BajaNomad - Los Barriles Santa Teresa

Los Barriles Santa Teresa

vespaio - 12-15-2019 at 09:55 AM

Hi,

Has anyone recently driven the Los Barriles-Santa Teresa from Cardinal to San Juan de Los Planes? I'm thinking of driving it in early February.

Thanks,
Ray

AKgringo - 12-15-2019 at 10:14 AM

JZ recently posted about a difficult route, and I think it is the one you are asking about; http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=76794&got...

Hopefully he will confirm, or correct me on this.

Fernweh - 12-15-2019 at 11:22 AM

I do believe the road in question, is the one going along the coast to Los Planes / Bahia de Los Muertos.

We drove it in the opposite directions a couple weeks ago, not a problem for high clearance or 4x4 vehicles.

JZ - 12-15-2019 at 12:01 PM

We did San Juan de Los Planes to Los Barriles twice this year. Once in July and once last month. The first 5-6 miles to get to the coast is pretty rough. Lots of rocks. Pretty narrow. The November run was harder. More rocks and ruts. We made it in my 3/4 ton, stock except for high-end King shocks. Took us about 1.5hr to go 5 miles. We had the bikes as well, they flew through there.

Once you hit the coast there are a couple miles that are a little bumpy, but much easier than the initial drive through the canyon. After that it is a very easy and very beautiful drive. Arguably a top 3 coastal drive in all of Baja.

[Edited on 12-15-2019 by JZ]

JZ - 12-15-2019 at 12:17 PM

vespaio - 12-15-2019 at 12:21 PM

Thanks JZ,

This exactly the road and the 5-6 miles I was concerned about. I'll skip it this time.

Ray

By the way....Welcome to the forum!

AKgringo - 12-15-2019 at 01:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by vespaio

Thanks JZ,

This exactly the road and the 5-6 miles I was concerned about. I'll skip it this time.

Ray

I love that drive, and suggest you check back in January. I once reported that same stretch as passable only for small vehicles, due to rock falls, but they were cleared out fairly soon.

Unlike some of the older abandoned roads, the ranchers that use this one will occasionally bring out equipment to fix some of the storm damage.

[Edited on 12-15-2019 by AKgringo]

JZ - 12-15-2019 at 02:02 PM

Another shot, looking North.

vespaio - 12-15-2019 at 04:04 PM

Thanks for both. I will check back towards the end of January. We expect to cross the border about 1 Feb and wouldn't arrive in this area until a week or more later.

mtgoat666 - 12-16-2019 at 07:37 AM

Quote: Originally posted by gnukid

There are stories that jews fleeing the war arrived by boat here, all a bit mysterious. But, it explains why the area has a history of tall, thin, naturally well-built, indio-euro-mestizo people, who create fine foods, including sausages and gefilte fish, fine arts and crafts. They are known for innovation, independence, dedication, calm steadfastness and a relaxed and tranquil style with a great sense of humor while being well dressed and stylish.

it appears you are you saying Mexicans are not capable of such, And only Jews are capable of such.
You sound like the an ugly bigot.
:no:

vespaio - 12-16-2019 at 08:25 AM

It looks like we'll go to El Cardonal. Not driving the right vehicle to tackle the rocks, plus we'll be towing an off-road teardrop. Wanted to add an avitar, but doesn't seem possible from my profile page.

Thanks for the info, I wouldn't have enjoyed the rocks in the picture above.

advrider - 12-16-2019 at 08:35 AM

WOW, some really good info until it turned to chit! Take the politics some place else and let vespaio gather information that he asked for!
Vespaio, would love to see some pictures of said tear drop trailer! We are looking at one of the new hybrid pop up's that are out there. Would love some feed back on the good and bad of your trailer and use. PS I don't care about your politics at all!

[Edited on 12-16-2019 by advrider]

AKgringo - 12-16-2019 at 08:40 AM

The rocks in the photo are not part of the drive! I should have asked what you were driving in my first post, because I would not recommend pulling a trailer over that route.

I intend to be in that area sometime before you, and will check to see what the condition is by then.

4x4abc - 12-16-2019 at 09:31 AM

since we have the history experts here - where is the name Bahia de los Muertos coming from?
And who built the port structures?

AKgringo - 12-16-2019 at 09:39 AM

"since we have the history experts here - where is the name Bahia de los Muertos coming from?
And who built the port structures? "

The story I was told, is that a ship full of sick sailors anchored up there, and died! That's all I have, don't know who they were, or when it happened.

[Edited on 12-16-2019 by AKgringo]

4x4abc - 12-16-2019 at 10:03 AM

and the pier structures?

David K - 12-16-2019 at 10:08 AM

The Boleo Mine folks attempted to reopen the El Triunfo mine and built that dock. Let me dig up the data...

OK, per the Lower California Guidebook: the pier was built by the Boleo Company in 1924 to ship out silver from El Triunfo. Later it was used to ship out vegetables from Los Planes.

In the Baja Adventure Book: Diving is limited, but a huge anchor, metal rails, and ore carts will be found scattered over the bottom, mementos of the silver-mining operation of the 1920s.

I was there in August 2017:

[Edited on 12-16-2019 by David K]

JZ - 12-16-2019 at 11:19 AM

I can confirm it is a b@tch on tires. I've had 3 truck tire issues in Baja in my life and all 3 were from this trail.

First time doing it we got a slow leak. Second trip we ripped out the sidewall and got a slow leak in another tire.

JZ - 12-16-2019 at 11:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by vespaio

It looks like we'll go to El Cardonal. Not driving the right vehicle to tackle the rocks, plus we'll be towing an off-road teardrop. Wanted to add an avitar, but doesn't seem possible from my profile page.

Thanks for the info, I wouldn't have enjoyed the rocks in the picture above.

Go up a little further. To the spot I have labelled "cool beach." That's about 7 miles further than El Cardonal.

The stretch from LB to there is the best part of the trail by far anyway. Going through the canyon is more for bragging rights. If another vehicle was coming the other way in the canyon it would be a mess as Gnukid said. I mentioned that to my kid when we were on it.

Here's where you should end at: 23.910853° -109.824783°. Pretty sure that's the spot Gnukid has in his first photo, which doesn't do the place justice.

Here is a shot of the rocks above that beach:

[Edited on 12-16-2019 by JZ]

JZ - 12-16-2019 at 11:40 AM

KMZ of the trail.

Attachment: San Juan de Los Planes to Los Barriles.kmz (6kB)
This file has been downloaded 208 times

[Edited on 12-16-2019 by JZ]

4x4abc - 12-16-2019 at 01:46 PM

you can rent Casa Chunique at "Cool beach" https://www.facebook.com/primeraspiedrasbcs/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP...

JZ - 12-16-2019 at 02:15 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

you can rent Casa Chunique at "Cool beach" https://www.facebook.com/primeraspiedrasbcs/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP...

Nice! That is great to know!

I hate FB with a passion though. Here is the Airbnb page: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3485966?s=42&user_id=175527...

vespaio - 12-16-2019 at 02:44 PM

Not sure how to respond to individual comments yet. My TD can be seen in two videos I made for off-road books I've written.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke6ZHKB4guY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmqQ5DH67RE

The rocks wouldn't bother me if I were planning to drive down in the TJ (thank you Harald), but my wife wants comfort, not a trip in a bone-rattling, eardrum shattering vehicle. The TD travels with us on all our off-road trips.

JZ - 12-16-2019 at 03:21 PM

You'll be able to pull that up to Primeras Piedras (aka Cool Beach) very easily. Most of it is pretty smooth, a couple rocky areas, but nothing like the canyon pass.

[Edited on 12-16-2019 by JZ]

advrider - 12-16-2019 at 03:47 PM

Thanks for posting, that's a good looking TD, and some nice jeeps. You will lave Baja!

vespaio - 12-16-2019 at 03:48 PM

Thank you. Can you send me the coordinates please?

JZ - 12-16-2019 at 03:55 PM

See the KMZ file I included above. You can load it directly into Google Earth.

A couple posts above I put the GPS for Cool Beach.

vespaio - 12-16-2019 at 03:59 PM

Thank you. It will be our new destination before turning back and going on to Tecolate.

AKgringo - 12-16-2019 at 04:56 PM

Well I am jealous now! Your rig is so much more capable than the one I drove over the pass (Kia Sportage soft top)

4x4abc - 12-16-2019 at 05:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by vespaio

Not sure how to respond to individual comments yet. My TD can be seen in two videos I made for off-road books I've written.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke6ZHKB4guY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmqQ5DH67RE

The rocks wouldn't bother me if I were planning to drive down in the TJ (thank you Harald), but my wife wants comfort, not a trip in a bone-rattling, eardrum shattering vehicle. The TD travels with us on all our off-road trips.

Ray,

in my book, the coastal road is as easy as they get. No 4x4 needed.
Looking at your Arizona video, you'll be fine on that road.

We all have a different scale of difficulty when it comes travel.
Some here think, MEX 5 is almost impassable.
Ha!

How did I earn your "Thank you"?

vespaio - 12-16-2019 at 06:32 PM

Harald,

Will be driving the Grand Cherokee instead of the TJ, but she can handle that road.

Jen and I drove the Rubicon with you in '03 I think. I did it again after I modified my TJ based on your old Jeep. Smartest thing we ever did was to take your couse. The experience saved our transmissions more than once.

Ray

4x4abc - 12-16-2019 at 11:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by vespaio

Harald,

Will be driving the Grand Cherokee instead of the TJ, but she can handle that road.

Jen and I drove the Rubicon with you in '03 I think. I did it again after I modified my TJ based on your old Jeep. Smartest thing we ever did was to take your couse. The experience saved our transmissions more than once.

Ray

I have done that road with my Grand Cherokee many times. Should there be rocks on the road (I doubt it) - roll them out of the way.

vespaio - 12-17-2019 at 07:26 AM

I'll have Jen roll the rocks. You taught her how while making her into a world class spotter.

Maybe we'll see each other during our trip down.

Ray

vespaio - 12-17-2019 at 08:24 AM

Stand way off to the side while encouraging the pusher/puller to work harder.