The motorcycle trail is pretty easy to follow and that is what we did except for a few places. We had to move a lot of rocks, one was about 2.5 to 3ft
in diameter and some fallen cactus etc. The two big problems were we had to make like an S turn around a hugh rock, think VW size or bigger. In one
case we ran up the side of the wash several times to make a path but Roy had to be careful not to roll the vehicle and again traction was an issue as
sometimes he would get one or two wheels airborne. It took us 8 hours to go 3 miles. The two bad spots took half that time. We did stop a couple of
times to rest and have lunch. Everytime we stopped moving the little bugs were all over our face. The sweat I guess. We did it the first of May and I
think cooler weather would have been better.
TW,
If the rocks are only 2 to 3 feet in diameter that is no problem at all with a rig that is set up for rock crawling. There are places in the Rubicon
that the rocks are 4 to 5 feet in diameter and some even bigger.Its all about tire placement as far as getting over them.
I agree with you that if you don't have both axles looked up you are not going to get as far.My Jeep has a welded rear end and a detroit locker in
the front end.
I would love to go on these runs that you and Davd K talk about. My son and I are going to try and make the run in november,I hope you and David K can
make the run also so you can see how my set up works.
You need to post a picture of your rock crawler, Steve.
Steve's rig is nothing like a semi-stock CJ, FJ or Tacoma; it's a serious rock crawlin' machine !!
Steve it sounds like you've got the perfect rig for that trail. I would like to spend some more time looking for a better trail in the wash but not
when the bugs are out, they were a real pain in the you know where. I think November should be a good time.
Steve... I am all for you trying to drive from Mision Santa Maria to Gonzaga... don't get my above posts wrong... I just wanted you to have as much
data as possible to see if going up the sides of mountains is something your Jeep could do!
The Google Earth satellite images are the best way to see what you are up against... You would be the first...
From the photos Ken posted of that Jeep on the rocks in the palms, it is possible they didn't see where the bulldozed road turned left, out of the
sand arroyo (1.3 miles from the mission) to climb towards the hill (and El Camino Real route) and past it to the bulldozed grade... ended at the
canyon rim where the petroglyphs are.
The road out of the sand arroyo was hidden by a young palm last time I was there...
Originally posted by David KFrom the photos Ken posted of that Jeep on the rocks in the palms, it is possible they didn't see where the
bulldozed road turned left, out of the sand arroyo (1.3 miles from the mission) to climb towards the hill (and El Camino Real route) and past it to
the bulldozed grade... ended at the canyon rim where the petroglyphs are.
We saw it both the 3 times I've been down this road. I have never driven up the road, and those driving up it, didn't know where it led. I am sure
it is impassable. Plus, respecting Baja - I know (from knowledge) that it is better to drive out than hitchhike out.
Originally posted by David KFrom the photos Ken posted of that Jeep on the rocks in the palms, it is possible they didn't see where the
bulldozed road turned left, out of the sand arroyo (1.3 miles from the mission) to climb towards the hill (and El Camino Real route) and past it to
the bulldozed grade... ended at the canyon rim where the petroglyphs are.
We saw it both the 3 times I've been down this road. I have never driven up the road, and those driving up it, didn't know where it led. I am sure
it is impassable. Plus, respecting Baja - I know (from knowledge) that it is better to drive out than hitchhike out.
Ken, it climbs out of the sand, parallels the arroyo a bit, then turns towards the small side canyon, passes the point the Camino Real switchbacks up
the side of the mountain, then the erosion of the roadbed (leaving only big rocks) stopped our Toyotas... we continued on the bulldozed road bed about
1/4 mile more to the end... on the ridge overlooking the deep canyon to Gonzaga. Petroglyps are on some rocks... and the Indian trail drops down into
the canyon from there'
Steve or any rock crawler could drive to the end of the bulldozed grade... otherwise, the short uphill walk is worth it to see the petros, trail and
canyon view!
See my satellite image above with the yellow pin labeled 'End of Road Const.' for this point... You can see the bulldozed road climbing up from the
mission...
Originally posted by David KFrom the photos Ken posted of that Jeep on the rocks in the palms, it is possible they didn't see where the
bulldozed road turned left, out of the sand arroyo (1.3 miles from the mission) to climb towards the hill (and El Camino Real route) and past it to
the bulldozed grade... ended at the canyon rim where the petroglyphs are.
We saw it both the 3 times I've been down this road. I have never driven up the road, and those driving up it, didn't know where it led. I am sure
it is impassable. Plus, respecting Baja - I know (from knowledge) that it is better to drive out than hitchhike out.
Ken, it climbs out of the sand, parallels the arroyo a bit, then turns towards the small side canyon, passes the point the Camino Real switchbacks up
the side of the mountain, then the erosion of the roadbed (leaving only big rocks) stopped our Toyotas... we continued on the bulldozed road bed about
1/4 mile more to the end... on the ridge overlooking the deep canyon to Gonzaga. Petroglyps are on some rocks... and the Indian trail drops down into
the canyon from there'
Steve or any rock crawler could drive to the end of the bulldozed grade... otherwise, the short uphill walk is worth it to see the petros, trail and
canyon view!
See my satellite image above with the yellow pin labeled 'End of Road Const.' for this point... You can see the bulldozed road climbing up from the
mission...
[Edited on 1-30-2009 by David K]
I saw the Google earth pics. Do you think with a properly set up rig, it could be negotiated all the way to Gonzaga? Let me know what you think.
I don't think so... we are talking total cross country.... and not flat, mountain sides, ravines, boulders, shrubs, boojums. I am all for trying... in
a tank maybe!
Steve seems unconcerned with the photos and images I posted, because he keeps asking about driving to Gonzaga from Santa maria...
I am curious as to what Fred Hampe was thinking for a route for the road he was building? Follow the ridge line, like the Camino Real down to the
desert north of Arroyo Santa Maria??
Don,
Great pictures, is this what is at the end of the bulldozed road? That picture gives me a better idea of what the terrain is like.The pictures that
David and Ken posted did not look very tough. The google earth pictures that David posted are hard to get an idea of what the terrain is like.If you
go to google earth and put in Rubicon Springs Ca. it is hard to get an idea of how rough the terrain is there.I have been through the rubicon many
times, there are very tough spots and there are easy spots it all depends on what route you choose to take.
Thank you all for your input on this.My son and I are going to try and make the run in November and take a look at this place. Any other pictures or
stories about this run or other runs would be great.
I always love a challenge
Also my wife and I will be going to San Felipe in December to look for a lot on the beach. We would like something between San Felipe and Gonzaga Bay.
If any one has any leads please U2U me.
Steve, my wife ('Baja Angel') is from the Tahoe area... years ago... owned CJ-5s, and did the Rubicon run often... When I took her to Mision Santa
Maria, she said that was the first Baja road that was close to what the Rubicon is like... driving on boulders, and slow crawling Jeep action... or
Toyota action, in my case!
I have a pic of my son holding his mule's reins and standing by his mule on a huge boulder as we pick our way over the cargo trail from Sta Maria to
Gonzaga Bay. When the cowboy says time to get off and hike, he means it! These trails were never meant for wheels. He**, even the mules had a time
of it but only one took a fall....
My other 4WD is a Baja Mule!
La Mula Mil Survivor 2013-2014!
1000 miles by mule from the tip to Tecate!
Just to clarify... there are 3 routes west from the Gonzaga Bay region to the Santa Maria region:
1) The canyon (Arroyo Santa Maria)... by foot only as vehicles are blocked near the east opening of the canyon by rock and brush... soon becoming
giant boulders and ponds (as Don Jorge shows)... the 'Indian Trail' climbs out of the canyon to the ridge where the bulldozed road ends.
2) The Camino Real (mission road)... by foot, mule/ burro, and most experienced m/c rider who knows damage and injury is likely (Malcolm Smith/ Kevin
Ward)... It leaves Arroyo Santa Maria near the east opening of the canyon and climbs into the hills to the north of the canyon, along the canyon's
north rim or near it... It drops out of the hills and rejoins the bulldozed road between the end of the road and the arroyo.
3) The Cargo Trail (aka 'Serra's Cargo Trail') which was the supply route primarily for developing Mision San Fernando Velicata... It started at Bahia
San Luis Gonzaga where there was a warehouse (ruins remain)... traveled up or near Arroyos 'Alfredo' and 'Las Palmitas' (named in the Almanac) and
meets the auto road from Santa Ynez just east of the peninsular divide.
Baja Bucko posted a photo and hid a geocache (geocaching.com) on the Cargo Trail back in '01 or ? when she and her son rode it.
I can't wait to get down there and do some exploreing.
Don keep the pictures coming the terrain looks fantastic.
David your wife knows what I mean when I say the Rubicon is as tough as you want it to be.There are tough spots like the Little Sluice Box and then
there is a bypass to go around the tough spots. On one trip through there was a Toyota Tacoma brand new that was goig through.We saw him at the
begining and the end. By the way this Tacoma was Stock except for a little larger tires.At the end the tail gate was gone,both sides had rock bites
from front to back and a broken axle. he was pulled most of the way through. What a waist a good vehicle.I guess some people have more money than
brains.
I might be able to get away for a week during Easter would anyone be able to make this run to Santa Maria? Is it doable in a week?
How about if we went in to San felipe and left our motorhome there.How much time should we allow to get from San Felipe to the mission?Also are there
any places to get a room close to the mission entrance off the highway? Maybe Catavina I think there is two places.
Thanks,Steve
You would be on the wrong side of the peninsula if you based in San Felipe.
San Felipe to Gonzaga Bay is a 4+ hour drive... The only way to the mission is a 6 hour hike (one way) from the Gonzaga side.
Driving from Gonzaga south to Hwy. 1, then back north on Hwy. 1 to Santa Ynez would be about 2 hours.
If you want to drive to the mission in your Jeep (fun)... then drive your motorhome to Rancho Santa Ynez where they have a large field for RVs and a
bathroom. They have a restaurant and taco stand... as well as rooms for the night (bunk beds, showers). Run by Oscar and Matilda. Hoefully none of
that has changed with the new owner (Don Briggs) taking over from Fred Hampe and his partner?
Otherwise, there is the La Pinta Hotel and the less then best Motel Linda in Cataviņa, a mile+ from the ranch.
Tijuana to Cataviņa/ Santa Ynez is about 6-7 hours regular driving... add 1-2 more for motorhome/ towing.
This video shows the Baja Grande guys last weekend going wild in Johnson Valley. This place is nothing in comparison to what the drive up from
Gonzaga to the Mission would look like. BTW - Do you see me wearing my "Got Baja" hat in the opening credits????
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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