tunaeater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 615
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: Chula Vista, CA
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cooler ridding
With the summer heat wave in the imperial valley upon us in full force(well almost we still have July & August)) it's way to hot to ride
motorcycles(dirt) down here. I would like to find some new places to ride in the summer where it's cooler. Something not to far from my home maybe 1.5
to 2.5 hours drive time one way. Any places around Tecate or the nearby areas. I've never ridden over there so this will be brand new for me. I would
need directions and as much information as possible... I would appreciate any help and suggestions. Thanks Paul
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64488
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Hi Paul, head up Hwy. 2 to La Rumorosa and get on the free road after the toll gate on top of the mountain... pass through most of the town (get gas,
Pacificos, etc.) and turn south on the road to Laguna Hanson. This is beautiful high country...
A friend showed me a quartz mine right off the road... lots of pine trees. Didn't get all the way to Laguna Hanson that day... but there are hundreds
of dirt roads up there. Also, some guest ranches you can stay at (Ponderosa, Cimarron near Hanson, and near El Hongo is Santa Veronica). You gotta
have a GPS up there... just too many roads criss crossing the forest. This is a neglected area of Baja to visit by most NorteAmericanos. I have hardly
been in that area myself.
Chris and I after watching the Baja 500 last year went through some beautiful forest at 5,000 feet before dropping down to the desert in Mono Canyon
to meet up with HotSchott at Guadalupe Canyon.
I have some GPS waypoints on the road out of Rumorosa on my GPS web page. The El Mano Canyon GPS data will be in the trip report from June of 2003
posted here on Nomad.
Have Fun!!
ADDITION: GPS...
La Rumorosa Toll Booth: 32?33.35'/ 116?02.15'
Sierra Juarez Rd. Jcn.@ (free) Mex.#2 (south turn, next 2 waypoints): 32?31.20'/ 116?04.04'
Road to Rcho. Ponderosa: 32?22.29'/ 115?59.70'
Abnd. Quartz Mine: 32?18.59'/ 115?59.16'
[Edited on 6-28-2004 by David K]
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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Cool rides
My friends ride from the area David is talking about (rumorosa/ el hongo) through Ojos Negros and down to Uruapan, out to La Bocana area and down the
coast. You have to turn off the La Bocana road prior to getting to the beach. The maps show this route.
Very very fun ride.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64488
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Details from June 2003 trip
Guadalupe Canyon from Hwy. 3, going down the mountain
Last June, after watching the Baja 500 race with my son, http://community-2.webtv.net/Boojum1/500 we continued east to drop off the Sierra Juarez to the desert below, then turned north to camp at
Guadalupe Canyon Hot Springs.
The road is shown in the AAA Baja map and Baja Almanac topo map book http://www.baja-almanac.com You may follow along with either, but the Almanac offers superior details, although not totally accurate.
My GPS waypoints are at map datum setting NAD27 Mexico (same as the Almanac).
On the AAA map, note the following ranchos: Agua Blanca (just east of Hwy. 3, opposite the road to El Alamo); Los Pinos; Cerro Prieto; El Mano; and
the 'Locked Gate' (it's not).
We followed the race course (not on maps) from Hwy. 3 to a point just north of Agua Blanca and made camp near a cross road, where the race course
turned left/east. Our camp near this crossroad was at 31?42.24'/ 115?54.75' elev. 4,005'.
After the race, we followed the course from that 'left turn' and went up CANADA LAS CORDONICES 5.2 miles (map 8, R-1, Baja Almanac) to...
A junction near ARROYO EL TULE at 31?45.20'/ 115?51.52' elev. 4,663' (Almanac page 6, R-6, bottom edge) The race course turned right (south) here, we
continued ahead.
The main traveled road eventually curves eastward through the forest (not shown in Almanac).
Road again turns north at 31?47.89'/ 115?49.25', elev. 5,009'. We just followed the road with visual signs having the most traffic, going the general
direction we sought, and it took us the right way.
Soon the road turned to the east, and we arrived at the big RANCHO LOS PINOS (shown on AAA map, but not the Almanac) at 31?48.77'/ 115?46.26', elev.
5,086'. The peak CERRO PRIETO is just north of the ranch. Drive right through ranch property, going east.
Road curves north passing the north side of RANCHO CERRO PRIETO (31?49.23'/ 115?45.34') then turns east (not shown in Almanac continuing east).
Great view looking north along the east side of Sierra Juarez, down CANON EL PALMAR 31?49.12'/ 115?43.01'.
Road climbs a ridge and then drops into the upper end of CANON EL MANO for a long, steep down grade. Painted arrows (graffiti) on boulders from SCORE
indicates this was a race course, in the past.
RANCHO EL MANO is seen down in the canyon near some palms, driveway at 31?48.56'/ 115?40.39' near canyon floor.
The road will climb out of El Mano canyon, over the north ridge. Some concrete was dumped for improved traction on a steep pitch. The 'Locked Gate' on
the AAA map is a steel cable gate and was not locked or even closed.
The road descends the remaining slopes of the Sierra Juarez and is quite rough heading for the desert floor.
Once at the bottom, the road heads east to a junction with a faint road that continues south along the foot of the sierra, at 31?49.81'/ 115?33.89',
elev. 1,271' Turn north, following the arroyo.
COHABUZO JUNCTION 31?55.74'/ 115?36.22', elev. 860'. This point is not named on the map, but is the name used by off road racers (Located to the east
of the airplane symbol in the Almanac, and east of Cerro Cohabuzo in the AAA map). Here is a large level area where pit teams can service their
racers. A poor road and race route goes east to the Laguna Salada basin, joins a good road to Ejido Saldana, and reaches Highway 5 (midway between
Mexicali and San Felipe).
From Cohabuzo Junction north to Guadalupe Canyon's access is a fast graded road. Cohabuzo to Guadalupe is 29 miles.
Our Baja 500 camp (near Agua Blanca) to Cohabuzo was 36 miles, but don't be in a hurry... this is a great short cut in miles, but not in driving time!
Have a great Baja adventure!
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tunaeater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 615
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: Chula Vista, CA
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Thanks guys, these were great sugegstions. Youv'e just sparked a new interest for me. I'm excited to try this area. Now comes the fun part of
planning this. I'm very unfamilar with this part of baja but I bet it will be a blast..Thanks Paul
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Paul in years past a lot of riders would leave their truck at Santa Veronica, southwest of El Hongo and do an overnight ride to Mike's Sky Rancho. If
your not familiar with the area it's best to ride with someone who is. Gas is available at Saw Mill near Laguna Hanson and in the town of
Independencia. Mike charges $50 per person which includes dinner and breakfast. The ranch is at 3800 ft elevation. Lights out at 9:30 or 10:00pm. If
you leave the door open at night be careful not to step on the dogs if you need to use the bathroom.
I should add that Santa Veronica use to charge $5 for leaving your truck.
[Edited on 6-28-2004 by TW]
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4863
Registered: 2-2-2003
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The makings of
one great loop trip. Probably even some lobster along the way!
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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Anyone interested in doing a day trip some Saturday in this area?....we could meet near TECATE in the morning ...ride/explore all day and return home
about sunset...?
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tunaeater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 615
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: Chula Vista, CA
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Jim I would love to do that. Only problem is I work on Saturdays but I'm off on Sunday's..Saturday's I get off about 1:00 pm so I could catch up if
it was an over nighter....maybe we could get something going here.....Paul
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 2-2-2003
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If you guys put something together
A friend of mine down here is an excellent rider and knows those hills. He may be interested in going.
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