BajaNomad - Agua Verde back door to San Jose de la Norria

Some Gringo had secured that romantic hideaway for himself.

You talking about Santa Marta? Wasn't Tim Means (of Baja Expeditions) involved with that for a long time? I was under the impression they were trying to turn it into a foundation or preserve or something, at least during that period...

yup - did not want to drop names

he was not the only one trying to turn something into a "preservation" in Baja
I have met many of those artists
the idea is to keep other developers away

like they say in Los Angeles
an environmentalist is someone who built last year

4x4abc - 12-10-2021 at 04:27 PM

the idea is to keep other developers away

How well did you know Tim?

I have a hard time equating him with a "developer"...

he definitely wasn't
one more reason to keep builders away

if you are very rich, you buy all the land around you
if you are not, you try to have the government declare the area off limits
except yourself, of course

colloquialoatmeal - 12-10-2021 at 05:15 PM

This is all good to hear! Yeah, it was 13km up from the end of the wash, just north of Agua Verde. Just past the switchbacks, then across an old ranchers gate and there were just massive parts of the road out.

I'll definitely be passing it in March and take some pictures.

JZ - 12-10-2021 at 06:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 100X

Did the Agua Verde backdoor today in my side by side, from Loreto to AV and back to Loreto via the loop to km 30/hwy 1 Harald recommends.

I was thinking about your comment more today. So did you drive it on MX 1 to the dirt or trailer it?

If you drove it, how fast did you go and how was that? I haven't driven mine much on pavement.

My rough calc of the highway driving would be about 80 miles from Loreto and back.

advrider - 12-10-2021 at 08:48 PM

JZ, I run my 1000 Polaris ( non turbo) on the highway a lot, I'm street legal in Nevada and some other cool states. We run 65 MPH no problem and up to 80 MPH if needed. It will go faster but I don't over do it on the highway.

100X - 12-10-2021 at 11:20 PM

I drove it the whole way and if you include the pavement after the AV turnoff, it was probably closer to 100 on the pavement. I stay between 55 and 60 and it does fine.

Only comment I would add is that because the headlights on SXS's are placed inwards a ways from the sides, and because I seem to wind up driving it on the roads after dark, I have put some reflector tape on the left side mirror and fenders so the trucks don't think they have extra spare room on my side of the line.

JZ - 12-10-2021 at 11:45 PM

Interesting. Thanks guys . I have learned something today.

Riding to Agua Verde

Perrro Viejo - 1-2-2022 at 05:33 PM

Is the main road to Agua Verde doable on a 500 lbs ADV bike? Has it changed much in the last 20 years?

We sailed in 20 years ago, I ate some bad food there and nearly left my bones in Agua Verde.
An American doctor on another sailboat saved my bacon.

JZ - 1-2-2022 at 05:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Perrro Viejo

Is the main road to Agua Verde doable on a 500 lbs ADV bike? Has it changed much in the last 20 years?

We sailed in 20 years ago, I ate some bad food there and nearly left my bones in Agua Verde.
An American doctor on another sailboat saved my bacon.

It's a very easy ride. Well traveled road.

KurtG - 1-2-2022 at 05:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Perrro Viejo

I rode my KLR650 to Agua Verde twice. No problem.

David K - 1-2-2022 at 06:25 PM

It's even paved for the first 10 kms!

100X - 1-2-2022 at 10:18 PM

It is in very good shape, recently re-graded. Not sure about 20 years ago, but it is quite a bit better than 2 years ago, and night and day better than 30 years ago.

4x4abc - 1-2-2022 at 10:33 PM

I drove it first in 1986
the only memorable difference was the first stretch between MEX1 and the drop off
there were a few concreted vados with extreme angles
like in the Motomi area some years back
go in too fast and your suspension bottoms out
worst case scenario - you could lose control over your truck

the road was more narrow and not as smooth as now
back door road did not exist

Baja1999Jeep - 5-11-2022 at 12:45 PM

I'm happy to report that the road from San Jose de la Noria down to Agua Verde is open and most four wheel trucks should have no problem going down or up to that matter. We attempted to go through it back in 2006 and it was totally washed away, there are many tracks on it, giving the impression that is traveled often. There are a few rough areas but nothing too extreme. On our way out North we exited through the San Cosme to Hwy 1 and its really smooth and about 10k of pavement near Hwy1.

[Edited on 5-11-2022 by Baja1999Jeep]

David K - 5-11-2022 at 12:54 PM

Thanks!!! Welcome to Nomad!!

JZ - 5-11-2022 at 10:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Baja1999Jeep

I'm happy to report that the road from San Jose de la Noria down to Agua Verde is open and most four wheel trucks should have no problem going down or up to that matter. We attempted to go through it back in 2006 and it was totally washed away, there are many tracks on it, giving the impression that is traveled often. There are a few rough areas but nothing too extreme. On our way out North we exited through the San Cosme to Hwy 1 and its really smooth and about 10k of pavement near Hwy1.

Great info. Thank you for posting.

chippy - 5-21-2022 at 06:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Baja1999Jeep

Good intel. I drove up it today. For those of you who use e32 their old route is wrong. The old wash they use is impassible almost 1 kilometer in due to big boulders from whatever flood. They made a bypass a few hundred meters north of the old e32 route.

TMW - 5-21-2022 at 09:34 PM

[Edited on 5-11-2022 by Baja1999Jeep][/rquote]

Good intel. I drove up it today. For those of you who use e32 their old route is wrong. The old wash they use is impassible almost 1 kilometer in due to big boulders from whatever flood. They made a bypass a few hundred meters north of the old e32 route.

Is the new bypass trail easy to see and follow?

4x4abc - 5-21-2022 at 09:55 PM

that "new bypass" has been there since my first trip in 1986.
It is the high ground alternative to boulder hopping in the Arroyo.
It is well graded and smooth all the way to the beginning of the grade

start: 25.515590°, -111.084746°

chippy - 5-22-2022 at 05:16 AM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW

Is the new bypass trail easy to see and follow?

Yes it is very easy.

chippy - 5-22-2022 at 05:22 AM

that "new bypass" has been there since my first trip in 1986.
It is the high ground alternative to boulder hopping in the Arroyo.
It is well graded and smooth all the way to the beginning of the grade

start: 25.515590°, -111.084746°

I didn´t know that as it was my first attempt "back door". It was fun and very scenic. I would like to see it green like you mentioned.

4x4abc - 5-22-2022 at 07:15 AM

I didn´t know that as it was my first attempt "back door". It was fun and very scenic. I would like to see it green like you mentioned.

did you bring any pictures?

JZ - 5-22-2022 at 09:46 PM

AV back door entrance with Harald's coordinates added to show the start.

4x4abc - 5-23-2022 at 09:51 AM

I used the opportunity to update the road and trail network around Agua Verde
before the backdoor road there was a well developed trail network going to San Jose de la Noria

Screen Shot 2022-05-23 at 10.48.24 AM copy.jpg - 249kB

chippy - 5-25-2022 at 04:38 PM

I didn´t know that as it was my first attempt "back door". It was fun and very scenic. I would like to see it green like you mentioned.

did you bring any pictures?

chippy - 5-25-2022 at 07:23 PM

Woah, YOU STOLE THE SIGN?!!

David K - 5-25-2022 at 08:16 PM

No stickers or bullet holes!! (on the sign, as well, lol)!

4x4abc - 3-6-2023 at 09:00 PM