Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Yep! Get an early start.
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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 359
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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Hi -- It is passable and used as a race route for the Loreto 400 race --
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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Amy, there are three routes from Loreto to Comondu.
You should rule out the one that goes all the way to San Javier, where you go to the left of the mission and continue on for miles of dirt in poor
condition to the paved road from Insurgentes to La Purisima. It is very long and tedious.
It is faster to take Mex 1 from Loreto to Insurgentes, where you will turn north to Ej. Francisco Villa, then on to Comundu. This route will be long,
but it can be done as a long day trip from Loreto and back.
The third, shortest and most direct, way is to head up toward San Javier, and turn off at the signed road to Comondu near Rancho Viejo. We took this
road a few years ago and it was treacherous. I have heard that it is improved now with the dangerous stretch re-routed. I think this must be the way
that Paul Clark means. If you do this road I would love to hear about it!
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 6-21-2005
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaamy
Thank you, Paula! That makes it clear. Can anyone confirm that the road turning off at Rancho Viejo has been improved?
Also, is the road past San Javier at least passable enough to get to the visita of La Presentacion (about 12 miles)?
Amy |
If you're driving a 4x4 high clearance vehicle, that would driving those roads a lot simpler.
They can be rather nasty for a regular car.
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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 359
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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The road past San Javier was in good shape the last time i traveled it about 2 months ago -- it is fast and will take you out to the Highway north of
Insurgentes. It is frequently traveled and maintained -- for a ranch road. I am not sure of the location of La Presentacion so can't help you there.
The road to Commondu from Rancho Viejo is rough but passable in a two wheel drive truck -- not by car. -- Paul
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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The time I drove past San Javier to San Miguel we felt like we saved some miles, but returning by going all the way to Insurgentes and taking Mex 1
was actually a bit shorter in time. Of course the dirt road is more scenic. And it is easily passible in any car.
We drove back from San Jose on the short route 3 years ago. There was just one death-defying stretch, at the top of the hill leaving San Jose. It
was cliffside, barely one lane, steep up, steep down, and the surface was large loose boulders. We'd have turned around if we could have. We were
driving a Subaru Forester. I've heard that this piece has been re-routed to go behind that peak, and if that is the case I'd love to go again that
way, it is so beautiful up there.
Paulclark, it sounds like you're familiar with that road. Is there anything like I just described on it still?
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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 359
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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--The road from San Javier to the highway between Ciudad Insurgentes and La Purisma meets the highway about 25 km. north of Insurgentes. It is in
good shape and usable by a car.
--The road from San Javier, north through Rancho Viejo and on to San Miguel Comondu is passable by a 2 wheel drive truck. -or Subaru -- There are some
bad rocky hills on it before Commondu going downhill traveling East to West. From there to the highway at Fransisco Villa is good improved gravel. I
don't know what the road from San Jose Commondu to La Purisma is like, but having past it at both ends i think it is passable in a 2 wheel drive
truck. Any of these roads that are used as race routes -- which all these are --are passable in a class 11 car, which is a VW Beetle with stock
suspension -- So if you can go where a VW can -- ?? On the other hand it is amazing what a VW can make it through!
The road from Loreto up the canyon to San Javier is being paved and an annual pilgramage to the mission happens every December. This year over 6,000
people attended.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Paulclark, I have been reading your posts and you are a great asset to the board!
Welcome to the Nomad Board!
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Scorpimon
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 6-6-2008
Location: Nopoló
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I might want to add that when traveling from Loreto and after the Comondu turnoff before San Javier, the road is not marked that well, at least for
us.
We attempted this a few weeks ago and ended up on the Palo Chino side route south of the main road, which has a few rough sections in it. Never did
see a sign that said where to turn to stay on the main road. We thought we were on the main road until we past the Palo Chino sign.
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XRPhlang
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2007
Location: Central Coast
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Comondu road
Back in Sept. of 2007 the road from Loreto to the Comondoos could be easily driven in a sedan, in one day, there and back.
The road to La purisma from Comondu would require a 4x4 IMO. (I had to turn back because the large, loose rocks in the road bed proved too much for me
on my motorcycle).
I ended up taking the road that leaves the Valley, North East towards Bajia Conception. I turned down a lot of wrong roads that looked like the right
one, only to end at a rancho.
Then it started raining which turned everything to muck and made the arroyo crossings a bit challanging. I ended up in Mulege by dark.
If you're only going to Comondu, you could easily make it back to Loreto in one day backtracking. I have not gone this way, but you might try to loop
back around to San Javier from Comondu by way of the La Purisma/Insurgentes paved road. That way you could check out La Presentation ruins on the way
back. That was my plan before it started raining.
I'll try posting some pics.
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XRPhlang
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2007
Location: Central Coast
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trying again
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XRPhlang
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Location: Central Coast
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ok, now I think I got it. This should be El Horno where the mortar was made for the missions.
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XRPhlang
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2007
Location: Central Coast
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Mood: Taco me.
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Happy horses
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XRPhlang
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2007
Location: Central Coast
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Mood: Taco me.
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looking South
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XRPhlang
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2007
Location: Central Coast
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Mood: Taco me.
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San Jose de..
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XRPhlang
Nomad
Posts: 111
Registered: 10-12-2007
Location: Central Coast
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Mood: Taco me.
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wet moon dust
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LaTijereta
Super Nomad
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
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Approching the Comondus from Loreto you will drop down into the valley..
We made the trip last May.. good road all the way for high clearance 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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LaTijereta
Super Nomad
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
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One of the hills that you climb heading over from San Javier going northwest...
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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