The Baja Divide is a projected bikepacking route through the Baja Peninsula from San Diego, California to Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., MX. The nearly 2000 mile route is expected to connect the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, crossing every mountain range in Baja California on a series of unpaved backcountry tracks. Become intimate with the rural backcountry of Baja California in a season when most off-pavement routes in the USA are closed for the season.
Over 90% of the route is expected to be off-pavement, and less than 3% of the ride will be on the busy Transpeninsular Highway, MEX1. The best time of year to ride the Baja Divide is November to March. A tire in excess of 2.3” is recommended while 3.0” (plus) tires are optimal for much of the route. Food and water are frequently available along the route, although up to three days of food and 8 liters of water may be necessary in extreme cases, depending upon the rate of travel and season weather variations. Locals along the route are friendly and readily offer basic support if needed, and there are many options to adapt the route to fit personal preferences.
Read more about the Baja Divide route, support the project, or join the inaugural Baja Divide ride on January 2, 2017.
The Baja Divide is a project of Lael Wilcox and Nicholas Carman. The route is projected to be complete by summer 2016. An informal group ride will depart San Diego, CA in the first week of January, 2017. Contact bajadivide@gmail.com to inquire about the group depart in 2017.
You might consider soliciting sponsorship donations from hotels along the route. Also, maybe either Bud light or Tecate beer. Great project. I live in Loreto . Let me know if I can be of any help.
Al, we will be near Loreto sometime in late February as we plan another ride down the peninsula beginning next month. It would be great to meet!
Love it!
What!? That is extremely interesting. I did the Cruzando la Baja ride and was amazing!
That looks like a great ride. I think the Baja Divide route will share some of the same tracks with the Cruzando la Baja, just add another 1500mi to the ride!
Hell yeah! Well, if you are taking on that adventure, let me know. Happy Monday.
I am definitely interested! Will follow this closely!
Hey guys, Love that you are doing this! Baja is wonderful. If you are in San Diego, Please let me know, I would like to meet up with you guys.
My brother and I rode baja back in 2014. Maybe we can share some stories or cool places to check out.
-Luis
brothersbikebaja.com
lovemibici@luisfsanchez.com
We will be in San Diego in the first week of February, planning a presentation to the San Diego Mountain Bike Association sometime around 2/5 or 2/6. Hope to see you there.
This is great! I’m not necessarily the outdoorsy type, but I like that you are promoting a ride through such a beautiful region that deserves positive attention.
http://cur8eur.com/blog/adventure-travel-ride-baja-divide/
Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! Great project. If any help needed, Wine Runners, a group of triathletes and Runners from Ensenada México will help, we have received a lot of bikers going down Baja, so, we will be up for some action. Congrats!
Thank You
fantastic Blog
Good Louck
O_O
Hi guys, I am departing from Sonora in a week to make the Bajas by bike. I’m interested in touching the highway as least as possible and just found your website. Let me know if I can contribute in any way to this project. I’ve been trying to make a dirt road route too but you seem to have more progress on it.
Back in the 80’s my Baja adventures included mountain bikes. Great to think of riding from San Diego to Cabo. Be sure to bring patch kits for those inevitable flats. One four hour ride ended up with me fixing 11 punctures.
Most mountain bikers are riding tubeless tires these days, which is a blessing in the desert. Lael and I have ridden the length of the peninsula without any flats.
Daniel, It would be great to have your input on the route. Feel free to email me at bajadivide@gmail.com if you find any great routes or if you want any route suggestions.
Excelent news, we have a lot off roads in Baja, thanks for the connection…
LOVE this proyect…bikers will be VERY WELCOME !
If you need a place to stay…LA POSADA B&B in La Paz BCS
And Baja Sur..Hostel in CABO SAN LUCAS
WE OFFER SPECIAL RATES FOR ALL THE BIKERS!
Info& Reservations …fiestisima@live.com.mx
052-11-612-15-783-84
An alternative route might include riding from El Condor (East of Tecate), through Laguna Hanson, Tres Hermanos, down to Santo Tomas, and then follow the valley down to the Pacific Ocean. Then turn South and head down towards Punta Cabras (Seen in one of your pictures), Ejido Erendira, Colonet, etc.
Awesome project! Would love to do it if I get the chance!
….how much trail of 2000mi needs to be built…or does it all exist!??
The route will use 100% existing resources, including about 90% dirt roads, about 1-2% singletrack, and just a little bit of pavement.
Hey guys! This looks like an awesome adventure! I sew custom bicycle bags here in San Diego and would happy to support your ride in some way. Please let me know if there is any way I can help out, and if it works out maybe I can ride a bit at the start with you! Thanks, Tim
http://www.migrationbicyclesupply.com
Thanks Tim, We’ll be in San Diego during the first week of Feb. We’re planning to share the route locally on 2/4 and 2/5 in Barrio Logan and in Escondido. Check out the San Diego Mountain Bike Association FB page for more details.
…..and how many days does the route usually take?
While I don’t have a total mileage just yet, I expect it will take most riders 5-6 weeks at a touring pace, less if you aim to ride fast and far. One could easily use the route as a guide to enjoy the peninsula for a period of several months, to visit historic sites, beaches, cities, etc.
This is such amazing news! I am in!!!
That’s a great project, I’m looking forward to be there in January 2017.Salutations from Vancouver, B.C
Awesome! I love promoting Baja and take crews of hikers, bikers, and friends to explore all over. See you at the Border X Brewing on Feb. 4th at 5:30 pm.
Super super good project……cogratulations xelent….
Best for you guys.
WoW, anything you need while in Rosarito Beach just let me know.
I have some questions, planning on doing the January ride…where do I begin?
Route guides and section narratives will be published along with the GPX track and new website in the next month or two. Stay tuned!
I’m strongly interested in the loop at the southern end. Email sent also. Cheers! Gerry
Well done! I may join you!
I completed in Feb 2016 a 32 day loop around Mai Ndombe Province in DRC that was also off road. My log can be found at website link, or at these places:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/611ff/
I may consider taking only a portion of this Baja route in Jan-Feb for 1-2 weeks only to keep in shape for another trip to Africa.
Sooo fun. My gf and I last year accidentally bike packed baja. A portion of baja. Specifically ereindera to Puerto Santo Tomas to Santo Tomas. Twas awe maze and we is planning our route for this year and we’re contemplating entering through mexicali and right riding south thru San Felipe and Gonzaga until we get to prieta at the 1…we start mid December and won’t leave the cuntry until mid January and would love to merge onto said baja divide route as we venture south…thanks for doing such a rad thing. Would love to be included if possible. Be super well. Liana
Liana, You are welcome to download the tracks and ride the route at any time. Enjoy!