El Camino Real: MULEGE ROUTE (seen from Space)

Before 1720 (when the mission of Guadalupe de Huasinapi was founded), the Camino Real north from Loreto, Comondu and La Purisima went straight to Mulege (founded in 1705).

Once Guadalupe and later San Ignacio was founded (in 1726) the main Camino Real route north, bi-passed Mulege for the shortest distance to all the other northern missions.

The main Camino Real route from Loreto to San Ignacio is in pink highlighter, and the Mulege bi-pass is in blue. Because all the writings on the Camino Real from Harry Crosby and Howard Gulick concentrated on the main route at the time of Jumipero Serra 1769, not much is found on the Mulege route.



Harry Crosby's 1977 ECR map showing the north section of the Mulege route (south section, below):



Here is a close up of the Mulege section. Numbers indicate where the following 15 images where taken...



Only in image #6 can we see the mission road, all others are either unclear as to the age or modern roads overlay the mission road. The images do show the terrain the Camino Real travels, however...

1) San Sebastian where the north junction is located:



2) Following Arroyo Boca de Magdalena (per Baja Almanac) as it curves northward:



3) Rancho El Llano:



4) The arroyo is curving back south here:



5) Nearing San Jose de Magdalena:



6) Nearing a ranch by the pila and ruins often called Santa Maria de Magdalena, a section of old road is seen:



7) Heading southward across the desert:



8) Entering the hills along Arroyo San Baltazar/ El Perdido:



9) Soon the route is following Arroyo Año Nuevo towards Mulege:



10) The mission of Santa Rosalia de Mulege in the distance, marked with a yellow pin:



11) Passing just east of La Trinidad, as we follow the route south:



12) A major natural barrier, the foot of the grade of Guajademi (yellow pin in distance is Guajademi):



13) Guajademi on the Camino Real between La Purisima and Mulege:



14) Following the canyon downstream:



15) Junction with the main El Camino Real at San Jose de Guajademi (San Jose de los Arces):



Key map of images (again):


Crosby's map of the south section of the Mulege ECR:



Howard Gulick's 1954 Camino Real map:



Happy (Mission) Trails everyone!

Who would be interested in this stuff?
ME!
Thanks