advrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1929
Registered: 10-2-2015
Member Is Offline
|
|
Grand Canyon of Baja
What are is considered the Grand Canyon of baja, I've seen it mentioned several times but I'm still not sure. I would guess the Sierra Madre mountain
area but I'm not sure.
Headed to LaPaz for a month and would like to poke around a little on the way down and back, any suggestions are appreciated. Also, any ideas
around LaPaz for some day trips.
We do plan to take a day trip to San Evaristro for lunch.
|
|
|
BajaNomad
|
Thread Moved
8-31-2026 at 12:14 PM |
mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21256
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Some of the most scenic canyons are in the sierra de san francisco…. these are visually similar to grand canyon due to semi-horizontal basalt
strata, but are really quite small compared to the OG grand canyon.
Woke!
Hands off!
“Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres.”
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Pronoun: the royal we
|
|
|
advrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1929
Registered: 10-2-2015
Member Is Offline
|
|
That's the mountain I was thinking about, I posted the wrong one. What is the best way to access the area, is it out and back or could we travel
through the area.
I've been all over Baja, but this is one area I haven't seen.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65611
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Quote: Originally posted by advrider  | That's the mountain I was thinking about, I posted the wrong one. What is the best way to access the area, is it out and back or could we travel
through the area.
I've been all over Baja, but this is one area I haven't seen. |
For both your questions:
Cameron Steele, for his Trail of Missions and other tours, has referred to the area west of San Evaristo (between San Pedro de la Presa to La Soledad)
as the 'Grand Canyon of Baja'. Personally, I don't quite feel the same.
I am more inclined to Mtn. Goat's answer, the San Francisquito de la Sierra, as being more Grand Canyon-like.
Let's have a look with a photos I took at both areas...
More: https://vivabaja.com/p817/2/
===============================================================
More: https://vivabaja.com/p617/3/
Short (< 7 min) YouTube video when we went to San Francisco de la Sierra on a Trail of Missions recon: https://youtu.be/eBkpwi_pszU?si=oGPnhvO9fUoOzaBW
Cameron even calls this a 'Grand Canyon' in the clip.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21256
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
There is a paved road you can drive up to the top of the range, very scenic drive.
If you want to explore the canyons you usually need a guide as the area is protected to preserve cave paintings. Hike or burro trips.
Woke!
Hands off!
“Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres.”
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Pronoun: the royal we
|
|
|
Biznaga
Junior Nomad
Posts: 41
Registered: 8-28-2023
Member Is Offline
|
|
One of many local outfits that provide legal, guided access into the protected canyons with cave paintings;
https://www.saddlingsouth.com/
We did it a few years ago. It was a trip of a lifetime!
|
|
|
advrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1929
Registered: 10-2-2015
Member Is Offline
|
|
Awesome info. I do want to take a guided trip at some point, but this trip we might just make take a drive out to the area to look around. I've seen
the sign many times on the way South.
|
|
|
4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4460
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy - always
|
|
you won't see much of the deep canyons of Sierra San Francisco from your car.
The guided tour into Arroyo Santa Teresa/Arroyo San Pablo is 3 days on foot. Stunning! But not an easy trip.
Harald Pietschmann
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
