BajaNomad
Not logged in [Login - Register]

Go To Bottom
Printable Version  
Author: Subject: Observatory to San Felipe
Tree
Newbie





Posts: 16
Registered: 2-20-2012
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 2-20-2012 at 11:14 AM
Observatory to San Felipe


I heard there is a trail going from the observatory that goes over the mountain and drops you into the dry lake. Does anyone have any information on it? We are doing a ride in May and I'm looking for a route to get to san felipe from san Quitin without going by Mikes or higher up through Valle T and without going south through catavina/Puertocitos. Just seeing if that is a doable route. If I don't find a good route we may just skip SF and stay at Mikes the last night. The group will be about 7 bikes and two jeeps if that helps.

[Edited on 2-20-2012 by Tree]
View user's profile
TMW
Select Nomad
*******




Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 2-20-2012 at 11:28 AM


No there is not a road by way of the Observatory however you can take the Observatory road to the El Coyote ranch turn off and follow the road from El Coyote north by northwest around to Mike's Sky Ranch. The people at El Coyote can direct you if need be. I have it from a friend that the road is OK for trucks so your Jeeps will be OK.
View user's profile
TMW
Select Nomad
*******




Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 2-20-2012 at 11:36 AM


Here is a hand drawn map of the area. You would want to go from 5 and pass 6, 7, 8, and go to 1.

View user's profile
Tree
Newbie





Posts: 16
Registered: 2-20-2012
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 2-20-2012 at 02:55 PM


OK I've done that back route to mikes on the outside trails before but that was before the rock slide. I did not do the start of the inside route but I beleive I picked up the 2nd half of it were its coming from Valle Trinidad but it looks like it might be the best option.
Thanks
View user's profile
astrobaja
Senior Nomad
***




Posts: 952
Registered: 5-22-2006
Location: near San Pedro Martir Park
Member Is Offline

Mood: beam me up

[*] posted on 2-21-2012 at 07:57 AM


Tree, not sure if you know but motorbikes are strictly prohibited in the park itself. There is an ancient path leading from the observatory down to the road that leads to Mikes but its death-defying! We had a cabalgata come to stay with us last year, they took that path by foot and horse and had a helluva time, took them 9 hours!



\"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened\"

Douglas Adams

our website: http://bajadarkskies.com
View user's profile Visit user's homepage
Tree
Newbie





Posts: 16
Registered: 2-20-2012
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 2-21-2012 at 10:47 AM


Thanks for the info. Nothing from the observatory so It looks like we'll either go in at the trail by los coyotes and stay the night at Mikes or just head further north up the 1 to Valle Llno Colorado to the conector road that crosses into Valle Trinidad and around that way but it seems like alot of miles for one day to get to San Felipe. Anyone have information on the dirt road before camalu that goes by aguaje del burro and el carricito and connects to observatory road?
View user's profile
David K
Honored Nomad
*********


Avatar


Posts: 64615
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline

Mood: Have Baja Fever

[*] posted on 2-21-2012 at 11:01 AM


If you get Kacey Smith's GPS Guidebook for motorcycles (Vol. 2), you will have a single track that goes from Hwy. 1 (in the region of San Agustin/ El Marmol rd.) across to Hwy. 5, just south of Puertecitos "The Bill Nichols Trail". See http://www.bajagpsguide.com

The next trail across is the El Camino Real from Mision Santa Maria to Gonzaga Bay, but this is very extreme and only one m/c rider I know did it (with damage to his bike), Kevin Ward... Perhaps Malcolm Smith too?

The next track across is in Kacey's Volume 1 guide and is called the XR Ride. It can be traveled in a short wheelbase 4WD, but is difficult. It goes from just south of El Pedregoso (the boulder mountain) to the Turquoise mine 3 miles north of Las Arrastras site off Hwy. 5 ... Sometime called 'Coco's Shortcut' as it is a few miles north of Coco's Corner. Baja Nomads worked on this abandoned mine road a few years ago and 'The squarecircle' drove it in a Land Rover LR-3... Photos and more posted here on Nomad (La Turquesa Canyon Road).

Here is a neat story about Bill Nichols from Kacey: http://www.bajagpsguide.com/index.php?option=com_content&...

[Edited on 2-21-2012 by David K]




"So Much Baja, So Little Time..."

See the NEW www.VivaBaja.com for maps, travel articles, links, trip photos, and more!
Baja Missions and History On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions/
Camping, off-roading, Viva Baja discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vivabaja


View user's profile Visit user's homepage

  Go To Top

 






All Content Copyright 1997- Q87 International; All Rights Reserved.
Powered by XMB; XMB Forum Software © 2001-2014 The XMB Group






"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







Thank you to Baja Bound Mexico Insurance Services for your long-term support of the BajaNomad.com Forums site.







Emergency Baja Contacts Include:

Desert Hawks; El Rosario-based ambulance transport; Emergency #: (616) 103-0262