Creel is a town in the Sierra Tarahumara (part of the Sierra Madre Occidental) of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is the second-largest town in the municipality of Bocoyna. It is located some 175 km to the southwest of the state capital, Chihuahua.

Near Creel is Divisadero, perhaps the best-known overlook of the “Three Canyons” area of the Copper Canyon, as well as Basaseachic Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Mexico. Creel was historically a logging town, although tourism has become the primary job source over the last 20 years.

There are many hotels, restaurants, and several tours down into the canyons and throughout the surrounding area. The forest and tourism are important activities. More than 2386m, Creel is the center of the Tarahumara land.

Creel’s high altitude gives it a cool subtropical highland climate, characterised by mild days and cold nights with frost occurring most mornings from October to April, though daytime temperatures in those months remain comfortable.

Precipitation during the winter is not infrequent, but snowfall is not particularly common, occurring on average only four days per year (more frequently on the nearby mountain peaks). Light snowfall has occurred in Creel during June.

Christmas in Creel is a good alternative, since the entire family can move to that location and spend the holidays in the village. As this population is very cold, no doubt Christmas will be different and unforgettable

Creel was founded with the name ‘Estación Creel’ on May 26, 1907, as a railroad depot on the Chihuahua–Pacific line. It was named after Enrique Creel governor of Chihuahua state at the time. He was the son of an American delegate in Chihuahua.

Creel was founded as a planned agricultural settlement that was intended to have a small number of Mexicans who were supposed to spread their culture onto the Tarahumara, who were supposed to be the majority of the population.

The settlement was supposed to have 25 Mexican and 75 Tarahumara families, but in its early years only had about 30 Tarahumara families, although the right number of Mexicans.

For many years before its completion, the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico line ended at Creel.

Transport

The Chihuahua al Pacífico (Chepe) railroad runs from the city of Chihuahua to Los Mochis with four passenger trains arriving daily, two from each direction. There is also bus service to Chihuahua, as well as regular service down to Batopilas.

From Chihuahua via Ciudad Cuauhtemoc

  • By train from Chihuahua, 5:45 hours, 4 times a day.
  • By bus from Chihuahua, 6:05 hours, every 4 hours a day.
  • By taxi from Chihuahua, 3:40 hours.

From Ciudad Obregon via Navojoa

  • By bus from Ciudad Obregon to Navojoa, 0:45 min hourly.
  • By taxi from Navojoa to Chinipas de Almeda, 2:50 hours.
  • By bus from Chinipas de Almeda to Creel, 3:10 hours every 4 hours daily.

From Ciudad Obregon via Los Mochis

  • By bus from Ciudad Obregon to Los Mochis, 2:30 hours, every hour.
  • By taxi to CP station, 0:05 min.
  • By train from Los Mochis to Creel, 9:40 hours every 4 hours daily.

From Ciudad Obregon to Creel

  • By taxi, 7:40 hours.

From Los Mochis to Creel by train

  • By train from Los Mochis to Creel, 9:40 hours every 4 hours daily.

From Los Mochis to Creel by bus

  • By bus from Los Mochis to Navojoa, 1:45 hours every 20 minutes daily.
  • By taxi from Navojoa to Chinipas de Almeda, 2:50 hours.
  • By bus from Chinipas de Almeda to Creel, 3:10 hours every 4 hours daily.

From Ciudad Cuauhtemoc

  • By train, 3:25 hours.
  • By bus, 3:35 hours.

From Hermosillo to Creel

  • Just via Ciudad Obregon and Los Mochis.