BajaNomad

Roads leading to San Borja mission

BAJACAT - 1-29-2006 at 07:53 PM

Hi nomads need 411 on all roads leading to SB mission, I be taking new people to Baja and I want to know whats is the best road available right now, has anybody been there lately:?::?: whats the short its road to the mission timewise.

mcgyver - 1-30-2006 at 02:18 AM

BAJACAT, I was last there in October 2005. At that time the road from Hiway5 ,Bola side was its usual rocky self but nothing a 2WD could not handle with ease. The road west to Rosarito had been graded that year and other than dusty it was fine. I do not think they have had a great deal of rain since so they should both be passable with the usual washboard sections. I like to make the loop, in from Highway 1 to San Borja and out to Highway 5 to BOLA. The highway 1 route after a rain or grading can be driven at a good speed ( if you do not meet a cow or a rancher). It washes out fairy deep at Rancho San Ignacito stopping 2WDs there.

David K - 1-30-2006 at 09:25 AM

I have been on both roads into San Borja (from the L.A. Bay Hwy. and Hwy. 1 at (Nuevo) Rosarito, but it was a couple years ago:

Both were excellent condition, both about 20-22 miles long from pavement... The one coming from the L.A. Bay Hwy. does go over a rocky pass.. But as mcgyver said, nothing that a 2WD can't handle.

Off the northern access, just two miles south of the L.A. Bay Hwy. is a great side trip to the painted cliff at Montevideo.. about 7 miles via a desert road through one of Baja's best cactus gardens... again, 2WD passable, but a truck or van would be better than a Porsche! I have MANY photos in my web site... The most recent at Montevideo: http://vivabaja.com/105/page6.html

Here's a San Borja road photo:

SBTha MISSION

BAJACAT - 1-30-2006 at 10:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
I have been on both roads into San Borja (from the L.A. Bay Hwy. and Hwy. 1 at (Nuevo) Rosarito, but it was a couple years ago:

Both were excellent condition, both about 20-22 miles long from pavement... The one coming from the L.A. Bay Hwy. does go over a rocky pass.. But as mcgyver said, nothing that a 2WD can't handle.

Off the northern access, just two miles south of the L.A. Bay Hwy. is a great side trip to the painted cliff at Montevideo.. about 7 miles via a desert road through one of Baja's best cactus gardens... again, 2WD passable, but a truck or van would be better than a Porsche! I have MANY photos in my web site... The most recent at Montevideo: http://vivabaja.com/105/page6.html

Here's a San Borja road photo:

thank you guys , i guess I will be doing the loop to, so Dk when coming back from SB on to H5 i should be right on the road to montevideo right, 2 miles before the highway do i turn east or west.

nevermind DK

BAJACAT - 1-30-2006 at 10:35 PM

I allready found the direction on your photo I will be turning east for 6 miles of what it looks like a beautifull desert road full of cactus. thanks for the 411 David K and mcgyver

David K - 1-31-2006 at 09:15 AM

Yes... just a note on the L.A. Bay highway... It is/was not Highway 5, as that ends at Laguna Chapala coming south from Mexicali. The 41 mile paved road to L.A. Bay was officially part of Highway 1, never having been given its own number. Maybe that has changed? The signs will say Mex. 1 or Mex. (blank) along it, last I recall.

Bola

BAJACAT - 1-31-2006 at 10:25 PM

Thanks DK I will make note of that., besides the cooper mines ,las flores, la gringa, montevideo ,santa ana visita ,where else can I take my friends,I have been only to bola the town it self did'nt know better and left 3 hours later.

David K - 2-1-2006 at 09:13 AM

Well, in the town the museum is a must see... then just north, the Turtle Research Facility...

South of Las Flores the railroad/ tram terminal was interesting... Where the ore buckets from the San Juan mines, on top of the mountain, emptied into the tiny train carts for the 5 mile downhill run to Las Flores where the ore was processed.

I have photos... The road to the terminal might scratch your car.













[Edited on 2-1-2006 by David K]

NO SCRACHES NO FUN

BAJACAT - 2-1-2006 at 10:22 PM

No problem DK my truck still have scraches from El Palomar trip, well thanks for the inf. i hope i dont get lost i will be carring a gps with me but im new at this so hopefully everything should work out I don't mind geting lost, but not when Im the guide for the trip.:no:

David K - 2-2-2006 at 09:14 AM

OK, great... set your GPS to map datum NAD27 Mexico and here you go!:

Mile 0.0 Camp Gecko Driveway (4.1 mi. so. of pavement/ town): 28?53.96', 113?31.85'

Mile 5.7 The old Las Flores jail is 0.3 mi. to right.

Mile 8.1 Poor road ahead (28?46.98', 113?32.00') to reach the railroad terminal platform (3 mi.). Main road to Punta San Francisquito bends left. Platform at 28?44.73', 113?32.54'