Baja Divide: Section 10 Alt

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Features Commonly Bikepacked

Sea of Cortez!, wide-open desert and mostly high-quality roads, limited services, very sandy track between El Arco and Vizcaíno for 10+ miles (3" tires and low tire pressure) recommended, an off-route trip to the fishing community of El Barril.

This alternate route adds 24.6 miles to the trip over the Baja Divide - Section 10 route but saves you 7+ miles of sand riding.

Resupply:
Bola - food, water, motel, camping, restaurant.
San Rafael - beach camping.
El Progresso - water, motel, camping.
Piedra Blanca - food, water, motel.
El Arco - food, water.
Vizcaíno - food, eater, motel, camping, restaurant, ATM.

The route from Bahía de Los Àngeles travels inland to return to the sea at San Rafael, a small commercial fishing access point. Pancho is the lone inhabitant at San Rafael. He offers camping on a white sandy beach and generally welcomes visitors. No services are officially available, although he occasionally provides services in exchange for tips.

There is a mild climb to El Progresso about 25 miles away, where Rancho Escondido provides lodging, on-site camping, water, and meals. It is a beautiful setting and a nice family looking to develop ecotourism in the backcountry. The fishing community of El Barril is 8 miles away should you choose to take a day trip to the sea. There are no stores in El Barril, but if you asked around you may find someone selling packaged snacks, while fresh fish may be available during the week.

A sandy road continues southwest of El Progresso toward a pass, whereafter a mostly hard road continues past Rancho Piedra Blanca to El Arco. Piedra Blanca is a working eco-tourism ranch that offers rooms and meals and has a small snack stand on request. El Arco is a declining factory town. Ask politely for purified water. You may be able to purchase cold soda and chips at one of two ramshackle stores.

Leaving El Arco, take the main graded dirt road southwest of El Arco to MEX1 and ride the remaining 30 miles to Vizcaíno on the highway. This stretch of MEX1 is narrow and does not have a shoulder. Vizcaíno is one of the best highway towns on the route with inexpensive motel rooms, great street food, and ceviche. Even though it feels like you're in the middle of the desert, Vizcaíno is within close proximity to both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.

Source: bajadivide.com ©Nicholas Carman and Baja Divide, 2016-2020.

The Baja Divide was developed by Nicholas Carman and Lael Wilcox in the winter of 2015-2016 on two consecutive rides down the peninsula.

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