BajaNomad

Rancho Meling

advrider - 12-30-2017 at 08:56 AM

I will be on a ten day ride in March with about eight guys and was thinking we might stay here one night? I have stayed at Mikes several times but would like to try something different. I don't usually make reservations, but with eight guys I figured it might be best? Reservations always mean that you have to keep a schedule, not my style! Any feedback would be appreciated... :lol:

David K - 12-30-2017 at 09:25 AM

I was there to have a look and get some data a couple months ago. I presume you have the website? More in my Trip #7 report.
Look nice with a huge, beautiful dining room and immaculate kitchen.

sd - 12-30-2017 at 10:22 AM

I have stayed many times. Yes, make reservations as the place is small. Meals are extra, and worth it. If you want something special for dinner ask them when making reservations. Dining room has massive fireplace, really nice.
Rooms have wood stoves. Worth your visit!

advrider - 12-30-2017 at 12:44 PM

Cool, thanks for the info. I will look back at your trip report David. I tried their web site this morning but it wasn't coming up? I'll try again...
I assume that they would have room eight people?

David K - 12-30-2017 at 02:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Cool, thanks for the info. I will look back at your trip report David. I tried their web site this morning but it wasn't coming up? I'll try again...
I assume that they would have room eight people?


Here is what is in my road log:
Km. 49.5 A road right goes 0.9 mile, downhill to Rancho Meling (Rancho San José), a guest ranch offering hospitality to visitors for over a century. Rooms are $70, and camping is $10. The kitchen serves breakfast ($8), lunch ($10) and dinner ($15). Guests may arrive by private plane, using the 3,000-foot runway just east. www.ranchomeling.com
The paved observatory road drops into the Meling Ranch valley then steeply climbs from the east side.

Here was a recent Baja Bound article that included Meling Ranch: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/san_pedr...

Here are my Meling Photos from last October:


Entry (sorry the sun was in the wrong spot)


Dinining room


Rooms


Rooms look upon the pool


The old family ranch house




[Edited on 12-30-2017 by David K]

advrider - 12-30-2017 at 02:36 PM

Thanks for the pictures, looks just like my kind of place! I will post up a trip report when I get back. Is El Coyote also a place to stay and eat? I know I have been by it but never stopped and looked.

ehall - 12-30-2017 at 02:41 PM

Cool place. Stayed there many times. Food is great too. Coyote is great too I hear. Same family. Maybe BTR will post up. He stays there frequently.

David K - 12-30-2017 at 02:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Thanks for the pictures, looks just like my kind of place! I will post up a trip report when I get back. Is El Coyote also a place to stay and eat? I know I have been by it but never stopped and looked.


YES!!! Excellent food and a nice camping area (as well as rooms). Meals included in room price (price is per person).

From the road log:
Km. 49 Road north to Rancho El Coyote, 4.9 miles. A guest ranch popular with dirt bike riders. Rooms include dinner and breakfast ($65/pp). A large grass camping area is here, with toilets and showers, $10/ night. An auto road from Rancho El Coyote to Mike’s Sky Rancho (12 miles) was badly damaged by heavy rains and reported impassable to most 4x4s in 2017.


Camping area


Swimming pool


Rooms

advrider - 12-31-2017 at 09:20 AM

Looking forward to your guide book, it will be nice to have on trips! Thanks for doing all of the work and posting your trip reports/research.

Vince - 12-31-2017 at 03:27 PM

Love the Meling Ranch! It looks much the same, but updated nicely, since I first went there in 1954. Last visited in mid '90's and it's time to go again.

David K - 12-31-2017 at 03:55 PM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
Looking forward to your guide book, it will be nice to have on trips! Thanks for doing all of the work and posting your trip reports/research.


Very kind of you!
I understand the love and passion we have for Baja and compels me to keep working at it.

The guide is pretty much done (except for one area I didn't get to I would like to be in it)... It is just editing and fine-tuning it now so it reads well and is understandable. I write in a style that is sometimes not the best! Thank goodness for friends who have seen the m/s and offered suggestions.

Barry A. - 12-31-2017 at 06:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Vince  
Love the Meling Ranch! It looks much the same, but updated nicely, since I first went there in 1954. Last visited in mid '90's and it's time to go again.


Yep, me too, Vince. One of the most fun places to stay and eat at I have ever been. Looks pretty much the same in these pics. My wife keeps ribbing me to take her there-----it's her kind of place. My last time there was in the '60's but I remember it vividly to this day. The road flooded out and I was "stuck" there for several days, which was alright with me. LOL


David K - 12-31-2017 at 06:41 PM

Well, it's 99% all paved now Barry... 30 miles from Mex. 1 and the last kilometer that is dirt is all downhill to the ranch... You can coast in!

El Coyote was pretty amazing with their kitchen, I must say! Only five miles from Meling, if Meling is full. The five dirt miles are not bad, either.

Barry A. - 12-31-2017 at 07:53 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Well, it's 99% all paved now Barry... 30 miles from Mex. 1 and the last kilometer that is dirt is all downhill to the ranch... You can coast in!

El Coyote was pretty amazing with their kitchen, I must say! Only five miles from Meling, if Meling is full. The five dirt miles are not bad, either.


Good to hear, David, but it won't be the "remote" place is use to be, I am afraid, with pavement that close. Interestingly, that "last kilometer that is all downhill" was the muddy-mess that kept anybody from leaving Meling Ranch back in the day when it rained hard. It was REALLY slick, and 2 wheel drive vehicles just slid all over the place with little to no progress up the hill, and the mud packed into the fenders like glue. LOL Those were the days of high adventure!!!!

willardguy - 12-31-2017 at 08:45 PM

in november I was up there with a friend that was putting final touches on an offroad adventure he put together.....spent a couple hours, that was enough for me. but I can see how it could appeal to some :D

mtgoat666 - 12-31-2017 at 09:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
in november I was up there with a friend that was putting final touches on an offroad adventure he put together.....spent a couple hours, that was enough for me. but I can see how it could appeal to some :D


Willy,
Too rustic for you, eh.
I suppose you only stay at places with room service and spa.
You prima donnas crack me up

willardguy - 12-31-2017 at 09:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
in november I was up there with a friend that was putting final touches on an offroad adventure he put together.....spent a couple hours, that was enough for me. but I can see how it could appeal to some :D


Willy,
Too rustic for you, eh.
I suppose you only stay at places with room service and spa.
You prima donnas crack me up


im not going to qualify that idiotic reply.....god you're an azzhole :no:

del mar - 12-31-2017 at 09:50 PM

never stayed there but took a looksee on the way up to the park, amazing how well groomed they keep it! is there riding trails out of there?

wilderone - 1-1-2018 at 09:36 AM

Yes, there are riding trails. Years ago when I was there, they had horses for rent (not sure about current accommodations). Their property goes quite a ways. There is an indigenous habitation site near the riverbed with morteros. There are apple trees that Duane (sp?) would make her apple butter with. A small cemetery too.

bajatrailrider - 1-1-2018 at 10:08 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by willardguy  
in november I was up there with a friend that was putting final touches on an offroad adventure he put together.....spent a couple hours, that was enough for me. but I can see how it could appeal to some :D


Willy,
Too rustic for you, eh.
I suppose you only stay at places with room service and spa.
You prima donnas crack me up
Ass hole of the year award love the loser when he barks:bounce:

bajatrailrider - 1-1-2018 at 10:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone  
Yes, there are riding trails. Years ago when I was there, they had horses for rent (not sure about current accommodations). Their property goes quite a ways. There is an indigenous habitation site near the riverbed with morteros. There are apple trees that Duane (sp?) would make her apple butter with. A small cemetery too.
Coyotes no longer services walk ins or feeds you. Reservations always sad to say. At Rancho Meling they we feed you most anytime. There both great places to stay. Coyote has working horses most of the time. Not around to ride when Mama ran the place never would turn you down to eat.

del mar - 1-2-2018 at 11:37 AM

are there dedicated motorcycle trails within meling ranch?

wilderone - 1-2-2018 at 12:20 PM

No. Roads go past and into Sierra San Pedro Martir. I don't know of any dedicated motorcycle trails in North America.

David K - 1-2-2018 at 12:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by wilderone  
No. Roads go past and into Sierra San Pedro Martir. I don't know of any dedicated motorcycle trails in North America.

Also, motorcycles are not permitted in the San Pedro Mártir National Park.. camping by four wheel automobile vehicle entry only. Talk with Larry (bajatrailrider) about the many dirt roads and trails that are public or open to motorcycles.

[Edited on 1-2-2018 by David K]

mcnut - 1-2-2018 at 04:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Also, motorcycles are not permitted in the San Pedro Mártir National Park.. [Edited on 1-2-2018 by David K]


David is correct, however last spring the rangers let us and another pair of motorcycles in. Ask nice with your wallet open (to pay entrance fee) and you will likely be let in.

Bruce

[Edited on 1-3-2018 by mcnut]