spencertron
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 4-1-2015
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best (current) road in to scorpion bay
My buddies and I are taking the next week off. I was outvoted (I wanted to do Abreojos) and we're going to Scorpion Bay. Despite being outvoted I am
EXTREMELY excited as it's my first time going there.
Here are our options:
I have a 4runner that is extremely capable off road
-4x4
-rear locker
-good tires that i can quickly air down/inflate
-A-Trac
-sliders
-skids
-lift
The problem is we can't fit all our boards and gear for a week in there. If i can find a good deal on a little trailer before the trip then we'll take
this.
if not, we're going to take my buddies full size chevy 2wd truck with a ladder rack.
given these two options, do any of you seasoned vets have any advice on which road to take in which vehicle?
I just read the "salt flats can be your enemy" report and that seems pretty sketchy. not too worried about it if we have the 4runner although I don't
have tons of trailer experience. I was going to get an old truck bed that's been converted into a trailer. Don't think I'll go that route in the 2wd
chevy unless everyone here says otherwise (maybe there hasn't been rain in days, etc).
thanks a ton for any advice. I'm very excited to make the pilgrimage down!
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5901
Registered: 7-18-2011
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Take the north road if you're looking for an adventure (I wouldn't do towing a trailer though)and veer off into the salt flats if you know where
you're going. Otherwise I would recommend just going in the South Road although that takes a couple hours more.
[Edited on 9-3-2015 by Ateo]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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What Ateo said. While a driver that knows what he is doing can take a 2 wheel drive thru there I would recommend going the south route too. You can
turn off hwy 1 at KM60 south of Mulege and go thru San Isidro and La Purisima, it's about 35 miles. Just after La Purisima the old road north is
before going up the hill on the paved road. Cross the wash on the concrete except for a short section then follow the sand road. It comes out about 10
KMs from San Juanico. I don't remember any deep sand section so I think you'll be OK. I do remember some holes along the way. Let some air out at the
water crossing.
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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A few years back we went to San Juanico to run a pit with MAG-7 for the NORRA Mexican 1000. Multiple setbacks had us seriously pressed for time to get
our pit open the next morning. When we rolled in to San Ignacio late in the afternoon, we asked the locals about the option of taking the north road
through the salt flats. They said it was dry and no high tides or recent rain had affected it. So we decided to go for it...
We did the salt flats in a 2WD 4Runner, towing an extremely heavy trailer full of race fuel and pit gear with four of us in the car....in complete
Baja darkness. Aside from some mild sandy sections (momentum is your friend) the salt flats were amazing and not a problem.
When you get to San Ignacio just confirm that the fishermen are coming back and forth from the camp at El Datil and if so, then you should be fine.
Stick to the road most traveled through El Datil and all roads south will merge back into Cadeje just north of San Juanico. It's always an adventure!
Hope this helps...
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6027
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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Last October I drove the north road/salt flats heading south. I was driving a two door Kia Sportage, and was pulling a small utility trailer.
Because of some noise coming from the front cv joints, I only put the manual hubs in for the water crossings.
Except for the wrong turn I took, it was passable in 2wd, but getting back to the right trail.....took 4wd, plus a jack and shovel. Fortunately, I
was in a dry wash, not silt or salt.
I also drove the road from La Purisma to Mex i, and it is very doable in a rugged 2wd vehicle, but it was a long rough ride! It had been re-opened
after Hurricane Odile passed through, but was in need of much more work.
Again, this is almost year old info. You are going to have fun either way!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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willyAirstream
Super Nomad
Posts: 1786
Registered: 1-1-2010
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La Purisima to the hwy has mostly been repaired and graded, as of 6 weeks ago. Should be no problem with 2wd and a rugged trailer. Lots of traffic (
one or 2 cars each hour), so help is available if you do have trouble.
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LaTijereta
Super Nomad
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
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2X..The "East Road" (Hwy 53) south of Mulege is in good shape to tow a small trailer or 2wd..
Democracy is like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin (1759)
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willyAirstream
Super Nomad
Posts: 1786
Registered: 1-1-2010
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Just heard from my friend Yassilli in SJ, she says the north road to San Ignacio has been improved and they have no problems using it. ( 2010 f150
2wd) and that the La Ballinia/Mulege route is being fixed and is almost back to normal.
Keep in mind, this can all change, if we get rain from the developing storms. I would play it safe and go via rt 53. It will still be an adventure and
La Prurisima is a fantastic place.
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