BajaNomad

WANTED...Adventure planners with experience!!

OCEANUS - 5-4-2019 at 03:24 PM

At the end of June, I will be traveling north with my 11 yo son from San Jose del Cabo to California. We will have a 4x4 truck, fishing gear, snorkeling gear, an SUP and window of 7 days to do whatever we want. We are into having adventures and making memories.

Pretty much, anything south of LA Bay & Animas Bay is unchartered territory for us.

Who's got some ideas?

JZ - 5-4-2019 at 03:32 PM

My kids are 15 and 17 and I've been taking them since they were 7. When I get back to my house I'll give you some recs that will make you look like the world's best dad.

Watch the first video in my sig.



[Edited on 5-4-2019 by JZ]

David K - 5-4-2019 at 04:08 PM

You are welcome to look at my 2017/2018 trip reports here on Nomad (as well as any others from before) where I traveled over 12,000 miles up and down the peninsula for a fresh examination of roads and sites, many I had not been to and some I have for over 50 years.

My 2017-2018 Baja Bound Guide Research Trip Reports (with photos and maps):

TRIP #1: San Felipe to Gonzaga Bay, Bahía de los Angeles, and Punta San Francisquito

TRIP #2: San Ignacio to Loreto area, to San Javier, Comondú, and La Purísima to Hwy. 1

TRIP #3: Mexicali to San Felipe, Valle Chico Canyons, Matomí, and El Rosario Area

TRIP #4: Valle de Trinidad to San Vicente, Seven Sisters Coast roads, and Laguna Manuela

TRIP #5: Guerrero Negro to El Arco, El Barril, San Francisco de la Sierra, Abreojos, Asunción, Tortugas

TRIP #6: San Ignacio to San Juanico, Insurgentes, Mag Bay, San Evaristo, La Paz, and Cabo

TRIP #7: Tijuana to San Quintín, San Pedro Mártir, Observatory, and Rancho El Coyote

TRIP #8: Tecate to Ensenada to San Felipe to Laguna Chapala, and through Laguna Hanson to Tecate



In addition, my website www.vivabaja.com is designed to help people decide what they want to visit.

I am always happy to answer questions or recommend people who may be of help. You can email me (info at vivabaja.com) if you have questions. Naturally, I find the mission construction period (1600s-1800s) extra interesting and wrote a book giving the best data possible on who, what, when, where, and why: Baja California Land of Missions





DK_BCMG_Cover_011116c.jpeg - 106kB

[Edited on 5-4-2019 by David K]

Howard - 5-4-2019 at 04:08 PM

Camping or hoteling?

JZ - 5-4-2019 at 07:59 PM

Places to hit for sure: La Paz, Loreto, and Bay of LA.

La Paz

Very special town with tons to do for kids and adults. From Cabo, drive up the way that goes through Los Barriles to get there.

- stay at B&B Casa Juarez. Very inexpensive place and pretty nice. The owners are Italian and welcoming.

- You need to take a boat out to the islands. It's the best water in all of Baja. Just beautiful. Turquoise blue like the Caribbean. Out of Tecolote (15-20 mins from central La Paz) you can go to the islands on a panga with other ppl or buy the whole boat and go by yourselves. You can also rent a higher-end boat from one of the marinas for the day, for $300-500. PM me if you want some contacts.

Can't begin to explain how awesome the many bays are on Isla Espíritu Santo and Isla Partida. Just fabulous. You have to go all the way to the last island, Los Islotes - there you will see a hundred sea lions. You can swim with the pups.

- One day drive your truck out to Tecolote. Once there you can explore along the coast for maybe 5-7 miles just finding different beaches. Lots of sandy, dirt roads of varying difficultly. We've spent many days out there fooling around. Bring lunch, or go a little later and bring wood to build a fire on the beach.

- Lots of great places to eat in La Paz, see the other thread on the front page for ideas.

- When you leave La Paz, drive up to San Evaristo. Hands down, the best coastal drive in all of Baja. It's about a 2-3 hr drive. Very easy for 90% of it. You can let your kid drive the truck a bit. The last several miles before you get to the bay are epic Baja. Up and through the mountain. Dad needs to drive this part for sure, but nothing a 4x4 can't handle easily.

The San Evaristo bay itself is "ok." Not beautiful, but nice, and lots of locals live there and fish. About 8 miles from Evaristo by water is, maybe, the most quintessential, half moon bay in the world on Isla San Fransisco. We have been there a few times on our boat and it's spectacular. I haven't done it yet, but I'm sure you could pay a panga in Evaristo to take you out there. World class snorkeling. Watch out for the eels on the South corner of the beach.

If you have a tent, you should camp in San Evaristo for the night. From there you want go to Cuidad Constitution, and get back on MX 1. Really cool 50-60 mile dirt road trip. If you don't camp in Evaristo, you might spend the night in Constitution, if you stay the night in Evaristo, then just keep going on to Loreto, which is another hour and a half.

Loreto:

Stay at La Mision hotel. Not cheap, but not super expensive, and well worth it. Super nice hotel with great balconies and beautiful views of the ocean. You can walk to the marina in 3 mins. The hotel bar has great beers, IPA and brown ale from a local brewery. Hotel Oasis would be my 2nd recommendation. Less expensive, and right on the ocean.

The one must do in Loreto is to rent a panga and go out to Isla Coronado. It will only cost you about $90 for 5-6 hours. It's a short 20-30 min ride. The water there is incredible. You can use the SUP and snorkel gear for sure.

The most beautiful mission in Baja is San Javier. It's about a 30-45 min drive on pavement from Loreto.

There are two really good day trips you can do from Loreto. Agua Verde or San Basilo. AV is to the South and Basilo is North. Both are fantastic, but AV is the must do. The turnoff of MX 1 to AV is maybe 45 mins from Loreto. From there it is about an 1hr drive in the dirt. Another really epic Baja mountain drive. My kid drove part of it at 13, so it's not that hard.

Lots of great places to eat in Loreto. Ask Howard for recs.

Bahia de Los Angeles (Bay of LA)

Stay at Costa del Sol. Best hotel in town. Pretty cheap and nice. The restaurant is excellent, especially for breakfast.

Charter a panga for the day. There are 16 islands in the bay. You have to go and see La Ventana, the window rock. Swim off the boat and walk through the window. You'll want to take a pic of your kid on the front of the boat with La Ventana in the background. It's a pic you guys will never forget.

Right by La Ventana is a big bay on another island; in that bay you can hike to the top of the island and see the entire Bahia de Los Angels bay. Easy hike with a beautiful view. To top the day off take the panga over to Rincon. A really nice white sand beach, where the SS Minnow lays.

Another thing to do in BoLA is to drive out to La Gringa. Build a fire on the beach.

If you want to do something extreme, rent a super panga from Guillermos and go to Puerto Refugio on the northern tip Isla Ángel de la Guarda. See the 2nd video in my sig to see how amazing that place is. By far it is the top bay of all the many islands in the Sea of Cortez. Roughly 80 miles round-trip by boat.

Hope that helps. I can give you more ideas, details, and/or tracks if you need them. Enjoy the trip with your kid!



[Edited on 5-17-2019 by JZ]

San Evaristo

Whiskey Witch - 5-5-2019 at 07:08 AM

and San Evaristo even has a few accommodations now (very modest) check out https://www.barbarita-tours.com There is also a sweet little restaurant Lupe Sierra's and a small tienda. Be sure to take a walk north of the village past the school to the north end where there is a small rancho and former salt ponds. Bring along some school supplies or fun things for local kids.

wilderone - 5-5-2019 at 08:06 AM

From SJoseDC, drive to Sol de Mayo in the Sierra de la Laguna outside of Santiago. Camping there - hike to waterfall pool, then hike a bit further on the trail to palm studded arroyo with pools. Next day get to Los Arbolitos (5 mi. past Cabo Pulmo), passing Las Cuevas - hike to bat cave - ask anyone there to put you on the right trail. Enjoy the beach at Los Arbolitos, hike down to Playa la Sirenita for snorkeling. Maybe rent a kayak for early morning coastal paddle. Then drive to La Paz - camp at Playa Tecolote, visit Bahia Balandra. Take a snorkel tour boat (hook up at Tecolote) - awesome and don't miss it (about $50/pp - all day). Then longish drive to Loreto - maybe go fishing out of there. Drive to Mission San Javier. Onward to Mulege - go fishing out of there - couple campgrounds available. Stop in San Ignacio for a look-see, meal; then head to Campo Rene (Puntas Abreojos Rd) - fishing. Take the coastal road to Bahia Asuncion - say Hi to Shari - maybe go out for fishing, swimming with sealions, stay at one of her casitas. Longish haul toward Catavina - check out the pictograph overhang, stop at El Marmol, lunch in El Rosario, camp at Cielito Lindo hotel on the beach. Head toward the border - see mission San Vicente en route, veer off to Mex. 3 to cross at Tecate (El Trailero taco shop in El Sauzal) - stop at LA Cetto winery (and the one across from it) - wine, olive oil, jams, salsas, olives.

[Edited on 5-5-2019 by wilderone]

shari - 5-5-2019 at 08:17 AM

at that time of year we have nice cool weather here on the Pacside on the central coast so try out the loop from Pta.Abreojos, La Bocana and Bahia Asuncion. It is our favorite time of year for a trip to the Island out in front of the village where over 6,000 sealions live and they have the new babies which are so sweet to see them playing on the beach!

We have kayaks you can take to the Island too as it is only a 20 minute easy paddle from our Inn or campground. Kids love it here!

AKgringo - 5-5-2019 at 09:44 AM

You only have seven days...Que lastima! I like everything I have read so for, but I would like to point out that the highway goes by Los Barriles, not through it!

I think it is worth the time to make the trip down into the main part of town. Check out the beaches, there may be a lot of kite boarders depending on the wind.

The main road to La Paz from Los Barriles is a great drive, but I like the coast road out through El Cardonal and over the pass to the road that serves La Ventana. (half paved, half rugged road)

Another option would be to drive the coast road through L.B. to E.C., then loop back to the main highway on the paved road that was cut into the mountains a few years ago. There is a bypass road just north of L.B. that will get you back on track quicker if you don't need to drive through town again.

JZ - 5-5-2019 at 12:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  

The main road to La Paz from Los Barriles is a great drive, but I like the coast road out through El Cardonal and over the pass to the road that serves La Ventana. (half paved, half rugged road)



Someone just showed me this route (plus a little more in the dirt). Looks like a great day trip, ride from La Paz. Looking forward to doing it in a couple months.





Track using Google Earth:

Attachment: Rt La Paz to Los Barriles.kmz (6kB)
This file has been downloaded 227 times



[Edited on 5-5-2019 by JZ]

JZ - 5-5-2019 at 12:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Whiskey Witch  
and San Evaristo even has a few accommodations now (very modest) check out https://www.barbarita-tours.com There is also a sweet little restaurant Lupe Sierra's and a small tienda. Be sure to take a walk north of the village past the school to the north end where there is a small rancho and former salt ponds. Bring along some school supplies or fun things for local kids.


That is cool. They will take you out to Isla San Jose and Isla San Fransisco.

I think I've seen the restaurant out there, but it was never open.


[Edited on 5-5-2019 by JZ]

David K - 5-5-2019 at 02:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Whiskey Witch  
and San Evaristo even has a few accommodations now (very modest) check out https://www.barbarita-tours.com There is also a sweet little restaurant Lupe Sierra's and a small tienda. Be sure to take a walk north of the village past the school to the north end where there is a small rancho and former salt ponds. Bring along some school supplies or fun things for local kids.


Attractive fishing village. In 2017, I saw the food sign on the south side of the village area, but regret not driving in to see it. I thought there was more to see in the village itself, but saw nothing else advertised. I did go to the salt works just north, where the road ends... The Canadian couple I met at Mission San Luis Gonzaga wrote fondly of it in their blog.


First view of San José Island coming in from the west, on top of the range.




San Evaristo


Salt works, just north of the village.


StuckSucks - 5-5-2019 at 05:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  

Someone just showed me this route (plus a little more in the dirt). Looks like a great day trip, ride from La Paz. Looking forward to doing it in a couple months.




I've done the northbound version of this in a truck, and the scenery is off the charts, remote in some sections. There's some slightly rocky washes while heading west at the north end of the run. If you're in a full-sized truck, you may bump into some tight spots. A fun drive, it's a keeper.

JZ - 5-5-2019 at 09:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by StuckSucks  

I've done the northbound version of this in a truck, and the scenery is off the charts, remote in some sections. There's some slightly rocky washes while heading west at the north end of the run. If you're in a full-sized truck, you may bump into some tight spots. A fun drive, it's a keeper.


Good to hear. Looks like a ton of really nice deserted beaches. I've marked a couple to stop and check out for sure.

Think we are gonna ride the bikes down, and then load them back up on the truck and take the hwy back.



[Edited on 5-6-2019 by JZ]

PaulW - 5-6-2019 at 05:47 AM

True, a great trip. Some sections on the cliff are narrow with no passing. The view way down is impressive.
Has anyone done it recently? There was a blockage reported a while back. Something like a big rock to stop full size rigs.
=== ===
Quote: Originally posted by StuckSucks  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  

Someone just showed me this route (plus a little more in the dirt). Looks like a great day trip, ride from La Paz. Looking forward to doing it in a couple months.




I've done the northbound version of this in a truck, and the scenery is off the charts, remote in some sections. There's some slightly rocky washes while heading west at the north end of the run. If you're in a full-sized truck, you may bump into some tight spots. A fun drive, it's a keeper.

advrider - 5-6-2019 at 06:56 AM

So many good ideas it will be hard to narrow it down and only pick a few..

gnukid - 5-6-2019 at 07:17 AM

I've done it in the past few weeks. No boulder blocking but a car (chevy) broken down blocked the road both ways with no room to pass. Drove back to Los Plannes to get them a tire. No cell reception and no chance of getting help. It's a steep drop off in parts. Quite entertaining and frightening. Better by boat.

mtgoat666 - 5-6-2019 at 07:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by OCEANUS  
At the end of June, I will be traveling north with my 11 yo son from San Jose del Cabo to California. We will have a 4x4 truck, fishing gear, snorkeling gear, an SUP and window of 7 days to do whatever we want. We are into having adventures and making memories.

Pretty much, anything south of LA Bay & Animas Bay is unchartered territory for us.

Who's got some ideas?


June is too hot for sea of cortez side of baja.
Go camping in 7 sisters area, take kayaks and boards
Also, June is good time for san pedro martir.

AKgringo - 5-6-2019 at 07:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
True, a great trip. Some sections on the cliff are narrow with no passing. The view way down is impressive.
Has anyone done it recently? There was a blockage reported a while back. Something like a big rock to stop full size rigs.



Paul, I (and maybe others) reported the partial blockage a couple of years ago. It was cleared the same year, probably by the ranchers who use that road.

JZ - 5-6-2019 at 09:53 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


June is too hot for sea of cortez side of baja.



Not true. It would be true if you were gonna live there. But this is a short trip and the guy has an 11 yo kid. The water in June on the SoC is just perfect.

Gotta be out on the water though, sitting around on the beach won't be great.


[Edited on 5-6-2019 by JZ]

OCEANUS - 5-7-2019 at 07:10 AM

Thank you Nomads!
These are all great ideas, and I particularly like the recommendations of taking coastal roads and getting out to the islands for a day on the water. We are going to have to pick and choose the ones we want to focus on for this trip, and save the others for future runs...nothing wrong with planning even more trips to Baja.

LukeJobbins - 5-7-2019 at 02:57 PM

For hiking, San Pedro de mártir.

OCEANUS - 5-7-2019 at 05:21 PM

I've had San Pedro de Martir on my list for awhile now. What's the drive time from Mex 1 up to the campground?

Is it worth it for 1-2 nights?

Or would it best to save it for a longer trip?

JZ - 5-7-2019 at 05:48 PM

Here are all the tracks and waypoints you need for San Evaristo.



Attachment: Area Around San Evaristo.kmz (15kB)
This file has been downloaded 284 times


David K - 5-7-2019 at 06:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by OCEANUS  
I've had San Pedro de Martir on my list for awhile now. What's the drive time from Mex 1 up to the campground?

Is it worth it for 1-2 nights?

Or would it best to save it for a longer trip?


Detailed in this trip report: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=87976

Here is some of that trip report (DAY 4 of 6):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I left El Rosario at 9 am after filling my gas tank at Antonio's service station. It is still a Pemex station, but things are changing in Mexico. The price per liter of Magna (87 octane) was 16.39 pesos (62.03 per gallon or US$3.56).

Driving north, I noted that the road up into the Sierra San Miguel (lower San Pedro Mártir), passing near San Isidoro, is paved now where it leaves Hwy. 1. This is at Km. 187.5. TW, The squarecircle, and John M recently traveled this route: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=81801

I passed by the observatory highway (Km. 140.5, San Telmo de Abajo) to top my fuel tank before going up the mountain. The Pemex station is at Km. 139, just north of town. The price here was 16.29 pesos/liter. It is 71 miles from El Rosario and it took 3.7 gallons to top the tank. That was 19.2 miles/gallon (I love ethanol-free gasoline) which is good for about 2-3 mpg better than I ever get on California gasoline highway driving!

Back to the highway junction to head up to the San Pedro Mártir. The junction is 130 feet above sea level. This (now) paved road goes 100.5 kilometers (62 miles) and climbs to 9,280 feet above sea level!


The junction, northbound. Red cross was on the highway asking for donations here.


Overhead signs after making the turn.




This is the distance to the observatory complex. There is a gate at Km. 97.5 (elev. 8,705') only open for three hours (10 am-1 pm) unless there is work going on at the telescopes. There is no view other than of the trees at the gate. Time your trip to arrive early and hope you can get through. A call box is at the gate where you are to ask it be opened. The call box was out-of-order.

ROAD LOG:

0.0 Highway 1, elevation 130'.
4.2 Narrow bridge
5.6 San Telmo (now a ghost town) was an important visita od Mission Santo Domingo and a farming supply center until recent years when many have moved down to Highway 1 for more opportunity.
11.3 (Km. 18+) Hacienda Sinaloa a town of farm workers with one small store.
17.0 (Km. 27.5) Road right goes into the hills to Valladares and Santa Cruz.
17.6 Signed road left to Ranchos (Las Choyas, Cortez, El Papalote). Road begins a steep climb.
22.0 1,000' elevation.
24.0 2,000' elevation.
30.3 (Km. 49) Road north to El Coyote guest ranch (rooms, camping, meals).
30.6 (Km. 49.5) Road to right to Meling Ranch, a guest ranch with a long history. Rooms, meals, camping, airstrip.
34.0 3,000' elevation.
39.0 4,000' elevation.
39.3 (Km. 63.5+) Road south to El Potrero.
40.6 (Km. 66) Socorro mine site. Not much left from the early 1900s when the Meling/Johnson family worked the placer goldfield. A water ditch was constructed about 1896 by Harry Johnson for some 20 miles along the mountainside from the San Rafael River for the water needed at Socorro.
41.6 (Km. 67+) Road left, signed to La Joya. Badly eroded from last winter's rains, this ranch and the former Dark Skys Inn (Rancho La Concepción) was once reached this way, but today may be impassable.
43.4 (Km. 70) 5,000' elevation.
45.0 6,000' elevation.
45.2 (Km. 73) Fire break road to the right (yellow gate).
Km. 73.5+ Road right 0.3 mi. to the former Los Manzanos RV Park/Campground. Abandoned.
Km.74.5+ La Cienega de Soto resort project.
48.1 (Km. 77.5) Former park entrance payment gate, ex-ranger station (6,800').
48.6 7,000' elevation.
51.0 8,000' elevation.
51.7 (Km. 83.5) Park Entrance Payment Ranger Station 'La Corona'. Elevation: 8,259'.
Km. 84 Campo Cacomixtle, El Condor, Cimarron, and more, on both sides of the highway.
Km. 86.5 Capilla San Pedro. A small chapel on a hilltop.
56.3 (Km. 91) Road south for La Tasajera (10 km.). Locked gate at Mile 1.9.
56.8 Museum (closed).
57.8 (Km. 93+) The Aguaje del Burro road to the right goes 2.0 miles to a covered spring. This was an old cattle camp.
58.2 (Km. 93.5+) Mirador El Altar road right (elev. 8,000'). It is 0.3 mi. to the El Mirador trail. A right fork just off the highway goes 2.2 miles to a pretty area.
58.9 (Km. 94.5+) Pass a military camp and a side road left to the Venado Blanco trail.
60.3 (Km. 97.5) Parking area (left) and gate restricting access to the observatories. 8,705'. A phone box on the left (out-of-order) to request passage. It is 3 kilometers and over 500' higher to the end of the road at Mexico's largest telescope.
61.2 (Km. 99) 9,000' elevation.
62.1 (Km. 100+) Elev. 9,280'. The highest point reached by automobile in Baja California. The national observatory.




Two condors are circling above! The black and white wings set them apart from common vultures.


The road north 4.9 miles to Rancho El Coyote is at Km. 49 (2,622').


The Meling road is just 1/4 mile past the El Coyote road and drops down to the ranch, 0.9 mi. I stop by on my way down the mountain and take photos and get rates.


Begin the next steep climb.


View back down to Meling Ranch. The 0.9-mile dirt road from the highway down to the ranch is clearly seen. The airstrip is on this side of the ranch, the line running to the right edge of the photo.


Don't bother the condors!

TO BE CONTINUED...








Only 64 pesos per day to enter and stay in the park (US$3.68).

The former park entrance is passed near Km. 78 and the new entrance ranger station is at Km. 83.5 at La Corona, 8,259'.




Aspen trees are really outstanding!

More to come!!

Just past the ranger station are several camping areas, each named for forest animals. Some are near the paved road and others are a ways off the road. Most have trash cans, pit toilets, and a few have fire pits and bar-b-ques. Note, that once you pass these signed camping places around Km. 84/85, there is no camping allowed. The rest of the park is for day use only.






The park museum, it was open at least once, when the governor was here to cut the ribbon. Graham Mackintosh attended. His excellent book, 'Nearer my DOG to Thee' is wonderful reading: http://www.grahammackintosh.com/Pages/NearerMyDogtoThee.aspx


At least three new observatories have been added since my last visit. They are over on the ridge to the right.


Km. 97.5 The gate, 8,705'... says open 10 am to 1 pm. I get there just a few minutes after 1. I hadn't planned on camping in the high altitude, but the close-up photos of the observatories and one of the world's best viewpoints were worth the cold night sleep.

I turned around and took the time to check out many of the signed side roads off the paved road.


Notice the size of these trees compared to the road.










Aguaje del Burro, a spring.




Some tall trees!



To Be Continued...






The twin peaks of Baja's highest mountain, El Picacho del Diablo (10,154').


La Tasajera road gate.




Diablo Mountain top.







END OF DAY 4.

Tomorrow, the observatory (I hope)!

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

The rest of the TRIP #7 report from October 2017: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=87976


[Edited on 5-8-2019 by David K]

basautter - 5-8-2019 at 04:23 AM

I would recommend getting the book "The Baja Catch" by Neil Kelly and Gene Kira. It's a great starting point for fishing. "The Baja Adventure Book" is dated, but still a good reference. David K has a good book on Missions if that is part of your agenda.

The Baja Almanac is a great map, if you can find one for a reasonable price (out of print and usually very expensive). The AAA Baja Map is also good, and probably more easily obtained.

If you have a GPS unit, I recommend the E32 map (see below link). It's the best map of Baja I have used so far.

http://cartografiagps.com/en/

I take a SPOT for "I am ok" messages via satellite and emergencies. There are additional devices for two way satellite texting (Garmin InReach).

https://www.findmespot.com/en/
https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/

Have fun!





[Edited on 5-8-2019 by basautter]

[Edited on 5-8-2019 by basautter]

LukeJobbins - 5-8-2019 at 10:23 AM

San Pedro can be a day trip. Good road all the way. About 2 hours off the highway. Only campground camping allowed and exact change required for entry. It was either 68 or 72 peso per person per day last week. I can’t remember exactly.

blackwolfmt - 5-8-2019 at 10:45 AM

Great pics DK,,Those are some gorgeous Pondys for sure

David K - 5-8-2019 at 01:55 PM

Thanks... from my trip report in October 2017. It was COLD at 8,000 feet!!! I did get a personal tour of the observatory site by the head guy the next day, so it was worth it to complete the guidebook research for that road.

OCEANUS - 5-11-2019 at 12:19 PM

Thank you Nomads for the SPM info. We usually get up to the Eastern Sierra for a backpacking trip every Summer, but with all the snow up in the backcountry this year, looks like the "Baja Sierra" will be an awesome surrogate.

Marc - 5-14-2019 at 09:17 AM

Can you budget more time? Seven days doesn't seem enough.

BajaMama - 5-14-2019 at 09:21 PM

Just north of Catavina turn right onto the road to El Marmol, the old onyx mine. There is a graveyard, school house, and lots of onyx for the taking (but outside the fenced areas). Your son will love it.


North of El Rosario, just after the military check station, turn left onto the well marked road to La Lobera. A sea lion rookery, and beautiful views and scenery. Your son will love that, too.

Each of these excisions will not take more than 2 hours. That's all I got.

[Edited on 5-15-2019 by BajaMama]

[Edited on 5-15-2019 by BajaMama]

StuckSucks - 5-15-2019 at 02:57 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  

Someone just showed me this route (plus a little more in the dirt). Looks like a great day trip, ride from La Paz. Looking forward to doing it in a couple months.


I almost forgot -- I shot a photo sphere along this road.


JZ - 5-15-2019 at 03:27 PM

That is a narrow road.

StuckSucks - 5-15-2019 at 04:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
That is a narrow road.


Perfect for "high school" trucks.

One of Cameron Steele's "Rip to the Tip" shows ran along this section and had some great footage. Would be quick/easy work on a bike.

honda tom - 5-15-2019 at 07:41 PM

JZ's suggestions are spot on... hit the coast and get to the islands. June is not bad on the sea of cortez… early june is better however, and on a boat it doesn't matter. In Loreto the Mission Hotel is the nicest, but also the highest priced I think about 120 per nite. Just 2 blocks down on the beach is the Oasis at about 70 per nite. Great food and very nice rooms. I always enjoy pulling up to the different island beaches with my kids.... something they'll never forget.

JZ - 5-16-2019 at 08:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by StuckSucks  


Perfect for "high school" trucks.

One of Cameron Steele's "Rip to the Tip" shows ran along this section and had some great footage. Would be quick/easy work on a bike.


Gonna run it in about 45 days. Your posts always inspire me. Can't wait to experience it with my two boys.

Wife and daughter might actually come on this trip too.



[Edited on 5-17-2019 by JZ]