basautter - 7-14-2022 at 04:36 AM
Can anyone tell me the condition of the dirt road to the San Borja Mission? I am referring to the one that heads south off of the paved road to BOLA.
Is it accessible with a stock 4wd pickup? Thanks!
AKgringo - 7-14-2022 at 06:03 AM
I drove it in November of 2021 in my stock Isuzu Trooper, and never needed to use 4wd. There were a few rough and narrow spots, but you should be
fine.
For what it is worth, I happened to drive the road during rush hour! I was driving from Bahia de Los Angeles headed west on the same day as a huge
pedestrian event was headed east.
I must have encountered a hundred or more hikers stretched out for miles along the way. There were support vehicles with rest areas set up for shade,
food and water, and probably first aid, and none of the vans and trucks appeared to have 4wd.
[Edited on 7-14-2022 by AKgringo]
David K - 7-14-2022 at 10:05 AM
An easy 2WD road, ~22 miles with a rocky section as you go over a pass... so no Ferraris or Lambos, but most other sedans are fine. A truck or SUV
would seem more secure for gringo drivers, however.
Now, the other road, that goes west ~22 miles, to Rosarito on Hwy. 1 is not quite as well-graded (at least in 2017) with some brush growing into the
roadway. Still no 4WD needed.
You will see some of the best Baja gardens along both roads. Here are a few photos along the north road (from 2016 & 2017 trips):
basautter - 7-14-2022 at 02:04 PM
Thanks David K and AK for the feedback. Off we go!
David K - 7-14-2022 at 03:14 PM
I hope you find José in a good mood... some have reported he has been unfriendly and even threatening... Others report he is fine. Maybe bring him a
bag of fruit or food ? as a gift... maybe see if he will let you go up the stairs. He has locked them up after my last time there (2017) saying the
people are wearing away the steps... those from the 1790s to 1801 when the construction ended.
In 2009:
The camping palapas as seen from the top of the stairs:
