Guadalupe Canyon from Hwy. 3, going down the mountain in Mano Canyon! (June, 2003)
Last June, after watching the Baja 500 race with my son, http://vivabaja.com/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).
Leaving Hwy. 3 near the El Alamo turnoff, we followed the race course (not on maps) east 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 31º42.24'/ 115º54.75' 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 31º45.20'/ 115º51.52' 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 31º47.89'/ 115º49.25', 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 31º48.77'/ 115º46.26', 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 (31º49.23'/ 115º45.34') then turns east (not shown in Almanac continuing east).
Great view looking north along the east side of Sierra Juarez, down CANON EL PALMAR 31º49.12'/ 115º43.01'.
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 31º48.56'/ 115º40.39' 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 31º49.81'/ 115º33.89',
elev. 1,271' Turn north, following the arroyo.
COHABUZO JUNCTION 31º55.74'/ 115º36.22', 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!
[Edited on 5-30-2008 by David K]
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