Cerro de la Cruz is Tepic's quick city hike, reached by a paved trail of about 2 km. The climb is straightforward, but the reward is a broad view over the city and the surrounding Nayarit mountains.
It is best treated as a morning or late-afternoon walk, when the heat is easier and the light is better. Bring water, take the marked path, and allow enough time at the top to watch how Tepic sits between the hills.