BajaNomad

Bahia Soledad

ahea - 11-30-2020 at 08:56 PM

Hola Nomads,

We just got back from a Baja Norte adventure. On the way back to Ensenada we followed directions from the Surfer's Guide to Baja by Mike Parise to Bahia Soledad. We found the bay, absolutely stunning, and like many others who have attempted the drive found the beach inaccessible. We found a beautiflul little off grid home and private property signs and a gate blocking beach access.

I'm posting this out of friendly curiosity about the story of this bay. Do any of you know its history, past and current? can it still be accessed and surfed? I've read several posts now on BajaNomad forums and it seems that maybe someone on this forum now owns this place? Or does Josh have the key? ;D

Lobsterman - 12-1-2020 at 06:11 AM

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=5923

Welcome

geraldalexander7 - 12-1-2020 at 06:28 AM

Welcome ahea!
Can post some pics?
Is this put on the road near Puerto Santo Tomas?

ahea - 12-1-2020 at 01:47 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Lobsterman  
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=5923


Thanks lobsterman, I’ve read this thread already, it’s from 2004 so I was curious if there’s any more current information. It’s just such a bummer to roll up to this place, get so close and get so shut down. With all due respect to the owner, it would be incredible to be able to respectfully camp down there and keep it hush hush.

mtgoat666 - 12-1-2020 at 03:28 PM

Nice coastal kayak daytrip, if you got skills in swells and beach landings in surf.
You can get to bahia soledad, by paddling north from santo tomas river mouth

Also, if you are into longer distance paddling, you can paddle south from la bufadora.

the entire coast in this area is great kayaking, but requires some skill launching/landing in surf.

try a kayak tour from victor leon who has the beach location campground south of la bufadora. on a quiet-surf day in summer, great coastline to play around in the rocks for a kayak beginner

ahea - 12-1-2020 at 03:59 PM

Mmm, yea, or sail.

David K - 12-1-2020 at 05:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by geraldalexander7  
Welcome ahea!
Can post some pics?
Is this put on the road near Puerto Santo Tomas?


2003 Baja Almanac folding map:


2010 AAA folding map:


CalTopo Zoom-In:


Have a plane? There's a landing field along the beach there!

Don Jorge - 12-1-2020 at 06:33 PM

On the south side of the bay near to where the seasonal steam ingresses to the Pacific sits a rock just offshore in maybe 10-15ft of water depending on the tide of course. Also depending on the tide is a fun break near the rock, but it is very tide and conditions dependent spot.

Always reminded us of the break at California Hotel near El Sauzal. Not a great break but fun sometimes. We used to launch the panga in El Sauzal and fish Soledad for calico bass often in the late 80s to the mid 90s. Great calico bass fishing was the norm and white seabass too when the spawn was on.

After a wet winter, which we used to have more of it seems, the bay was a beautiful place and casting for calicos in the lush kelp forests with the verdant green hills as a backdrop always made one feel lucky to be there.

Boats sure are a pain in the arse but they get one to places which others cannot access and often the reward justifies owning boats. Sometimes.

JZ - 12-1-2020 at 07:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ahea  
Mmm, yea, or sail.


Take a Zodiac. Easy to land on the beach. Bring your surf board.

mtgoat666 - 12-1-2020 at 09:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by ahea  
Mmm, yea, or sail.


Take a Zodiac. Easy to land on the beach. Bring your surf board.



Shorty:
You ever beached your zodiac thru big surf?

ahea - 12-2-2020 at 12:06 PM

So could people drive to the beach prior to 2001 when the Baja surf guide was written?

JZ - 12-2-2020 at 12:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


You ever beached your zodiac thru big surf?


Kept my boat on the Pacific for 4 years before moving it to MX. Did probably a 100 runs out of Ventura to the Channel Islands and up to Santa Barbara. Did many runs from San Diego to Ensenada.

Would take friends into the surf on the Zodiac and land on the beach.

It's fun as hell ride it out from the beach and jumping some big waves. You've got to be quick and time it well to get it out, and drop the engine.


[Edited on 12-2-2020 by JZ]

David K - 12-2-2020 at 12:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ahea  
So could people drive to the beach prior to 2001 when the Baja surf guide was written?


As the maps showed, yes!
19 years ago is a long time.
More and more Baja is being closed... never pass an opportunity to see the wonders there.

Hook - 12-2-2020 at 12:53 PM

I'm sure some, beside me, will find it humorous that, in the last 45 days, Mexico strengthened its laws guaranteeing beach access for the public.

AMLO made a big deal about this in late October. He claimed persons or corporations could be fined something like one million pesos and lose their permit to operate just back of the tidal zone.

But, as is usually the case with Mexican laws, no one is interested in enforcing them. :biggrin:

David K - 12-2-2020 at 01:17 PM

It is kind of like the deal at Puertecitos; the hot springs are in the federal zone and are between high and low tide lines. However, to get to the hot springs, you must drive across the property, and that costs 200 pesos last time I was there (Dec. 2016), even if for 10 minutes to take photos, lol!

ahea - 12-2-2020 at 09:49 PM

I would pay to access Soledad.

RocketJSquirrel - 12-3-2020 at 10:37 AM

You can access that area or get damn close to it, via moto or agile 4x4, from the "old dump road" just past Vonny's Fishing in the Campo La Jolla area (on the way to La Bufadora). Turn left toward Arborlitos and left at the old campground. Follow the ridgeline to where you are forced to turn right (as the road to the peak with the signal equipment is gated). From there you head down to the beach. Not many directions are needed as you can see where you need to go. Then just follow the beach south. There are some steep inclines up out of the assorted washes that empty to the sea. A skilled moto rider and/or 4x4 person would probably do okay.

I don't don't know formal directions, but you can kind of intuit where to go as you are up on the top of the peninsula most of the time and once down on the beach - just head south. I've seen old 50s-60s Chevy pickups back in there, so there much be an easier road.

nbentley1 - 12-3-2020 at 02:22 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RocketJSquirrel  
You can access that area or get damn close to it, via moto or agile 4x4, from the "old dump road" just past Vonny's Fishing in the Campo La Jolla area (on the way to La Bufadora). Turn left toward Arborlitos and left at the old campground. Follow the ridgeline to where you are forced to turn right (as the road to the peak with the signal equipment is gated). From there you head down to the beach. Not many directions are needed as you can see where you need to go. Then just follow the beach south. There are some steep inclines up out of the assorted washes that empty to the sea. A skilled moto rider and/or 4x4 person would probably do okay.

I don't don't know formal directions, but you can kind of intuit where to go as you are up on the top of the peninsula most of the time and once down on the beach - just head south. I've seen old 50s-60s Chevy pickups back in there, so there much be an easier road.


I've poke around that area a bit and getting to Soledad from the north by truck would be a crazy fun adventure.

[Edited on 12-3-2020 by nbentley1]

RocketJSquirrel - 12-3-2020 at 02:57 PM

Crazy fun is what it is all about, no? That's why I'm here.

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

Ride Naked!

[Edited on 12-3-2020 by RocketJSquirrel]

ahea - 12-3-2020 at 07:26 PM

That sounds radical RocketJ! Great idea and info.

ahea - 12-3-2020 at 10:22 PM

That sounds radical RocketJ! Great idea and info.