BajaNomad

2 Jeeps in Baja!

Ken Cooke - 11-2-2005 at 10:33 PM

Today, Baja Brad and I scrapped our plans of traveling to Puerto Penasco (due to lodging logistics). Instead, we're gonna check out Mission Santa Maria in our Jeeps, El Marmol, and Catavina. Does anybody have any good advice on additional places to check out on our 4 day trip? We plan to drive south into San Felipe, then, south to Punta Final, then north along Hwy 1 back to the USA. It should be a blast.:light:

bajalou - 11-2-2005 at 10:39 PM

When is all this happening Ken? Sounds like a good FAST trip.

:saint:

Neal Johns - 11-3-2005 at 12:56 AM

Check out Tinaja Yubay.

Along to way to Yubay

John M - 11-3-2005 at 05:39 AM

Following my grandfather's advice to go to Yubay, you ought to take the route through the Calamajue arroyo, especially if you haven't done so before.

TMW - 11-3-2005 at 07:54 AM

Check out the Turquesa digs and water pools just north of Las Arrastras before Coco's Corner, this is also a short cut for bikes from hwy 1 if your an excellent rider. Say high to Coco and if you can, take him some 7up. I think it was Corky that told me he likes 7up. Also if you have time look for the old trail road to the mission from hwy 1 near KM187 at San Ignacito, either from the hwy side or the mission side. I've looked for it but never found it. It may not be passable in a 4 wheeler.

bajajudy - 11-3-2005 at 08:53 AM

Ken
Why dont you guys go in together and buy a
HUMMER:P

David K - 11-3-2005 at 09:04 AM

El Volcan, just 4 miles NE from El Marmol is an excellent side trip.

See http://vivabaja.com/403 for Mision Santa Maria and El Volcan...

The road continues almost 2 miles past the mission (at 1 1/2 mi. note that it climbs left out of the arroyo, the track ahead ends at a Palm grove).

Near the point where the bulldozed road becomes inpassable, the El Camino Real climbs left up the side valley towards Gonzaga Bay...

If you walk up the bulldozed roadbed to the summit, you will have a great view into the canyon leading to Gonzaga, see petroglyphs on rocks, and see the Indian Trail head down the side of the canyon *this was the original Camino Real route as well.. then Serra (1769) had a better route made for pack animals.

Yubay is way south of your planned route, off the road to L.A. Bay... Calamajueis fun, but again takes you south... depends on how much time you got.

Ken Cooke - 11-3-2005 at 09:26 PM

We have only 4 days for our trip. Wed., Thurs. Fri., and Sat.

We plan to drive south to San Luis Gonzaga area and camp 1 night. Next 2 nights camp near Catavina region with lots of opportunities for our locked and lifted Jeeps to play around.

My Jeep is lifted 4" with 33" BFGoodrich All-Terrains (new), 4:1 T.C., Air Locked front/rear, etc., etc.

Baja Brad has a long-arm suspension on a Jeep Cherokee, lifted 5" w/33" BFGoodrich All-Terrains, Atlas Transfer case, Air Locked front/rear, York air compressor, etc., etc.

We're gonna see what kind of trouble our 4WDs can get us into!:light:

Ken Cooke - 11-3-2005 at 09:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
El Volcan, just 4 miles NE from El Marmol is an excellent side trip.

See http://vivabaja.com/403 for Mision Santa Maria and El Volcan...


David,

Is it possible that we could camp in this Santa Maria region w/o being bothered by the authorities? I heard that you are not supposed to travel up to the Mission, but it doesn't look like SEMARNAP or anyone else will block our route or tell us to "Get Lost."

David K - 11-3-2005 at 09:52 PM

Who told you such nonesense? What authorities? Did you see my 403 web page...? We camped two nights AT the mission. On the second night a Jeep club drove in (about 24 Jeeps, including Cherokees)... Please tell me where you heard this... Baja Nomad is your best source for current information!

Mision Santa Maria de los Angeles, in the morning...



Beautiful oasis beyond mission



Palm grove dead end if you pass the left turn up to petros.



Petroglyphs at end of bulldozed road, edge of Santa Maria Canyon.



Red Diamondback came to us!



Heading up the Widow Maker on the way back to Santa Ynez!



[Edited on 11-4-2005 by David K]

David K - 11-3-2005 at 10:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Check out the Turquesa digs and water pools just north of Las Arrastras before Coco's Corner, this is also a short cut for bikes from hwy 1 if your an excellent rider. Say high to Coco and if you can, take him some 7up. I think it was Corky that told me he likes 7up. Also if you have time look for the old trail road to the mission from hwy 1 near KM187 at San Ignacito, either from the hwy side or the mission side. I've looked for it but never found it. It may not be passable in a 4 wheeler.


I have a web page for La Turquesa Canyon, just 3 mi. north of Las Arrastras: http://vivabaja.com/wayno

Here's part of a map showing the pools and turquoise mine...

El Volcan

David K - 11-3-2005 at 10:43 PM

From my '403' (April 2003) web page:

On to El Volcan...
Four miles northeast of the El Marmol onyx schoolhouse, the process by which onyx is made can be seen, at El Volcan. Several mineral springs where onyx is created (about an inch every thousand years) are in the arroyo and a quarter mile beyond. The biggest spring is on top of a thirty foot dome, which erupts once a month. This cold water geyser is how El Volcan (The Volcano) got its name. For several minutes water and gas is sprayed 60 feet into the sky!

Directions:
Take the signed dirt road off Highway 1 for 9.5 miles to El Marmol's onyx schoolhouse. Note sign pointing to the Mina La Olividada road. At 2.0 miles from the schoolhouse, turn right, 4WD recommended from here. At 4.0 miles, come to Arroyo El Volcan. Onyx dome is 0.4 mile to right, up arroyo. Ahead, at 4.3 miles, the La Olividada road passes a white slope with several onyx springs.

If you cross the arroyo on the road, a 1/4 mile beyond is this:




If you turn up the arroyo (right), and continue on foot:







You come to this...
The El Volcan Onyx Dome 29?59.54'/ 114?46.22'