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TinCanAdventureVan
Newbie
Posts: 12
Registered: 9-29-2021
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Calamajué Wash
Hey all, planning to do a little loop in a couple weeks south from San Diego via route 1 as far as Bahia De Los Angeles then returning north via route
5 and heading west on 2D before the border and maybe crossing back into California in Tecate or points west. I'd like to explore as many scenic dirt
trails as possible and one that looks interesting to me is Calamajué Wash. I was wondering if anyones been there recently. I'm curious how deep the
crossings are now and if I'll be able to get an old 2wd Econoline through there. I've read some trip reports of people making it through with a 2wd
vehicle but Ive also seen some insane water crossing photos! I'm not trying to turn the van into a submarine! Its been a very dry year so I'd think
theres a good chance the crossings are just puddles at the moment. Thought it couldn't hurt to check with the pros on here. Thanks so much for reading
this far!
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TMW
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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The problem you'll have is not the water but sand. There are a few places where there is soft sand. If you are alone a 2wd vehicle is not a good
ideal, even with a locker in the rear. A VW bug probably OK because your running the engine weight over the drive wheels.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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While I feel that a 4WD vehicle is a 'must have' for exploring Baja's back country... it is amazing what a skilled driver in a 2WD can do, but damage
and stucks are a possibility. Lowering the air pressure in all 4 tires will let a 2WD pass... and we are talking 10-15 psi range. So, a good air pump
is mandatory equipment. There is the one steep grade you will need to climb where you leave the arroyo after exiting the canyon. FYI: the 1766 mission
site is across the arroyo from this grade, on the opposite side, up on a bench. A road goes up to it. After you are out of the arroyo on the road
north to Coco's New Corner, the gold mill ruins are along the side of the cliff, on the right. They date from the early 1900s and were worked by Dick
Daggett, a name you will see around Baja.
I was last in Calamajué Canyon in Sept. 2016 and the puddles were all shallow with only one medium puddle at the north end (by the big white mineral
bench).
Previously, I was there in 2012 (July) and also shallow water (even though Coco was scaring a Jeep couple from going as he said the water was deep).
It all depends on rain as it is an arroyo and while it is fed by springs, rain and flash flood water charging the canyon can happen.
Know that prior to 1983, going back to about 1960, this was the main route from north to south on the gulf side ('Hwy. 5') so it got more constant
traffic and the water rarely stopped passage.
Photos, north to south:
Arroyo Calamajué, from the gold mill site.
Gold mill remains.
Toyota 4x4s coming down the grade into the arroyo.
Mission remains (not much) from 1766-1767. The water was too salty to grow food here so they moved the mission to Santa María. Note the grade across
the arroyo, we just drove down.
Gold Mill ruins as seen from the mission site. Baja is filled with history... history that you can touch!
Palm in the canyon.
Little water to drive in. It has been deeper on my trips in 2002, 1979, 1975, 1974, and 1967... but not bad. The 2006 Baja 1000 came through here and
they had a muddy mess to deal with!
Here is a photo from 2012 of the deepest puddle:
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JZ
Elite Nomad
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Don't try to take a 2wd through there.
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geoffff
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I somehow missed the gold mill the last time I went through there. Judging by your photos, is it here? 29.4255, -114.1989
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Don Pisto
Super Nomad
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Mood: weary like everyone else
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we did it twice in a 2wd Camburg lifted E-150, watch the weather and go!
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Quote: Originally posted by geoffff  | I somehow missed the gold mill the last time I went through there. Judging by your photos, is it here? 29.4255, -114.1989
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Close: 29.4248, -114.1987 LOL
It is on the Benchmark Atlas (El Molino).
From the Lower California Guidebook, 1962-1970 editions:
[Edited on 9-29-2021 by David K]
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AKgringo
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Welcome to the forum!
I have driven that route four times, traveling both directions, but the last time I was on it was 2018. I did not encounter another vehicle on any of
those runs.
I am sure that with low water, I could drive that in two wheel drive, but if you do have a problem, it could be a long time before any potential help
drives your way! Many Baja races have used that route, and a lot of them are 2wd.
If you are looking for a good dirt road, head south from Bahia de Los Angeles through El Arco to hwy 1.
[Edited on 9-29-2021 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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From the old Baja photo album
My first time driving in Calamajué Canyon, I was a passenger (1967)!
This was at the gold mill ruins... I am against a big wood beam.
In Calamajué Canyon, pre-running the 1979 Baja 1000 in my Subaru:
In 1979, just south of the canyon, :
[Edited on 9-29-2021 by David K]
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TinCanAdventureVan
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David I've seen a lot of these photos in my research for the trip! You've been on some amazing adventures! In the photo you took of the Toyotas coming
down into the wash are they headed north or south? I'd be going in from the south and heading north. I'm not too scared of descending a sketchy hill
but climbing out of a steep, sandy rutted hill could be a problem in my old van.
I do have an air compressor for airing up, I've dealt with a fair amount of sandy situations but usually in places where I feel there's a decent
chance of help showing up within a day or so or at the very least I can probably make the trek to some cell service to get some help in a dangerous
situation. Sounds like those safety nets might not be the case in the canyon. I'm still on the fence about it given some say to not even try it with a
2wd and others saying they've done it no problem hah! Maybe when it comes down to it I'll just see how adventurous we're feeling when we're leaving
L.A. Bay.
I'll look into that road you mentioned AKgringo, thanks!
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
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Location: La Paz, BCS
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| Quote: Originally posted by geoffff | I somehow missed the gold mill the last time I went through there. Judging by your photos, is it here? 29.4255, -114.1989
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that is the processing site
the Mine El Toro is a little up
29°24'36.28"N, 114°12'30.60"W
and some minor activity (Marmol on one map) close to the airfield
29°25'30.97"N, 114°12'29.72"W
Harald Pietschmann
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TinCanAdventureVan
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On second thought I'm definitely discounting the first hand experience people here have had driving through with 2wd. I just watched a video of
someone riding through the canyon and the conditions in their video didn't look like anything I haven't done before. Thanks everyone, I probably will
end up driving through!
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4x4abc
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the grade in one of David's pictures is north to south
Harald Pietschmann
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pjpvi
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Me and some friends will be going that way late October so if you get stuck just wait for us and we'll pull you out!
Enjoy the trip!
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Yes, all my photos are from north to south. Climbing that grade will be the hardest part for you. I don't recall any sand issues. The arroyo bottom is
more fine gravel than soft sand.
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KasloKid
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A couple of strips of carpet (18" x 8') will come in handy if you do encounter an issue with soft sand or gravel... bring a shovel too.
Chances are you won't need them, but a bit of cheap insurance won't hurt.
A compressor will also be a handy tool to have with you too.
[Edited on 9-30-2021 by KasloKid]
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surfhat
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You beat me to it Kaslo. i was about to suggest a set of sand tracks, or even two sets, since they are plastic and lightweight and stack together
easily.
I used to carry four pieces of marsden matting, the heavy military grade steel sand tracks. They saved me a couple of times from having to be towed
out of where I should not have gone to begin with.
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AKgringo
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Driving the whoop de do's
One time through the wash, I was driving a 2 door Kia Sportage, and pulling a small utility trailer. There is a stretch of the trail south of the
wash that has been modified by many race rigs into a series of extreme dips, and steep rises.
To minimize launching myself and dog, or the utility trailer on each peak (without slowing to crawl speed) I treated the woops as a series of "S"
turns. I would cross on the far side of one bump, then steer to the opposite side for the next one, crossing the bottom of the dip at a slight angle.
I don't know if that would work for a long wheel base vehicle, but for my little rig and trailer it made the run a lot smoother, and more fun!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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JZ
Elite Nomad
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You all don't want to break down or get stuck on that trail.
Now that Coco's has moved, traffic is less and the distance to hike to for help is a lot further.
Better have a plan. My truck is a lot more capable than a 2wd van and I'd think real hard about taking my truck on that trail alone.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Wowsers, it was so easy all the times I drove it!
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