outside of Creel is a large Menonite community many groups stop and visit, but no your not missing much. Its a scenic drive but your seeing the best doing what your doing. What company are you thinking of? Do a search on the forum for comments on companies as there are many trip reports that may help you decide.

The company I am looking at going with is called Cal Native, although I cannot find any mention of them on the forums. I have looked at other companies mentioned on the forums, but what I liked about the tour I found was that it could be done independently. My trip is in August and most tour companies do not run escorted tours in August as it is so hot, but this one is all organised for me - I just don't have a guide with me the whole time.

Thanks for your reply.

I don't know the company you mention, but looking at the website its almost as expensive as an escorted tour. Not knowing the hotels its hard to compare. Caravan tours does the tour in August. You could book independently thru Balderamma hotels as they own most of the nlcest hotels in all three cities. Click on my name and read my article on independent travel to the copper canyon. There are several companies I have mentioned for independent travel, but your coming a long way and I think you'd enjoy having someone explain what your looking at. The trainride itself is very nice and really not all that expensive. Its just my thoughts for you.

Cal Native is a family run business that has been around for many years. Most people going from the sierra to Chihuahua take the bus, not the train. The best part of the train ride is the part you will be taking (Los Mochis to Creel).

The trip to chihuahua from creel takes 5 hours on the bus. The scenery is ok, but there is a lot of flat agricultural land though ,at least for the last 3 hours.One advantage is that there are many flights to dallas and houston to/from the chihuahua airport.Another thing is the bus from Creel passes many mexican towns and villages,and one sees a variety of urban infrastrucure,in sharp contrast to the rugged sierra.