12 Nature Parks in Hidalgo, Mexico: Map & Photos

12 parks and reserves

Hidalgo has 12 parks and reserves with their own page on Puebloteca, near the Pueblos Mágicos of Huasca de Ocampo, Metztitlán, Mineral del Chico, and Real del Monte. The closest to a pueblo is Parque Nacional El Chico, 2 km from Mineral del Chico; the farthest out is Parque Nacional Los Mármoles, 22 km from Zimapán.

Parks and reserves are best on weekdays and early in the day. Bring water, and check the opening hours, since some close one day a week.

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

The Nature Parks 12

Parque Nacional El Chico · Nature reserve · 2 km from Mineral del Chico
Fir forest and giant volcanic crags above Pachuca, protected since 1898; trails, climbing, dams and viewpoints. Closed for pest clean-up in 2026.
Bosque de las Truchas · Nature reserve · 4 km from Huasca de Ocampo
A family park in the woods just outside Huasca: fish for trout in its ponds, then have it grilled at the restaurants.
Peñas Cargadas · Nature reserve · 5 km from Real del Monte
Towering basalt rocks with boulders balanced on top, in a pine forest near Real del Monte; zip lines and climbing.
Prismas Basálticos · Nature reserve · 5 km from Huasca de Ocampo
A canyon lined with 30-40 m basalt columns and four waterfalls, drawn by Humboldt in 1803; walkways, hanging bridges and a zip line.
Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán · Nature reserve · 16 km from Metztitlán
A deep cactus-filled canyon around Metztitlán, protected since 2000 and one of Mexico's richest places for cacti.
Parque Nacional Los Mármoles · Nature reserve · 22 km from Zimapán
A mountain national park of oak and pine forest, a 600-meter-deep marble gorge and the 3,000-meter Cerro Cangandhó.
Jardín de los Niños Héroes · Nature reserve · Pachuca de Soto
A downtown Pachuca plaza with the 1957 Niños Héroes monument; it began as the Plazuela del Xixi, a market for maguey products.
Jardín del Maestro · Nature reserve · Pachuca de Soto
A children's park in central Pachuca, also called Parque Bicentenario; it holds the María Teresa Rodríguez Arts Hall, home of the Philharmonic.
Parque Cultural Hidalguense · Nature reserve · Mineral de la Reforma
A 26-hectare park in Pachuca's Zona Plateada with Byron Gálvez's giant tiled plaza, the Soccer Hall of Fame and a giant chess set; formerly Ben Gurion Park.
Parque Ecológico Cubitos · Nature reserve · Mineral de la Reforma
A protected state park between Pachuca and Mineral de la Reforma with a botanical garden, a gopher house, a maze and sculptures; a Comarca Minera Geopark site.
Parque Hidalgo · Nature reserve · Pachuca de Soto
An 1882 park in central Pachuca, laid out on the San Francisco convent's orchards; it has a bandstand, monuments and a floral clock that plays tunes.
Parque de la Familia · Nature reserve · Pachuca de Soto
A downtown Pachuca park on Avenida Juárez with lit fountains and play areas, once the Parque del Charro. A footbridge links it to the Jardín del Maestro.