Baja_Itzcoatl
Newbie
Posts: 14
Registered: 5-18-2013
Location: Southern CaLi
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Mood: Venturous
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San Felipe from Ensenada road info
Hello All,
I’m driving to San Felipe from Ensenada this coming weekend. The map shows one road that can get me there. I assume there’s no way I can get lost.
I’ve been traveling to Ensenada since 1988 so I’m familiar with driving in Baja. However since I’ve never been to San Felipe I’ll appreciate any input
I receive regarding the drive and what to expect once there. My baja experience is Rosarito Beach, Puerto Nuevo, Ensenada for weekend trips. But after
reading a lot of the posts on this site it sounds like its pretty safe to drive outside my comfort zone. San Felipe has been chosen as my first “new”
location to explore. Also, this weekend being MDW, does San Felipe get crowded with people? If yes, that would be a plus.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Just take Highway 3
From Ensenada, eastbound. Can't get lost. Fill up with gas in Ensenada and get a couple of bottles of water. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive, you pass
through a couple of small villages.
You will pass through two military checkpoints. One at Ojos Negros, and one at the intersection of Hwy 3 and Hwy 5, just north of San
Felipe.......from the San felipe checkpoint just follow the highway as it curves to the right. San feliepe is about 20 miles down Hwy 5 from the
checkpoint.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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The drive from Ensenada is easy. Take hwy 3 out of Ensenada and just before hwy 5 at KM197 there is a military checkpoint. After that you will murge
right onto hwy 5 thru another checkpoint, but usually they don't stop you, and on to San Felipe in about 30 miles. On hwy 3 there will be Baja 500
pre-runners, the race is the following weekend, so be careful. I doubt there will be any large number of people but much more than a regular weekend.
Take your time and enjoy the country side. Either going or coming back there is a really great taco stand in Trinidad. Turn at the PEMEX gas station
and go down about 3 blocks on the right. It's an open air type place. Have fun.
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 9-19-2009
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at km 163 turn south toward diablo dry lake to the power line road. turn left to the second power pole and share a coldy with OX! 
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65411
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Here's a brief road guide I will hammer out for you:
Highway 3 (Ensenada to San Felipe/Mexicali) is also the same highway number as the Tecate to El Sauzal/Ensenada road: Mexico #3.
As stated above, it is a single paved road with only a couple a paved side roads off of it (Ojos Negros, Valle de Trinidad, San Matias). The first 20
miles (to the Ojos Negros road) is quite curvy as it climbs through the mountains... the rest of the 110 miles to Highway 5 (Mexicali to San Felipe
road) is mostly flat and straight.
The next town after the Ojos Negros turnoff is 'Independencia' and it is right on the highway. There you may see a wide graded road to the left signed
to Santa Catarina (it is 5 easy miles away), which is a Paipai Indian village, well known for colorful pottery... beyond the village is the site of
42nd California Mission 'Santa Catalina', founded in 1797 and destroyed in 1840. Nothing but stone and melted adobe outlines of the church and fort
remain on the level hilltop, above the cemetery.
The next town is Valle de Trinidad (Colonia Lazaro Card##as), mostly to the right of the highway when you drop down into the big Trinidad Valley. The
20 mile graded dirt road to Mike's Sky Rancho is 10 miles east of Trinidad and that is followed by the paved spur into the village of San Matias,
named after the pass that you soon drive through that separates Baja's two primary mountain ranges: the Sierra Juarez on the north, and the Sierra San
Pedro Martir on the south.
Once through the pass, you enter the San Felipe Desert and in less than 40 miles you will reach Highway 5 (Military checkpoint) at a point 32 miles
north of downtown San Felipe... and 90 miles south of Mexicali.
(links to photos of Mission Santa Catalina or Mike's Sky Rancho available)
[Edited on 5-20-2013 by David K]
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CortezBlue
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Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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I don't have a clue why anyone needs to detail how to get to San Felipe from Ensenada.
Take Hwy 3 East, young man, you can't miss it.
It is very scenic and a good road.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Maybe a help...
Ave CORTES in Ensenada is the blvd that'll take you the right way.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
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Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
Ave CORTES in Ensenada is the blvd that'll take you the right way. |
Just follow the cars that have machine guns sticking out the windows. They're going to work in Trinidad Valley.
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Baja_Itzcoatl
Newbie
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Registered: 5-18-2013
Location: Southern CaLi
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Thanks everyone, I’m traveling from Downtown L.A., stopping in Ensenada for one night, then off to San Felipe. The people I’m traveling with are
afraid because they believe all the negative hype! I’m printing your responses to show how easy and safe the drive will be. If this trip with them
goes well I may convince some of them on a later date to go on my ultimate goal…. the road all the way down to Cabo!
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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"Just follow the cars that have machine guns sticking out the windows. They're going to work in Trinidad Valley"
Stick your issues of Guns & Ammo, High Times, and Soldier of Fortune under the front seat.,
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Word!
| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
I don't have a clue why anyone needs to detail how to get to San Felipe from Ensenada.
Take Hwy 3 East, young man, you can't miss it.
It is very scenic and a good road. |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65411
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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For some people it's the journey... not just the destination... If you just wiz through Baja (or life), you miss most of everything there is to see or
do...
There are hot springs, gold mines, Spanish missions, good food, guest ranches, orphanages, photo vistas and more along Hwy. 3. Or, you can strap on
some blinders and set the cruise control to San Felipe... what ever you want, but to not want data of what's along the way limits what can be enjoyed.
Remember, for every one who asks about a road in Baja, there are a thousand who will also want to read about it.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Good directions here David. Details and landmarks here will keep the traveler from worry..................
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Here's a brief road guide I will hammer out for you:
Highway 3 (Ensenada to San Felipe/Mexicali) is also the same highway number as the Tecate to El Sauzal/Ensenada road: Mexico #3.
As stated above, it is a single paved road with only a couple a paved side roads off of it (Ojos Negros, Valle de Trinidad, San Matias). The first 20
miles (to the Ojos Negros road) is quite curvy as it climbs through the mountains... the rest of the 110 miles to Highway 5 (Mexicali to San Felipe
road) is mostly flat and straight.
The next town after the Ojos Negros turnoff is 'Independencia' and it is right on the highway. There you may see a wide graded road to the left signed
to Santa Catarina (it is 5 easy miles away), which is a Paipai Indian village, well known for colorful pottery... beyond the village is the site of
42nd California Mission 'Santa Catalina', founded in 1797 and destroyed in 1840. Nothing but stone and melted adobe outlines of the church and fort
remain on the level hilltop, above the cemetery.
The next town is Valle de Trinidad (Colonia Lazaro Card##as), mostly to the right of the highway when you drop down into the big Trinidad Valley. The
20 mile graded dirt road to Mike's Sky Rancho is 10 miles east of Trinidad and that is followed by the paved spur into the village of San Matias,
named after the pass that you soon drive through that separates Baja's two primary mountain ranges: the Sierra Juarez on the north, and the Sierra San
Pedro Martir on the south.
Once through the pass, you enter the San Felipe Desert and in less than 40 miles you will reach Highway 5 (Military checkpoint) at a point 32 miles
north of downtown San Felipe... and 90 miles south of Mexicali.
(links to photos of Mission Santa Catalina or Mike's Sky Rancho available)
[Edited on 5-20-2013 by David K] |
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Well tell them that we always take out kids....grand kids...and their friends to our place in San Felipe...........then we let them roam about. The
big issue is that you speed like a mad devil......you may get a ticket.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja_Itzcoatl
Thanks everyone, I’m traveling from Downtown L.A., stopping in Ensenada for one night, then off to San Felipe. The people I’m traveling with are
afraid because they believe all the negative hype! I’m printing your responses to show how easy and safe the drive will be. If this trip with them
goes well I may convince some of them on a later date to go on my ultimate goal…. the road all the way down to Cabo! |
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65411
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Deno!
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