BajaNomad

Sierra de Mulege ?

Aldervale - 11-25-2016 at 10:30 AM

Howdy

Is there anyone here experienced with the area west of Mulege city ?

Does the road past the Mission lead very far into ( or over ? ) the central spine of the penninsula ?

Looking for a loop route west and south then back to Loreto....history and natural history.

Suggestions for directing my search here or another site?

Many thanks

Aldervale

Hope this helps!

David K - 11-25-2016 at 11:02 AM

Here is the Auto Club (2010) map of the roads west of Mulegé, that go to mission-era sites, and beyond:





The road between San José de Magdalena and Mission Guadalupe has been closed to landslide/washout.

[Edited on 11-25-2016 by David K]

South to La Purísima

David K - 11-25-2016 at 11:06 AM

Since you are interested in getting to Loreto along El Camino Real from Mulegé, check out these maps. Nomad KurtG has driven a Ford Explorer (I think) on the road from Mulegé to Paso Hondo and on to La Purísima/San Isidro.

Many Nomads have used the 'new' road (next to the blue arrow) I added in as a dashed line...





[Edited on 11-25-2016 by David K]

Mulegé to Loreto... the hard way!

David K - 11-25-2016 at 11:24 AM


Map 1



Dashed lines on above map: The new auto road is the west fork from Las Chivas up and the Camino Real is the east fork via Guadajemi.

On the following maps: Dashed line is trail (El Camino Real from the 1700s) and solid line is 4x4 or truck roads....

Close Up of Guadajemi Trail and bypass road:



Map 2



The dashed line is the Camino Real mission road where it is different than newer automobile roads.

Map 3



The road is paved between Loreto and San Javier. The above maps are the 2009 Baja Almanac and the close-up map of the bypass road is the older, but larger scale Baja Topo Atlas from the 1980s and 90s.

[Edited on 11-25-2016 by David K]

TMW - 11-25-2016 at 11:41 AM

There are two trails out of Mulege to the west that make for a great loop ride/drive to Loreto.

1- looking at DKs first map Arroyo San Raymundo. It is a dirt road that goes west to the graded road along the coast to San Juanico. From there it is paved going south to Hwy 1 or back east to La Purisima/San Isidro and out to Hwy 1 north of Loreto.

2- A more challenging route is the one going south west from La Trinidad (same map) to Paso Hondo, called the Guajademi Trail. It was an old horse/mule trail that was graded a few years ago. It does not show up as a road on any maps that I know of. It ends at San Isidro. It is a switch back road up over and down the mountains and one of the more fun routes in my opinion. I've been both ways in my Tacoma.

The more difficult part of either trail is finding your way out of Mulege as the rains often change the roads in the arroyo. If you can find your way to Rancho Las Cuevitas that is the junction for both. From there it is not hard to find your way out.

There is a group now doing the San Raymundo Trail and their leader recently said the Guajademi Trail is closed thru the mountains due to the rains. But give it a few days and it could be open.

Jack Swords - 11-25-2016 at 12:16 PM

Wow, lots of info David. You should write a book!

Did several of these roads in past years, La Purisma Vieja is a beautiful date palm grove.

David K - 11-25-2016 at 12:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Jack Swords  
Wow, lots of info David. You should write a book!

Did several of these roads in past years, La Purisma Vieja is a beautiful date palm grove.


LOL...

Seriously, I have been asked to write two more... one on the El Camino Real in Baja (Harry's book is over 40 years old now, so maybe an update of some sort)... and another on my lifetime Baja travels, perhaps the more interesting trips and adventures?

Alas, I need a big time publisher who can give me an advance!!! HA!!

[Edited on 11-25-2016 by David K]

TMW - 11-25-2016 at 01:02 PM

David a new book on the El Camino Real would be great, especially with your maps etc. As to your Lifetime travels, as long as there are not too many baby pictures.

David K - 11-25-2016 at 01:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
David a new book on the El Camino Real would be great, especially with your maps etc. As to your Lifetime travels, as long as there are not too many baby pictures.


I would like to help Baja Bucko or wait to see what she is doing with her many years now, riding a mule on El Camino Real. That would be fantastic and a better replacement for Harry Crosby's work. I could do maps and how to see the mission road using 4x4s or hiking... as well as where it crosses or is covered by modern roads (such as the Hwy. 5 near Coco's Corner).

Not one baby picture of me (I was 7 when we went to Gonzaga Bay in 1965)... maybe Chris and Sarah, who I began taking to Baja when they were babes... about 1992?


Nuevo Mazatlan Trip

[Edited on 11-25-2016 by David K]

Aldervale - 11-25-2016 at 03:28 PM

Many thanks

Get me started with some planning.....had hoped to reach San Javier
and come out to Loreto.

Aldervale

David K - 11-25-2016 at 05:46 PM

I look forward to reading more on your trip!

AKgringo - 11-26-2016 at 05:27 PM

Aldervale, what are you driving? I followed two dirt bikes over the road west from Mulege on Thanksgiving. I was driving the older version Kia Sportage, stock except for oversize tires.

The east side of the divide is in pretty good shape, and could be done by most SUV's or light trucks, even in 2wd. Once you are down into the Arroyo, things get ugly.

There are long stretches of no road at all, except for what looks like a single pass down the arroyo with a bull dozer! I lost count of how may water crossing we made, and on one of them I high centered hard on a boulder!

I was able to get off it, but there is damage to my drive train or suspension somewhere that I can feel in certain conditions.

The road is more tedious than technically difficult, but it won't be fun in anything that is not running large soft tires.

By the way, the road from Mex 1 over the pass to San Isidro is also washed out pretty badly. The ranchers drive it in 2wd trucks, but it is brutal in several sections

The road between the Commondu's and San Isdro is in very good shape for a change. I do not know about the road from San Javier to the Commondu's, but I may drive down to Loreto in the next couple of days to check it out.

Aldervale - 11-26-2016 at 07:03 PM

Thanks AK

Your more current info is helpful

We have a more or less stock T 100 with a FWC camper shell....good tires and a pump.

We have self recovery experience but also know when to say nah to anything especially bad.

Just like getting away from the highway.

Aldervale

motoged - 11-26-2016 at 07:47 PM

Aldervale,
I was on one of the bikes with AKGringo (Gary, a fine adventure companion !! ) and wouldn't encourage you to do it alone. It was a challenge and a short wheelbase vehicle would be better....and it is rough going.

Aldervale - 11-26-2016 at 09:12 PM

AK and Motoged

I have read that you two are experienced riders on this route....
my off road riding skills are way past plus I cannot bring a bike and the camper .....

Is there a reasonable trek westward from Ciudad Mulege that might get us over to the Pacific side and then southward ?

We are just wanting to poke around, meet folks on Ranchos and see some of the country away from 1......some cuevas pinturas and mission sites would also be grand.

I will fine tune this as we get closer.....February....we may just head westward and then backtrack out.

You folks are very helpful with such good local info.

Aldervale

David K - 11-26-2016 at 09:33 PM

The first two maps I posted for you should be ideal, and you will see mission sites too. My book, and mission web pages have the GPS for the missions. Guadalupe is hard to spot as there is only a wall from the church left.

Gulliver - 11-26-2016 at 10:19 PM

Check your U2U

Mulege Canuck - 11-27-2016 at 08:49 PM

I did the road last year in a F350 and a very large Bigfoot camper. We camped at an amazing spot half way next to a river with great swimming, even fish. I plan to go there again this year for sure stay overnight and return back to Mulege. I would not recommend the second half on the west side. The scenery is not that spectacular ( compared with the east side) and it is a field of boulders and sand. It is not worth beating your rig up in my opinion.

We met some great rancheros up there. The dogs they use for moving the goats are amazing to watch work.

motoged - 11-28-2016 at 08:45 AM

Tom,
The Guajademi Trail has been closed by two rockslides that left the route presently unpassable by boulder rockslides that a local moto racer says one would have to lift their moto over (Trials type riding)...no word on when it might be cleared...I was mildly disappointed but not enough to leave AKGringo and Bailey out of a potential section if Dave and I tried it. I am skeptical that it will be cleared "in a few days" as it appears to have been out of commission since the last big rains here ( a few months ago?).

The west end of the Arroyo San Raymundo has a ranch that looks like it is likely Rancho Dolores on the AAA map DK provided above...for at least past 8 years there has been a road to Ejido Cadaje that cuts south from Dolores to Arroyo San Martin and out at Ejido Cadaje....the Ballena - Dolores road appeared much less used ...
Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
There are two trails out of Mulege to the west that make for a great loop ride/drive to Loreto.

1- looking at DKs first map Arroyo San Raymundo. It is a dirt road that goes west to the graded road along the coast to San Juanico. From there it is paved going south to Hwy 1 or back east to La Purisima/San Isidro and out to Hwy 1 north of Loreto.

2- A more challenging route is the one going south west from La Trinidad (same map) to Paso Hondo, called the Guajademi Trail. It was an old horse/mule trail that was graded a few years ago. It does not show up as a road on any maps that I know of. It ends at San Isidro. It is a switch back road up over and down the mountains and one of the more fun routes in my opinion. I've been both ways in my Tacoma.

The more difficult part of either trail is finding your way out of Mulege as the rains often change the roads in the arroyo. If you can find your way to Rancho Las Cuevitas that is the junction for both. From there it is not hard to find your way out.

There is a group now doing the San Raymundo Trail and their leader recently said the Guajademi Trail is closed thru the mountains due to the rains. But give it a few days and it could be open.