BajaNomad

Mountain Biking Baja

Jake - 5-24-2007 at 02:35 PM

I am planning a mountain bike across baja, with some carrying of the bike due to terrain. My general route of travel is across Laguna Salada, up Guadalupe pass, San Luis, north of Lake Hansen, Pantelones, San Pedro, San Juan, El Chapo, Santa Clara, Italia, La Zorra, La Casita, La Mission,
Does anyone have any advice about tranversing this area? (friendliness of ranchos, camping availability, water sources, animals, satellite phone coverage, terrain, etc.?)
Any helpful hints would be appreciated.
Jake

David K - 5-24-2007 at 02:55 PM

Do a Nomad search on Rancho San Luis, posted by 'Baja Cat'... and perhaps posts by 'jide' (who negotiated the trail down into Guadalupe Canyon)... Not for mountain bikes!!

windgrrl - 5-24-2007 at 07:19 PM

Lots of good trails in the hills around Los Barilles and a local champ (try the barman at Playa del Sol for details).

wilderone - 5-25-2007 at 09:00 AM

A lot of that area in Sierra Juarez is fenced, and at the sides of the dirt roads, due to periodic grading, is mounded loose dirt. This necessitates you ride more in the middle of the road, and of course, vehicles regularly use these roads so you'll have that hazard. It's also agriculture land after you come out of the mountains, so trucks will be kicking up the dust. It's a loooonng downhill ride coming out of the mountains, so that would be fun, but in some places, because it is downhill, rainwater flows create erosions across the road - sometimes deep. Water is available at stream crossings and there are little outposts near ranches that sell basics, and at each little puebla on the map will have some place to buy water. Camping is great in the Sierra Juarez, but again, a lot of fencing so you can't just pull over anytime you want. There are a lot of dirt roads off the main road that lead, Lord knows where, but afford an exit spot so you don't have to navigate thorough the dense mesquite. Once near the small agriculture pueblas, camping opportunities won't be so available because it's more populated and private property. There aren't any animals except a few deer in the higher elevations, and the occasional coyote and squirrels. You might consider starting in the National Park instead of climbing the pass. IMO, lugging a bicycle through a boulder-strewn pass might prove problematic.

mtgoat666 - 5-25-2007 at 11:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jake
I am planning a mountain bike across baja, with some carrying of the bike due to terrain. My general route of travel is across Laguna Salada, up Guadalupe pass, San Luis, north of Lake Hansen, Pantelones, San Pedro, San Juan, El Chapo, Santa Clara, Italia, La Zorra, La Casita, La Mission,
Does anyone have any advice about tranversing this area? (friendliness of ranchos, camping availability, water sources, animals, satellite phone coverage, terrain, etc.?)
Any helpful hints would be appreciated.
Jake


I would recommend you cross via San Pedro Martir. The road from the park to the pacific coast has very little traffic, and some dirt road alternatives exist. There are two canyons you could backpack your bike up or down the eastern escarpment (probably could not ride some sections). One canyon is located south of Pichacho del diablo (cant remember name), but I think it has some stock trails in part of the canyon. Other canyon is located north of park, it angles northeastward (cant remember name of canyon) and appears to have stock trails down the canyon for much of it.

An adventure endurance race (hike,, bike, kayak) periodically does a route across Baja via the park. If you ask them, maybe you could get a route map for their bike route.

I recommend you hike the canyons on the east escarpment, and have someone shuttle your bikes via car.