boe4fun - 1-22-2006 at 05:19 PM
Has anyone made the loop from LA Bay down to San Franciscito and then over to El Arco lately? I'll be taking my brother down for his first trip to
whale watch in GN and was thinking of coming back via El Arco/LA Bay. I'll be driving a GMC 1500 pickup with 4 wheel drive and a fairly heavy popup
camper. I had been on this route several years ago and made it with no problems, but since it's my brothers first trip, I only want him to get a
little Baja fever, not put him in a coma! Thanks in advance. Pura Vida, Paul Boe
Bajaboy - 1-22-2006 at 05:54 PM
travelled the road over Christmas....from BoLA to Playa San Rafael the road is great. The road crews are out grading the road and putting in new
cement vados. Stop by Playa San Rafael and tell Pancho that I said hello.
The road south of PSR is okay until you start the climb out of the valley. There are a few rough spots where the road is pretty rutted out. You
shouldn't have a problem in your truck...especially with 4wd.
The road out of SF isn't too bad except the first climb out. I cut over to the road south of El Arco and had smooth sailing. I detest the road from
El Arco to the highway. There are a few of these roads that put you anywhere from 10-20 miles north of Vizcaino.
Hope this helps-
Zac
David K - 1-23-2006 at 11:24 AM
Yes, the road that by-passes El Arco and goes to Highway 1 via Guillermo Prieto, a few miles north of Vizcaino, is a much better route to/from San
Francisquito/ L.A. Bay... Not on the maps, but it branches south at Arroyo Purificacion which is on the AAA map... A sign for Mision Santa Gertrudis
may be at the junction... as this newer road offers a shorter drive to the mission than going via El Arco.
I have GPS details of the road in my web site's GPS page.
DK is right
Sharksbaja - 1-23-2006 at 12:59 PM
That road to El Arco from GN is washboard heaven. I've taken it twice in the last year. Try the southern connection. As mentioned there are three or
four alternate approaches to El Arco. The one across from the (north)GN airport is supposed to be a good short-cut but I've never tried it. I think
Corky(the other one) knows the ins & outs of the area.
boe4fun - 1-23-2006 at 01:22 PM
Gracias Amigos! I think after whale watching at GN I'll take my brother down to San Francisco de la Sierra to check out the closer cave paintings
(not the mule trip one, but the closer cave [Raton?]). I understand that you can procure a local guide for the closer caves and don't have to go to
SI for the permit needed for the mule trip. Is this correct, or do I still have to go to SI to register? After this, I'll take him to Santa
Gertrudis where I understand they're are other pinturas, spend the night there, and then on to San Franciscito, then later up to BoLA, camping along
the way at San Rafael and Las Animas and finally at Doc's Camp Gecko. Thanks again for the info. Pura Vida. Paul