A forested mountain range and protected natural area in western Jalisco, Mexico.
Sierra de Quila
Sierra de Quila is a protected natural area in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, situated about 100 kilometers southwest of Guadalajara. It encompasses a mountain range that spans parts of the municipalities of Tecolotlán, Tenamaxtlan, Ameca, and San Martín Hidalgo, with the nearby community of Quila el Grande as a key reference point. The area was formally established as a protected zone on August 4, 1982, and protects approximately 152 square kilometers of forested mountain terrain.
The protected landscape is defined by pine forests, oak woodlands, mixed pine-oak stands, mesophilic cloud forest patches, and subtropical deciduous forest along with open grasslands and scrubland. Elevation climbs high enough to give the range regional prominence, with Cerro del Huehuentón reaching roughly 2,540 meters above sea level. Water features are a defining element of the range, including the Salto de Santa Rosa waterfall and numerous springs that feed streams flowing toward the Ameca and Armería river basins.
Sierra de Quila is recognized for its biodiversity, hosting more than 715 recorded species of plants and animals, including white-tailed deer, pumas, wild boar, armadillos, and foxes within its varied habitats. As a protected flora and fauna area, it plays an important role in conserving the temperate mountain ecosystems of western Jalisco and contributes to watershed protection for surrounding communities.
