BeachSeeker
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Road Report and Questions
Drove from Mulege to La Purisima today. The road was in terrible condition. The Baja 1000 pre-runners have rutted it up already. Took about 4 hours
from the turn off. 4WD is absolutely necessary. Technical in the bolder fields and hill climbs. Had to get out a few times and move rocks. In a 3rd
gen Tacoma with 32” tires and full aftermarket suspension.
Is the road to Comondu from La Purisima generally better? I know the pre-runners are going to tear it up, but just curious if it’s worth trying the
direct road instead of going on the pavement.
Also, is the direct road from Comondu to San Javier past El Horno usually pretty good? Is it better than the road I just went on? At least no
pre-runners tearing up that stretch. Thanks!
[Edited on 11-10-2026 by BeachSeeker]
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AKgringo
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Thanks for the road report! I like that road, and I last drove it in Jan 2025 in a Honda Element with stock tires. there were a few challenging
spots on the steeper parts of the road, but not really a problem.
I suspect that the wiped-out sections were due to the series of storms that hit that area this year more than race damage. It will get repaired
again, but those repairs will probably not last through the next major storm.
The other roads you mentioned are likely to also be damaged on the steeper slopes and river crossings, but I couldn't guess what condition they are in
at the moment.
One year, it was actually NORRA that got the pass open for the race, rather than wait for state crews. Many of the ranchers will do limited repairs
to serve their needs,
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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4x4abc
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isn't that wonderful?
The poor ranchers are fixing the roads to their properties so rich people can drive fast.
Lotsa opposition from locals in Baja Sur to this race.
Harald Pietschmann
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BeachSeeker
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We did the La Purisima to Comondu section today. 95% was pretty good. 5% was worse than the previous section. Really big ruts (2-3 ft) and difficult
bolder fields. Barely made it in my truck. Took some big hits on the skid plate. Impossible without 4WD and high clearance. Had to move rocks and have
a spotter in a couple sections. Took 2.5 hours.
Anyone have any info on the direct road to San Javier? I really don’t want to go through another day of beating up us and the truck. The long route
seems, well, awfully long, however.
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AKgringo
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The last time I drove that road was four or five years ago. It was in decent shape for a ranch road, but there had been no recent storms that I am
aware of.
I was driving an Isuzu Trooper then with moderately oversized tires, and had no issues. One thing to consider though is that road gets very little
traffic.
I drove the entire length of it without encountering another vehicle. The fact that some parts of the road had only animal tracks that wiped out any
recent tire tracks meant that I was on my own.
My dog and I thoroughly enjoyed that drive.
Edit; If you do decide to try it, the worst part would likely be the first four or five miles heading south from Commondu
[Edited on 11-11-2026 by AKgringo]
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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geoffff
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Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  |
isn't that wonderful?
The poor ranchers are fixing the roads to their properties so rich people can drive fast.
Lotsa opposition from locals in Baja Sur to this race. |
I guess I am naive, but I would think the racing companies would regrade the road after they tear it up...(?) It's the least they could do.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by geoffff | | Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc |
isn't that wonderful?
The poor ranchers are fixing the roads to their properties so rich people can drive fast.
Lotsa opposition from locals in Baja Sur to this race. |
I guess I am naive, but I would think the racing companies would regrade the road after they tear it up...(?) It's the least they could do.
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 You’re funny, geoff!
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
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David K
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In the past... Score did pay the ejidos to repair roads following a race. Guess what? The good people running ejidos didn't use the money to fix the
roads!
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo | Thanks for the road report! I like that road, and I last drove it in Jan 2025 in a Honda Element with stock tires. there were a few challenging
spots on the steeper parts of the road, but not really a problem.
I suspect that the wiped-out sections were due to the series of storms that hit that area this year more than race damage. It will get repaired
again, but those repairs will probably not last through the next major storm.
The other roads you mentioned are likely to also be damaged on the steeper slopes and river crossings, but I couldn't guess what condition they are in
at the moment.
One year, it was actually NORRA that got the pass open for the race, rather than wait for state crews. Many of the ranchers will do limited repairs
to serve their needs, |
Indeed, Nature (not fast cars) does the serious damage and makes roads impassable. Indeed, a lot of fast cars will damage dirt roads but not wash out
sections and make deep gullys.
The income to various towns and enjoyment of motorsports by locals has (so far) outweighed the negativity.
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surfhat
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Thanks to all of our veterans and their family's who served in their own way on this Veterans Day.
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lencho
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| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | The income to various towns and enjoyment of motorsports by locals has (so far) outweighed the negativity. |
I've often heard that said, mostly conjecture by race fans, but haven't seen any impartial research about it, e.g. a survey of a cross-section of
those impacted both pro and con.
You happen to know of any?
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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David K
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No, but after seeing locals at the races for the past 50+ years, it would seem to be true. Race day is a huge fiesta!
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lencho
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Everyone loves a party!
| Quote: Originally posted by David K | | No, but after seeing locals at the races for the past 50+ years, it would seem to be true. Race day is a huge fiesta! |
Yep, I'm sure everyone who attends, loves 'em.
One would probably get the same impression at a zombie convention. 
What's your thought about Harald's comment, above?
[Edited on 11-14-2026 by lencho]
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is, by how stupid he thinks I
am."
"...they were careful of their demeanor that they not be thought to have opinions on what they heard for like most men skilled at their work they
were scornful of any least suggestion of knowing anything not learned at first hand."
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"Be kind, be patient, help others." -- Isabel Allende
"My gas stove identifies as electric." Anonymous
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BeachSeeker
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Ok, let’s get this back on track. Go argue about racing in another thread.
Yesterday we tried the Comondu to San Javier route. It was ok for the first 7 or 8 miles. Then it started to get pretty bad. Super slow, boulder
fields, not fun. Met a Rancher going the other way about 10 miles in, right before El Horno. He said the road is pretty much impassable to San Javier.
I wouldn’t have been concerned, but where I met him was a particularly bad spot, and he said it was much worse past his ranch towards San Javier. He
highly recommended going the long way. Decided to take his advice and turn around.
Took the dirt road from almost Insurgentes to San Javier. Fast road. Good condition, except for 1 arroyo about 2 miles from San Javier. Really big
rocks to crawl over. I used 4 low and took a couple hits. You might make it through in 2WD but you would risk severe damage.
[Edited on 11-14-2026 by BeachSeeker]
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geoffff
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Any photos? I've only been through there once - years ago. It was rough and intimidatingly remote.
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JDCanuck
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| Quote: Originally posted by geoffff | | Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc |
isn't that wonderful?
The poor ranchers are fixing the roads to their properties so rich people can drive fast.
Lotsa opposition from locals in Baja Sur to this race. |
I guess I am naive, but I would think the racing companies would regrade the road after they tear it up...(?) It's the least they could do.
|
Gee, that's an interesting suggestion. No, the locals generally drag weighted tires down the roads following the races so they can access their
grocery stores without entirely destroying their vehicles . If you wait a week or so after the races you can once again get groceries and other
supplies from the villages without suffering too much damage.
Race Organization & Participants: While SCORE International and race participants use permitted public and private lands, routine post-race civil
infrastructure and dirt-road restoration fall primarily to local government entities rather than the private race teams, who focus strictly on
repairing their own race and chase vehicles.
[Edited on 11-13-2026 by JDCanuck]
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AKgringo
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BeachSeeker...thanks for your reports!
I love exploring the roads you are reporting on, but I have been lucky enough to drive them in much better condition than you are finding.
The last time I drove the Commondu to San Javier section was in an election year and there were multiple signs of recent repair work, along with a few
campaign signs.
On one long, narrow grade, there was even a fresh "no passing" sign, which seemed comical since I had not seen another vehicle for over an hour and a
half!
I was hoping to try that route again this year, but based on what you found, I might wait for another election year.
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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BeachSeeker
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There was a lot of what appeared to be storm damage. Sections completely washed out, exposed boulder fields, etc. Most had some sort of work arounds
that looked to just be completed by the ranchers. The boulder fields were the worst of it, especially in the steep sections. I assume it was a steep
boulder field making the route to San Javier impassable. “Piedras grandes” as the rancher said. It would be great to do these roads again after at
least some repairs and no storms. 4 low crawling over boulders is just not fun after the first couple hours.
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4x4abc
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SCORE paid the Baja Sur government 300,000 for restoring the roads.
Pesos!
Yes, the races are wildly popular with the local people.
Local meaning non ranchers.
Same story everywhere - folks wanna be entertained.
Who cares about the cleanup.
Harald Pietschmann
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