BajaNomad

Has anyone done the trail South from Bahia Guadalupe to La Gringa?

JZ - 10-21-2019 at 05:20 PM

Edit: Replace references to Bahia Guadalupe with Ensenada Alcatraz.

The Window Rock trail goes into Bahia Guadalupe. We've made it that far, but it was dark and decided to not push our luck. Who has ridden (or driven?) it?






[Edited on 10-22-2019 by JZ]

David K - 10-21-2019 at 06:01 PM

The south half of that is the El Toro Mine road, I do believe... So, I have traveled it but many years ago. It was reported washed out when I was last north of La Gringa in 2017 from all the other flash floods of recent years.

The mine is at the end of the road (maybe near where the m/c trail from Bahía Guadalupe comes in?) but there are more mines plus the village site to the east of the end of the road (a foot trail only goes to the village site).

See my article and search Nomad for El Toro posts to read and see more.... https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/la_gring...

In that article are these GPS figures for you:

0.0 Road to north at La Gringa: 29º02.490’, -113º32.800’ elev. 8’

1.0 Left at fork in road: 29º03.210’, -113º33.200’ elev. 135’

7.0 Copper Mine, end of road: 29º05.870’, -113º35.820’ elev. 840’

El Toro Ghost Town: 29º05.350’, -113º35.220’ elev. 1,185’

[Edited on 10-22-2019 by David K]

JZ - 10-21-2019 at 06:32 PM

That's it exactly. I updated the image with your way points added.

4x4abc - 10-21-2019 at 06:56 PM

your picture shows Ensenada Alcatraz - Bahia Guadalupe is a 5 miles north

JZ - 10-21-2019 at 07:06 PM

Hmmm.... it was marked Guadalupe on Navonics (boating maps). That's were I got it from. And also I think that's what Nikno called it

Have you been on the trail?

advrider - 10-21-2019 at 07:08 PM

Some of the guy's I ride with rode it last year. They said the second half toward La Gringa was like riding in an old creek bed, all rocks, But I wasn't there..

4x4abc - 10-21-2019 at 07:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Hmmm.... it was marked Guadalupe on Navonics (boating maps). That's were I got it from. And also I think that's what Nikno called it

Have you been on the trail?


I have been there many times

alcatraz.png - 216kB

JZ - 10-21-2019 at 07:44 PM

Have you driven it from Alcatraz to La Gringa? What's it like?




[Edited on 10-22-2019 by JZ]

mjs - 10-21-2019 at 07:51 PM

Rode it a few years ago starting from La Gringa. Fun single track ride, there was one washout and a narrow downhill but nothing to hard. Would be harder going west to east. We left BoLA early and carried some extra gas, still out by the time we hit Hwy1 (start of Window Rock).

David K - 10-21-2019 at 08:08 PM

Bahia Guadalupe is the overall big bay with Punta Remedios at the north end.
Ensenada Alcatraz is the small bay at the south end.
Baja Nomad/ Doug has camped there often and posted great photos! Look here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=21098

JZ - 10-21-2019 at 08:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mjs  
Rode it a few years ago starting from La Gringa. Fun single track ride, there was one washout and a narrow downhill but nothing to hard. Would be harder going west to east. We left BoLA early and carried some extra gas, still out by the time we hit Hwy1 (start of Window Rock).


Thanks for the input. Thinking about doing a loop. From La Gringa up North to the bay then West and cut down South through the lake bed, and back into BoLA on the hwy. Maybe have the truck go around the other way and meet us at the bay for lunch and beers.





[Edited on 10-22-2019 by JZ]

JZ - 10-21-2019 at 08:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Bahia Guadalupe is the overall big bay with Punta Remedios at the north end.
Ensenada Alcatraz is the small bay at the south end.
Baja Nomad/ Doug has camped there often and posted great photos! Look here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=21098


That was a pretty interesting read through from 13 years ago.

Here is Doug's bay: 29° 10.980'N 113° 38.896'W.

We went right by there last year on the way to Alcatez, but didn't hit his spot. Will check it out next time.



Nikno - 10-21-2019 at 09:13 PM

Here is an alternate GPX track. I got this from someone else so I cannot vouch for it, but it is worth exploring.

https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/ab89f62d-ede9-4991...

I believe the track you have mapped out is the original mining road from La Gringa up to El Toro, so at some point it must have been passable to vehicles.

mjs: Do you think the route you took would be possible to do with highly modified Jeeps?

Anyone who has poked around in the area, do you think a daring group of 4x4s could make it through?

JZ: When are you going to be in the area? I'm hoping to be in Bahia sometime in early November.

JZ - 10-21-2019 at 09:38 PM

Thanks for posting the track Nikno. It's almost the exact same route, except instead of following the old mine road it goes to the right at the Y and goes by the waypoint I labeled Wash. Then it goes West and connects back into the route in the Op.

It would be good to know which way is easier and/or more interesting. Pretty short sections, so both could be tried out.

We are going to do Baja Sur in November/December. Then do Bahia in Jan.





[Edited on 10-22-2019 by JZ]

4x4abc - 10-21-2019 at 10:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Nikno  
Here is an alternate GPX track. I got this from someone else so I cannot vouch for it, but it is worth exploring.

https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/ab89f62d-ede9-4991...

I believe the track you have mapped out is the original mining road from La Gringa up to El Toro, so at some point it must have been passable to vehicles.

mjs: Do you think the route you took would be possible to do with highly modified Jeeps?

Anyone who has poked around in the area, do you think a daring group of 4x4s could make it through?

JZ: When are you going to be in the area? I'm hoping to be in Bahia sometime in early November.


can you please post kmz or gpx files?

I believe even the single track could be pioneered by some capable 4x4

JZ - 10-21-2019 at 10:47 PM

Here is the track he was referencing. You just have to create an account at Gaia to download it as KMZ or GPX.

Gaia is a good site.

Attachment: La Gringa to Bahia Guadalupe.kmz (7kB)
This file has been downloaded 220 times





[Edited on 10-22-2019 by JZ]

Nikno - 10-21-2019 at 11:19 PM

I believe the wash route might have been chosen because the mining road has some serious wash outs. I have seen several photos from the wash and it is definitely passable in a capable 4x4. Past El Toro will be the real adventure.

mjs - 10-22-2019 at 03:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Nikno  


mjs: Do you think the route you took would be possible to do with highly modified Jeeps?

Anyone who has poked around in the area, do you think a daring group of 4x4s could make it through?



Not when we did it. There was one canyon crossing that was washed out on the old roadbed and another section down a singletrack crosscut on a steep hillside. Not even wide enough for a quad at that time. The tracks in the wash out from La Gringa are OK for a Jeep. As of last week the tracks from the lakebed into Guadalupe are fine for a Jeep or truck.

Our 2016 track is attached. Rode it again in 2017. No real intel since then.

Attachment: Window Rock 29 NOV 2016 001.gpx (157kB)
This file has been downloaded 262 times

JZ - 10-22-2019 at 05:56 PM

mjs, where was the washout roughly? Before or after the alternative route through the wash when heading North from La Gringa.

mjs - 10-23-2019 at 10:02 AM

I think it was after the copper mine. Don't really remember as it wasn't an issue for a bike to get thru.

Marc - 10-24-2019 at 12:05 PM

I remember some time back there was a rumor about drug lab activity north of Gringa. Guys with gang tattoos driving expensive SUV's around town. Just what heard second hand.

elgatoloco - 10-24-2019 at 01:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Marc  
I remember some time back there was a rumor about drug lab activity north of Gringa. Guys with gang tattoos driving expensive SUV's around town. Just what heard second hand.


Breaking malo? :biggrin:

JZ - 10-24-2019 at 04:49 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Marc  
I remember some time back there was a rumor about drug lab activity north of Gringa. Guys with gang tattoos driving expensive SUV's around town. Just what heard second hand.


Get this sh^t out of my thread... tia.

chippy - 10-24-2019 at 07:13 PM

Hey JZ are you still gonna try and do the Guajademi track in Nov?

JZ - 10-24-2019 at 07:32 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy  
Hey JZ are you still gonna try and do the Guajademi track in Nov?


50/50 chance for November.

I chartered a boat for 4 days to take us down from Loreto to Isla San Francisco, and back. Three nights of sleeping out in different bays.

After that not 100% sure what we are doing that trip. We are leaning towards doing the coastal run from La Paz to Las Barriles. Did it in July, and loved it. And then doing the Naranjos Trail. Might do the Mulege area instead. Depends what the kids are up for.

Going back in December. So if we don't do Guajademi in November we are doing it in December.

Hoping run the trail from Bahia to Guadalupe (El Toro trail?) in January. And also Hagy Mesa near El Rosario.


[Edited on 10-25-2019 by JZ]

4x4abc - 10-24-2019 at 07:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Marc  
I remember some time back there was a rumor about drug lab activity north of Gringa. Guys with gang tattoos driving expensive SUV's around town. Just what heard second hand.


I have been visiting friends in town since 1986
the place is so small that if you don't see or hear what is going on, you must be blind or deaf
from what I heard (with beautiful details) "strange" activities have come and gone in waves
military always gave it some time (a good amount of time) before stepping in
enough time, the locals could generate some capital for a new store, or car, or boat
are the stories true?
I don't know
but one of my friends was German - they don't make things up

chippy - 10-25-2019 at 04:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by chippy  
Hey JZ are you still gonna try and do the Guajademi track in Nov?


50/50 chance for November.

I chartered a boat for 4 days to take us down from Loreto to Isla San Francisco, and back. Three nights of sleeping out in different bays.

After that not 100% sure what we are doing that trip. We are leaning towards doing the coastal run from La Paz to Las Barriles. Did it in July, and loved it. And then doing the Naranjos Trail. Might do the Mulege area instead. Depends what the kids are up for.

Going back in December. So if we don't do Guajademi in November we are doing it in December.

Hoping run the trail from Bahia to Guadalupe (El Toro trail?) in January. And also Hagy Mesa near El Rosario.


[Edited on 10-25-2019 by JZ]



Do you know if anyone has done the Guajademi track in a 4 wheeled vehicle recently? I´m thinking about trying in Nov.

JZ - 10-25-2019 at 09:15 AM

Nikno did it recently.

He started a thread on it a month or two ago.

Nikno - 10-25-2019 at 09:55 AM

Yup! Did it at the end of June 2019. Trail is in great shape.

Here is a Story Map of my journey:

https://viewer.mapme.com/baja-paso-hondo

There is a link to download the GPX track. Let me know if you have any questions.

chippy - 10-25-2019 at 10:33 AM

Thanks nikno and JZ.

BajaNomad - 10-25-2019 at 04:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Bahia Guadalupe is the overall big bay with Punta Remedios at the north end.
Ensenada Alcatraz is the small bay at the south end.
Baja Nomad/ Doug has camped there often and posted great photos! Look here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=21098


That was a pretty interesting read through from 13 years ago.

Here is Doug's bay: 29° 10.980'N 113° 38.896'W.

We went right by there last year on the way to Alcatez, but didn't hit his spot. Will check it out next time.





533131_10150805121359328_847001637_n.jpg - 78kB545154_10150804342104328_11141274_n.jpg - 60kB

David K - 10-25-2019 at 05:09 PM

Thanks Doug!