YZ400
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Laguna Salada
Hello,
I'm making a dirt bike trip down to Baja this weekend with a couple of buddies and was wondering if anybody knows how to go through from the Laguna
Salada Lake bed to Laguna Hansen going west). Is there a way through? The triple A map shows that the road from the lakebed dead ends at Guadalupe
Canyon (we would like to pass through there, going west. Anybody know? Thanks a bunch!
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David K
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YES!!! But not up Guadalupe Canyon!
The road is on the AAA map that goes up the mountain in El Mano Canyon, very steep.
In this forum, scroll down to My GPS post for some waypoints... Here are the ones I have from Hwy. 2 at the top of Laguna Salada down the lakebed or
the graded road. Then on south past Cohabuzo Jcn. and up the mountain past Los Pinos (see AAA Map), and on to Hwy. 3 near Agua Blanca (on map).
For Laguna Hanson, a couple miles past Los Pinos stay right at the jcn. where my route goes left... All pine forests up there and very beautiful! Lots
of roads, the GPS is important!
Let me find my article when I drove that road (going the opposite direction as you will be. The road from the desert floor up to Los Pinos is VERY
ROUGH, lots of rocks in the road! I will post it again below here, if I find it...
GPS Data (map datum setting NAD27 Mex):
Guadalupe Canyon via Graded Rd @ Mex.#2: 32?34.33'/ 115?47.35'
Guadalupe Canyon via Laguna Salada Dry Lake Rd. @ Mex.#2 (south turn, next 5 waypoints): 32?34.57'/ 115?44.63'
Jcn. Graded road & south end of Dry Lake road: 32?13.06'/ 115?42.24
Guadalupe Canyon Entrance: 32?09.40'/ 115?47.29'
Cohabuzo Jcn: 31?55.74'/ 115?36.22' (Turn left/ east for next 2 waypoints)
Ej. Saldana Road (S): 31?50.12'/ 115?19.47'
Hwy. 5 & Ej. Saldana Jcn: 31?51.75'/ 115?10.92'
South of Cohabuzo 8.2 mi. is a fork, go right for El Mano: 31?49.81'/ 115?33.89'
Jcn. road to left. Up mountain via El Mano, go right: 31?47.68'/ 115?36.65'
El Mano driveway left, road begins major climb: 31?48.56'/ 115?40.39'
Rancho Los Pinos, elev. 5,086': 31?48.77'/ 115?46.26'
Jcn. Santa Catarina left (S)/ Agua Blanca right (SW): 31?45.20'/ 115?51.52'
Jcn. Agua Blanca left (S), Hwy. 3 right (N): 31?42.24', 115?54.25'
[Edited on 11-18-2004 by David K]
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David K
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Here it is (to find stuff here on Nomad, use the search feature!)
posted on 12-27-2003 at 05:38 PM
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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YZ400
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Registered: 11-18-2004
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laguna Salada
Thanks for the prompt and very informative reply David. We do use the Garmin e-map GPS on ourt bikes so we can set up all these way points. Do I
understand correctly that when we are going west through Guadalupe Canyon that we just continue west beyond (i.e. no need to double back?).
Also, when you say its very rocky...do you mean for a 4 wheeler or 2 wheeler? Just trying to esitmate the "rockyness" and also, how far (distance
wise) would you guess is that rocky section goes for?
Thanks again..
Nadim
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David K
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It's my pleasure Nadim.
Guadalupe Canyon is a dead end road (a wonderful place to have a dead end!). Unless you are going there for a swim or camp http://www.guadalupe-canyon.com or just have a look... you don't go into Guadalupe canyon. Continue south past the side road to Guadalupe... See
the AAA map.
The road is very rocky (rocks embedded into the road) and slow for 4 wheeled vehicles. Dirt bikes will be fine. The road from Hwy. 2 all the way to
where you turn up the mountain towards El Mano is VERY FAST!!! The climb up the mountain to Los Pinos is very SLOW. Then from Los Pinos on is FAST,
again!!! You will have a blast!
Do you need the GPS for Laguna Hanson? I think I posted it on Nomad... use search feature at the top of the forum and type in Laguna Hanson and David
K and that should give you that info.
[Edited on 11-19-2004 by David K]
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YZ400
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Laguna Salada
Awesome...Thanks a bunch!
Nadim
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David K
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You are welcome... and welcome to Baja Nomad!
Please provide us a trip report after your return!
Are you bummed that you are not in today's Baja 1000?
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YZ400
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Yes I am! My buddies are not into racing and I've always wanted to do the Baja races. It's a chore just convincing them to try a new route let alone
getting them to race. Perhaps it's because we spent a night or two in Hotel Laguna Salada over the last decade or so (trying to find a way around the
mud or having bike problems with someones two smoke!) But hey that's part of the adventure the way I see it.
Anyway....I just got done inputting all your waypoints and I downloaded them to my GPS. I'll now look for that Laguna Hanson route as you suggested.
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YZ400
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Final Questions
David and all....
OK I'm almost outta here on my trip. Couple of last questions.
1. I couldn't find detailed waypoint to get to Laguna Hanson form Hwy 2 (going south) (preferably more eastern route route than going through Santa
Veronica).
2. Also is there another more southern route (that will put us on hwy 3) out of Laguna Salada besides the El Mano/Los pinos western climb?
Thanks for all your help and I'll post a report when I get back.
Nadim
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David K
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The main road south from Hwy. 2 to Laguna Hanson leaves from La Rumorosa... I have the GPS for it (see my web page) and a couple more points going
south (I didn't go all the way to Laguna Hanson). It is a fast, smooth road through beautiful mountain country. You can continue on from Hanson to
Hwy. 3, east of Ojos Negros. AAA map is the most helpful as it has milages.
In Kacey's book these roads are all detailed for m/c riders: http://www.bajagpsguide.com
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David K
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Here is the other Laguna Hanson road...
at La Rumorosa ...off my web page... continue past the quartz mine for Hanson...
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 11-20-2004 by David K]
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YZ400
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Trip Report to Baja!
Ok I'm back...
Had a great time. We got dumped on Sunday 21st near Tecate and ended up at Hacienda Santa Veronica for the night which turned out to be a nice place
to stay. Monday I headed to Mikes sky ranch and only encountered light snow for a few miles. Next day went to San Felipe through El-Diablo which was
very dry and much warmer with totally blue skies from Horizon to Horizon. Spent about a week down there stopping at Gonza Bay and Bahia de los
angeles.
All in all a great trip. Did not get to go the Laguna Salada route per David K's waypoints via el-mano although Idid get to his waypoint nearest hwy
3 on my return trip. Next time I'll do the whole thing with more adventuress buddies.
Thanks to everyone especially David for the great info.
Nadim
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David K
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You are welcome, "el gusto es mio" (the pleasure is mine)!
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