Arthur
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Posts: 232
Registered: 10-2-2003
Location: San Anselmo, CA
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I sure could use an update on Canyon de Guadalupe
I hear all sorts of stuff about Canyon de Guadalupe, which I haven't seen for probably 30 years. All I remember is a long drive across a featureless
playa, with a minimal sign or two propped up in the dried mud to show the way.
Now I hear that it attracts a lot of people, it's expensive, and you can get a guide to show you some of the smaller, outlying springs that people
don't go to much. Well, we don't want a guide, and we don't want to be in a big people crunch -- this will be around Easter. Is it still possible to
get in there and poke around yourself and get a feel for the place? If it's pricey, do they spend the money on keeping it clean, etc? And how do you
get there, anyway? And what about the playa after all this rain?
Lots of questions . . . hope someone can help.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64856
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I suggest you use Nomad search, and type in Guadalupe by Hotschott. Here is a link to his most recent thread (full of details): http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=8323
Hotschott is a good amigo and has been going to Guadalupe for many years. His photo is at the end of the web page for M's BBBB #2 fiesta, which was at
Guadalupe Canyon Hot Springs, Nov. 2001: http://vivabaja.com/bbbb2
The Guadalupe web site is http://www.guadalupe-canyon.com for Arturo's Campo #1, which has the nice, private campsites. $40+ per night on weekends and reservation only.
Better prices and cheaper mid week or in the summer.
The dry lake is the usual best way in, signs along the way... However, with all the rains in the sierra, better to use the graded road which is well
signed at Hwy. 2 'Canon de Guadalupe'
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64856
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Arthur, I forgot to mention that I have four routes to Guadalupe possible by using my 'Viva Baja GPS List', which can be found in my Baja Notebook and
web site: VivaBaja.com (both below each of my posts).
Route 1: Graded Road from Mex #2-D
Route 2: Laguna Salada Dry Lake Road from Mex #2-D
Route 3: From Mex #5 at sand dunes/Saldana road northwest to Cohabuzo Jcn. then north to Guadalupe (4WD only)
Route 4: From Mex #3 on top of the mountains, down El Mano canyon to Cohabuzo Jcn. and north to Guadalupe (4WD only)
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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Easter will be a mad house at Guadalupe.
If you haven't been there in 30 years you will be shocked, and probably saddened at the commercialization.
Some of the surrounding canyons are still nice, but you don't get the hot springs...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64856
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Well, there are more hot springs, but not the same as Guadalupe's. Take a look at BajaTaco's web site where he went to the Agua Caliente springs south
of Cohabuzo, near the Pole Line Road. Here is the interactive map. The photos of the hot springs are not on it, but Chris did post them once...
http://www.bajataco.com/Baja/bajamap.html
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Arthur
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Posts: 232
Registered: 10-2-2003
Location: San Anselmo, CA
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I'll search first next time
Thanks, guys. This is just the kind of info I need.
I've tried to search in this list before, and just came up with commercial hits, but I just poked around again and found what looks like the right
interface. Still, what a bounty of information: David K himself summarizing the best topics, an update on this time of year . . . I think I'm
overwhelmed.
No -- it's just this GD swine flu or whatever it is I caught from these endless rainy days. Looks like we might have some sun today in the (world's
only) Bay Area, though. Got to go out and step on a few flowers.
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bajataco
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Posts: 117
Registered: 11-26-2003
Location: Arizona
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Hi David and Arthur
Here are two pics...
The first one is looking at the valley where the spring is located. Hard to see, but there is an abandoned rancho, and the sping is in the palm
grove on the right of the pic. It might be a bit hard to get to, and to find - it's waaay back in there away from the well-driven tracks, and you need
to pass through a small ranch (where you should ask permission to pass through). The trail eventually goes into a broad, dry washbed, where it becomes
hard to find the way. The last 3/4 mile or so before the rancho were badly washed out (wash had severed the road on the far bank) when we were there
in 2000, so required a little hike in. The last grade dropping off of a low rise into the rancho looked like it would be fun challenge for a 4wd in
lo-range if you could make it that far.
The 2nd pic shows some "wild" horses at the spring itself. The spring was dammed into an earhten pool that is quite large. You can feel the warm
water bubbling from the source in the bottom of the pool, but there is too much water volume and not enough flow to keep it warm - so it is a cool
pool. Makes for a refreshing swim though. If you swim, be sure not to go in there with any chemicals/bug spray/sunscreen on - the animals drink this
water and it is a micro-habitat.
I would bet you will find no crowds here 
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Arthur
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Posts: 232
Registered: 10-2-2003
Location: San Anselmo, CA
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Beautiful.
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