BajaNomad - Frog Canyon ( Calamajue wash )

Frog Canyon ( Calamajue wash )

Bajahoops - 3-8-2016 at 09:20 AM

Does anyone know if this is closed to off road traffic ? I know there where problems last year using this for the Baja 1000 and I been told it is closed to off road vehicles . Can anyone add to this ? Thanks !!!

David K - 3-8-2016 at 09:32 AM

Closed to racing events. It has been an open road since 1957 and was the gulf side 'highway' until 1983 when the road from Laguna Chapala was graded and replaced it. No reports it is impassable have been posted here.

PaulW - 3-8-2016 at 10:06 AM

The environmental permit for racing organizations was denied as of the last Baja 1000. You do not need the permit for private travel.

Bajahoops - 3-8-2016 at 10:09 AM

Thanks guys that is kind of what I thought but was not sure .

Calamajué Wash in 2012

David K - 3-8-2016 at 03:14 PM

Southbound, between Coco's Corner and Arroyo Calamajué (arroyo is located where the hills are in the distance, about 5 miles south)...

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At the edge of the arroyo, by the gold ore mill ruins, just before the road drops down into the arroyo...

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The remains of the short-lived Jesuit mission church (October 16, 1766-May 1767) located on the opposite side of the arroyo from the mill ruins. See the road dropping down to the arroyo across...

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Gold mill ruins as seen from the mission site...

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Mineral shelf just inside the canyon entrance, south from the mill and mission...

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The road drives right in the streambed for a few miles.
Deepest water in July 2012...

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Lot's of mineral coloring in the cliffs...

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Lone palm tree just out of water portion of the road...

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Once out of the canyon and heading to Hwy. 1 at El Crucero, we find these "dancing" boojum trees...

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On a map:

[Edited on 3-11-2019 by David K]

bajatrailrider - 3-9-2016 at 07:10 AM

Thank you for the great pictures,maps David. I have not been there,for years. Hope to ride bikes there this year.

David K - 3-9-2016 at 08:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

Thank you for the great pictures,maps David. I have not been there,for years. Hope to ride bikes there this year.

El gusto es mio!

Enrique2012 - 3-9-2016 at 01:16 PM

Thanks for bringing the wash to life with those photos David. I'm curious of the correct pronunciation of "Calamajue." I mostly hear it as CALA-MA-HEY, but Coco pronounces it CALA-MA-FUEY.

What's your thought?

David K - 3-9-2016 at 04:04 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Enrique2012

Thanks for bringing the wash to life with those photos David. I'm curious of the correct pronunciation of "Calamajue." I mostly hear it as CALA-MA-HEY, but Coco pronounces it CALA-MA-FUEY.

What's your thought?

cala-ma-WAY, as there is an accent on the e.

Thanks for your interest!

redhilltown - 3-10-2016 at 01:24 AM

My friend got stuck in one of those ponds/mud...and of course it was 100' and 100% humidity. At the time it sucked, now it is a great memory!

ehall - 3-10-2016 at 05:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

Thank you for the great pictures,maps David. I have not been there,for years. Hope to ride bikes there this year.

October maybe? I would love to ride the window rock trail while I am there.

bajatrailrider - 3-10-2016 at 07:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ehall

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

Thank you for the great pictures,maps David. I have not been there,for years. Hope to ride bikes there this year.

October maybe? I would love to ride the window rock trail while I am there.

Lets make a plan Ed Im in. I think It could be too hot to ride in Oct.

Calamajué Wash in 2016

David K - 3-11-2019 at 01:25 PM

To update a little from the 2012 photos, here are September 2016 photos:

From just north of Calamajué, to the viewpoint, the gold mill ruins, the mission site, the creek run, and the road on to El Crucero, passing the dancing boojum trees...

basautter - 3-11-2019 at 01:28 PM

Ok for dirt bikes? That is part of my plan for the second week of April.

David K - 3-11-2019 at 01:50 PM

Why not... unless getting wet is a problem! You can pop out to Km. 251 or Km. 261. The canyon is also the route of El Camino Real... the Mission Raod from Loreto to San Diego to Monterey!

basautter - 3-11-2019 at 01:56 PM

Thanks DK, you are always accurate and helpful!

David K - 3-11-2019 at 02:00 PM

Well, thank you... But, I do yield to those who have been there more recently than I. I hope that when I respond with sometimes dated info it will inspire others to jump in and "correct" me... Some do like to do that and I welcome it!!!

When you get back from your April trip, please consider sharing your photos and any road notes with us! :light:

6WHEELN - 3-11-2019 at 06:36 PM

Video from 3 weeks ago:

https://youtu.be/o0LsJo3Yo9M

Tomas Tierra - 3-12-2019 at 09:11 AM

When traveling the Calamajue road from Cocos, please stop at K13, "Kayla's Korner", and pay respect to a fallen Angel.

I will be there in a few weeks to light a candle and pick her some flowers. We miss her terribly

DEP Kayla!!

TT

BajaBlanca - 3-12-2019 at 09:53 AM

All those photos are just wonderful. Brings Baja to LIFE.

towntaco - 3-13-2019 at 06:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by basautter

Ok for dirt bikes? That is part of my plan for the second week of April.

I rode it on a loaded down 690 Enduro and found it easier than the deep sand on Laguna del Diablo. You will get wet.

JZ - 3-13-2019 at 07:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by basautter

Ok for dirt bikes? That is part of my plan for the second week of April.

It's a really easy ride on bikes. My kid did it when he was 11 or 12. That video showed an abnormal amount of water (it's rained so much this winter). Generally, there is a small fraction of that.

4x4abc - 3-13-2019 at 07:46 PM

by the way, some of the water is warm

Udo - 1-21-2020 at 11:37 AM

Thanks for the grat photos, David. We will be there a little later this year on a RZR run.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Southbound, between Coco's Corner and Arroyo Calamajué (arroyo is located where the hills are in the distance, about 5 miles south)...

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Gold mill ruins as seen from the mission site...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lot's of mineral coloring in the cliffs...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lone palm tree just out of water portion of the road...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a map:

[Edited on 3-11-2019 by David K]

Thanks for the great photos David, we will be going there on a RZR run a little later this Spring.

David K - 1-21-2020 at 12:04 PM

De nada, Udo.
Living the good life?
It would be nice to see you guys again!
Miss those surprise visits of years ago.
Once again, I live right off the 76, just further east, next to the 15.

Bajazly - 1-21-2020 at 04:33 PM

We came north thru there a few weeks ago and while many places we traveled were wet, a lot of standing water to drive thru or around, Frog Canyon was no wetter or dryer than it has ever been that I have seen.

February 2019

Ken Cooke - 1-21-2020 at 10:23 PM

matthew_mangus - 1-22-2020 at 01:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Why not... unless getting wet is a problem! You can pop out to Km. 251 or Km. 261. The canyon is also the route of El Camino Real... the Mission Raod from Loreto to San Diego to Monterey!

David, in this map, it looks like its possible to cross the mex1 and continue to the Pacific and then loop back via the 4x4 road that cuts through Laguna Isolote. Have you documented this route?

Udo - 1-22-2020 at 10:32 AM

That looked like a fun run!

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke

David K - 1-22-2020 at 10:42 AM

Quote: Originally posted by matthew_mangus

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Why not... unless getting wet is a problem! You can pop out to Km. 251 or Km. 261. The canyon is also the route of El Camino Real... the Mission Raod from Loreto to San Diego to Monterey!

David, in this map, it looks like its possible to cross the mex1 and continue to the Pacific and then loop back via the 4x4 road that cuts through Laguna Isolote. Have you documented this route?

Yes. The road log (sample section Part 3 of the new road guide) is posted in the Nomad Road Conditions forum and the trip report (2017) is #4 in the Nomad Trip Reports forum. The road west from Laguna Chapala I did not get to, but Nomads Stuck Sucks and TMW have.