · 25 km from Metztitlán
A forest-ringed lake in the Sierra Alta near Molango, with a trail around the shore, rowboats on weekends and camping.
Laguna de San Antonio de Atocha · Lagoon · Apan
Laguna de Tochac, a remnant of the Basin of Mexico lakes in southern Apan, with endangered aquatic plants and carp fishing.
Presa Endhó · Lake · Tepetitlán
Large reservoir in the Mezquital Valley between Tepetitlán and Tula, built 1947-1951 and now fed by Mexico City wastewater.
Presa Requena · Lake · Tepeji del Río de Ocampo
A 1922 reservoir on the Tepeji river below Tepeji del Río: carp and tilapia fishing, migrating birds and fishing tournaments.
Presa San Jerónimo · Lake · El Arenal
Mountain reservoir in the El Arenal hills, with boat rides, suspension bridges and the trail up to Los Frailes.