BajaNomad

Road to Scorpion Bay/ San Juanico

Bwk94510 - 8-19-2021 at 09:36 AM

Hello all-

As I mentioned in an earlier post I'm planning a roadtrip on my motorcycle to Cabo in late Feb/early March. I have a friend who wants to meet me in San Juanico for a few days of surfing. He drives a Honda CRV- nothing "off-road" about this car - more of a grocery getter. So the question is- what's the road like once we come off the main highway to San Juanico? I'll be on my KTM so I'm not concerned about the drive- but looking for your thoughts on him driving his car. How long is the dirt road section?

JZ - 8-19-2021 at 09:43 AM

He won't have a problem at all.

AKgringo - 8-19-2021 at 10:04 AM

Where does your friend plan on leaving hwy 1? It is possible to reach San Juanico without leaving pavement, if they travel far enough south.

There are several other routes from the north and east that vary in level of maintenance and overall condition.

David K - 8-19-2021 at 10:10 AM

It is about 106 miles from San Ignacio to San Juanico. 30 miles are paved on the north end. The low or Salina road is 2 miles longer, often preferred but only with a 4WD because of possible mud issues.



Bwk94510 - 8-19-2021 at 11:02 AM

Neither of us have been there before so not sure what the right rout is. I'd like to ride some dirt for a while so want to take the dirt road route- which I assume is quicker than the all pavement way...

David K - 8-19-2021 at 11:11 AM

Staying on pavement all the way adds at least 140 miles of driving (estimated) as it is a long-ways-around that way. Because of your friend's car, I also wouldn't recommend any other dirt road to San Juanico (over the mountains from Mulegé or the cross-over road through La Purísima). Stick with the graded High Road per reports here. Weather and time quickly changes conditions... so keep that in mind, too! Driving slow if the road is rocky will prevent damage and driving fast if the road is corrugated (washboard) with smooth things out (as well as letting some air out of the tires if you have a pump to refill them).

JZ - 8-19-2021 at 11:18 AM

I assumed you were taking pavement all the way.

Not sure I'd take a CRV on the dirt route.

motoged - 8-19-2021 at 11:22 AM

Be careful around the silt beds near Cuarenta on the high road.

4x4abc - 8-19-2021 at 11:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Staying on pavement all the way adds at least 140 miles of driving (estimated) as it is a long-ways-around that way. Because of your friend's car, I also wouldn't recommend any other dirt road to San Juanico (over the mountains from Mulegé or the cross-over road through La Purísima). Stick with the graded High Road per reports here. Weather and time quickly changes conditions... so keep that in mind, too! Driving slow if the road is rocky will prevent damage and driving fast if the road is corrugated (washboard) with smooth things out (as well as letting some air out of the tires if you have a pump to refill them).


driving fast on washboard is the worst advice you can give anyone.
Flat tires and car damage guaranteed.
I know it "feels better"
but it is bad for the road and bad for the car

mtgoat666 - 8-19-2021 at 11:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Staying on pavement all the way adds at least 140 miles of driving (estimated) as it is a long-ways-around that way. Because of your friend's car, I also wouldn't recommend any other dirt road to San Juanico (over the mountains from Mulegé or the cross-over road through La Purísima). Stick with the graded High Road per reports here. Weather and time quickly changes conditions... so keep that in mind, too! Driving slow if the road is rocky will prevent damage and driving fast if the road is corrugated (washboard) with smooth things out (as well as letting some air out of the tires if you have a pump to refill them).


driving fast on washboard is the worst advice you can give anyone.
Flat tires and car damage guaranteed.
I know it "feels better"
but it is bad for the road and bad for the car


i can attest that high speed driving on washboard road often leads to flat tires. hard to see/avoid rocks when driving 50 mph. i have found that flats/tire damage on unpaved roads are most frequent at high speeds.

i also find that if my car is full of camping gear and kayaks/boards on roof, the high speed washboard travel and related vibration often flocks everything up. better to go slow and avoid damage.

David K - 8-19-2021 at 11:48 AM

Fast was a relative term. I have never heard or experienced driving slow on washboard roads as being a good thing. I will read your website again more carefully, Harald! Thank you.

I advised SLOW on rocky sections, goat.

jamiec - 8-19-2021 at 01:43 PM

Bwk94510: I was at SB this summer. If you are planning on stopping while you are heading south, the North road is doable on both a bike and in a CRV. I'd recommend downloading maps.me app and following the North road from San Ignacio. Lots of washboards for the first 10-15 miles. There is a moon-dust section that is was easy to go around and it was only about 20 meters long.

If you want to go the longer way, follow 1 from San Ignacio --> Santa Rosalia --> Mulege --> Loreto --> Ciudad Insurgentes then back north to San Juanico. This way is all on pavement and you will pass some beautiful beaches south of Mulege. This might be the best bet in Feb or March as there could be storms in that time that make the N. road tough to get through, but who knows.

I wouldn't recommend taking the dirt road south of Mulege across to La Purisma in the vehicles you have. I'm sure some will, but I wouldn't unless I was in my 4x4 truck.

If you are going to stop at SB on the way back north from Cabo, follow these directions for zero offroad driving:

https://www.scorpionbayhotel.com/driving

Lots of people miss the left turn to San Juanico and keep going straight to La Purisma which may or may not have some water crossings to get to SB. There were two water crossings according to some friends that didn't make the left turn.

Good intel!

David K - 8-19-2021 at 02:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by jamiec  
Bwk94510: I was at SB this summer. If you are planning on stopping while you are heading south, the North road is doable on both a bike and in a CRV. I'd recommend downloading maps.me app and following the North road from San Ignacio. Lots of washboards for the first 10-15 miles. There is a moon-dust section that is was easy to go around and it was only about 20 meters long.


I wouldn't recommend taking the dirt road south of Mulege across to La Purisma in the vehicles you have. I'm sure some will, but I wouldn't unless I was in my 4x4 truck.



Lots of people miss the left turn to San Juanico and keep going straight to La Purisma which may or may not have some water crossings to get to SB. There were two water crossings according to some friends that didn't make the left turn.



Thanks for the newer information.

That 'left turn' that is missed (when driving north on Hwy. 53 from Cd. Insurgentes) is at Km. 88, and signed for Las Barrancas. You are 35 miles from San Juanico using the paved road. 4.5 miles from Hwy. 53 is the next junction (a right/ north turn) for San Juanico. Las Barrancas is one kilometer west from this junction.

As you near Las Barrancas

David K - 8-19-2021 at 04:16 PM


1 km. before Las Barrancas, if coming from Cd. Insurgentes.

John Harper - 8-19-2021 at 04:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Staying on pavement all the way adds at least 140 miles of driving (estimated) as it is a long-ways-around that way. Because of your friend's car, I also wouldn't recommend any other dirt road to San Juanico (over the mountains from Mulegé or the cross-over road through La Purísima). Stick with the graded High Road per reports here. Weather and time quickly changes conditions... so keep that in mind, too! Driving slow if the road is rocky will prevent damage and driving fast if the road is corrugated (washboard) with smooth things out (as well as letting some air out of the tires if you have a pump to refill them).


driving fast on washboard is the worst advice you can give anyone.
Flat tires and car damage guaranteed.
I know it "feels better"
but it is bad for the road and bad for the car


+1

John

Tioloco - 8-19-2021 at 04:51 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Staying on pavement all the way adds at least 140 miles of driving (estimated) as it is a long-ways-around that way. Because of your friend's car, I also wouldn't recommend any other dirt road to San Juanico (over the mountains from Mulegé or the cross-over road through La Purísima). Stick with the graded High Road per reports here. Weather and time quickly changes conditions... so keep that in mind, too! Driving slow if the road is rocky will prevent damage and driving fast if the road is corrugated (washboard) with smooth things out (as well as letting some air out of the tires if you have a pump to refill them).


driving fast on washboard is the worst advice you can give anyone.
Flat tires and car damage guaranteed.
I know it "feels better"
but it is bad for the road and bad for the car


Depends on how far you have to go and how much time you have. Yes, flat tires are a higher risk at higher speeds. But saying it is the worst advice is a bit dramatic. Flats and car damage are not “guaranteed”.

Carry on…

Mulege Canuck - 8-20-2021 at 10:56 AM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Staying on pavement all the way adds at least 140 miles of driving (estimated) as it is a long-ways-around that way. Because of your friend's car, I also wouldn't recommend any other dirt road to San Juanico (over the mountains from Mulegé or the cross-over road through La Purísima). Stick with the graded High Road per reports here. Weather and time quickly changes conditions... so keep that in mind, too! Driving slow if the road is rocky will prevent damage and driving fast if the road is corrugated (washboard) with smooth things out (as well as letting some air out of the tires if you have a pump to refill them).


driving fast on washboard is the worst advice you can give anyone.
Flat tires and car damage guaranteed.
I know it "feels better"
but it is bad for the road and bad for the car


You nailed it Harold. Driving fast on washboard is not the way to go.

David K - 8-20-2021 at 11:08 AM

Been driving dirt roads in Baja going back almost 50 years. Driving slow on a washboard road is neither comfortable or ever recommended before. Maybe if you tried speeding up, with good tires, good vehicle, and some experience, you may find what I have found? However, because it was good for me doesn't guarantee it will be for you. Use your own best judgement! This is true of most everything.

Bwk94510 - 8-21-2021 at 08:01 PM

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I’m not sure my friend will actually make it but good to know what his option are.

I’m planning to go - I’ll be riding my KTM 390 Adventure - so my plan will be to take the north road that sounds like the best option for me. I’ll definitely do a ride report and post pictures. Scorpion Bay is high on my list of places to go - planning to stay at the Scorpion Bay Hotel.

azucena - 8-21-2021 at 08:39 PM

Best no matter the speed to take tire pressure down. Easier on car and you.

motoged - 8-22-2021 at 10:51 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  

.... Maybe if you tried speeding up, with good tires, good vehicle, and some experience, you may find what I have found? ....


So....Harald needs better equipment and should get some experience ?

:?:

David K - 8-22-2021 at 04:27 PM

I was replying to Mulege Canuck.

Harald knows what is best for him and his vehicles. He offers great advice, typically.
It has been almost 20 years of reading posts here. and I have never heard of driving slow on washboard being recommended before. I will just chalk this aberration up as just that.
In a Tacoma, with good tires, deflated 30%, faster is better for me.

4x4abc - 8-22-2021 at 07:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
I was replying to Mulege Canuck.

Harald knows what is best for him and his vehicles. He offers great advice, typically.
It has been almost 20 years of reading posts here. and I have never heard of driving slow on washboard being recommended before. I will just chalk this aberration up as just that.
In a Tacoma, with good tires, deflated 30%, faster is better for me.


I know what is best.
Not only for me.
It is called science.

And of course, if you combine deflated tires with speed, your tires will do fine.
Upgrading to higher volume tires is even better.
However, the fatigue caused by the oscillated pounding (impact wrench) is accumulative stress. Like sea level rise, you won't notice immediately.
But you'll pay in the end.
If you need to rely on the performance of your truck, you don't expose it to too much stress.
It is called mechanical sympathy.
In Baja where AAA and spare parts are out of reach, you better baby your truck.

"Do whatever you feel is right" is too republican for me.

DSC_3569 G500 airing up-e copy.jpg - 276kB

bkbend - 8-23-2021 at 11:29 AM

One other negative consequence of driving fast on washboards is your tires are in contact with the road surface for a smaller percentage of the the time. A friend of mine died when he rolled his jeep while driving fast on a washboard road. His son was a passenger and survived. He said his dad let up on the gas prior to a curve and lost control as the jeep began to slow down, they went sideways off the road before getting to the curve. I'll now drive a little slower and maintain contact at the expense of a rougher ride.

David K - 8-23-2021 at 12:08 PM

Sad for anyone losing their life in a vehicle. Never exceed a vehicle's or driver's abilities and drive, safely. "Fast" for me on a washboard road is 40 mph. "Fast" for others may be 100 mph. I was a passenger in a modified Raptor prerunner driven by a professional racer, going over 100 mph, and I felt very safe. It is all relative. Some washboard roads are worse than others. One size doesn't fit all.


[Edited on 8-23-2021 by David K]

Mulege Canuck - 8-24-2021 at 07:30 PM

This is probably pretty basic info for most on this forum. When I have a lot of washboard, I try to put one side of my truck wheels in he soft sand at the edge of the road. This smooths out the ride and enables me to drive without destroying my vehicle.