Baja GPS Guidebook Volume 1 UPDATES:

This route has been gated by a new property owner (you cannot get though). Please follow these directions to avoid the gate: At waypoint 1LH3 (14.95 miles), continue straight toward Ojos Negros.  The road will head downhill and bend right (see brown sign to Ojos).  The road will split on a right bend - take the left split and watch carefully for the sign in the middle of the bend up to the left to Ensenada. Go left.  Follow that road until it joins another main road - Go sharp LEFT on this road (it naturally joins right); see signs on left to Rodeo del Rey.  This road will re-join LHVT.  Alternative route suggestions from Veronica:  1. VRON to ONTM south or to Mike's or 2. VRLH to LHON south or to Mike's.

Rancho Los Bandidos:  Unfortunately has not been open for many years now.  Esperanza's husband passed away and she remains in morning.  Bandidos took over the rancho and it took several years to regain the property to her family (legally).  They have not been open since.  Rancho Rodeo del Rey (just north of the laguna) is a good alternative hotel/restaraunt and is in Vol 2.
Mike's to the Observatory - MKOBS 

The ride from Mikes is still totally awesome.  Once you hit the main road up to the observatory, it's all paved now (since 2006).  The last 2 miles to the observatory is a hike; they no longer allow any motorized vehicles of any kind (frown on bribe offers) to do the last 2 miles to the overlook.  Make sure to take a good cable & lock to do the hike (it's really worth it). As of June 2010, the dirt road from Mike's to the pavement was severly damaged by a rain-storm.  It is passable to those expert riders looking for a serious challenge; most have either slept on the route or turned back.  Mike plans to work on the road, but there are no dates for repair. 

Puertecitos has had an opening date for the Pemex station for a long time.  It finally opened Fall of 2009.  The last time I was though April 2010, it was closed.  At this point, do not rely on gas at Puertecitos and call it luck if it is open when you need it.  Highway Construction: Pavement made its way through Puertecitos to the back side of the city September 2008 and has progressed to the south side of Puertecitos moving along the foothills.  Good sources informed me that funds for the highway have come to a hault and they are requesting more funds from the state.  They still bank on making connection to Highway 1 through Gonzaga by 2011.  Pavement sucks; thank God we have new single track!

There was a massive flash flood in the area just outside San Francisquito in 2006.  Follow the route until you find the huge hole in the main road (obvious), turn around and head back in the direction you came from & watch carefully for a big wash.  Cross the wash and just on the other side of the wash, make a LEFT on the jeep road.  This goes straight for a while then curves Left.  Stay on this road following the GPS until hooking back up with the route.  These directions have been used by many since 2006 without fail. 

San Matias – NO LONGER HAS GAS. You must get gas at Valle de Trinidad (right off the highway before doing MTPR or MTFL and add 17 miles to the total miles listed for these routes.  Then, make sure that total mileage is a distance your gas tank can accomplish.

Santa Veronica To Ojos Negros – VRON

1VR61 – cross out the waypoint name 1VR61 and cross out the Latitude and Longitude coordinates that correspond with 1VR61 with a permanent marker.  Then, change the next waypoint (1VR15) into 1VR61. Now you should only have mileage of 7.6 with directions and no waypoint and the next waypoint should be 1VR61 at 14.8 miles.

Since publication in December 2000, the area codes for phone numbers in Baja changed.

See Baja Travel Info > Baja Area Codes