Friday night, April 29, 2005 Elizabeth and I went camping to Guadalupe Canyon Hot Springs. The canyon is reached 34 unpaved miles south from Mexico Highway 2, between Tecate and Mexicali. Two routes are available, one for wet weather is signed Cañon de Guadalupe, and is a graded road. The normal route is signed Laguna Salada, 2 1/2 miles east from the other, and utilizes over 25 miles of dry lake bed for road.
Nearing the canyon…
Lots of tiny caves in this hill, as you approach the canyon.
The road is rocky and slow going the final 2 miles to the camping area.
We actually drove in during the night, the first three photos were taken when we drove out Sunday. The next morning we took several photos of our private camp site… called ‘La Jolla B’ at Arturo’s Campo #1
Naturally hot spring water is piped through the canyon’s camp sites. The tubs are made using natural rock and the water temperature is controlled with the valve on the garden hose.
The fire pit was well placed and one can enjoy the campfire while soaking!
The palm lined canyon is just a short distance from our camp.
Palapas (palm shade structures) are provided for each camp site.
We take a walk up the road to see the other camp sites.
Here is the source spring for Guadalupe Canyon. Water at this point is 125°F. Insulated pipes carry the thermal water to dozens of camp sites, swimming pols, and even flush toilets!
The view down the canyon and way off to Laguna Salada dry lake.
A palm grove across the canyon from Arturo’s is used for camping.
Elizabeth looks like she is adapting well to desert camping!
Elizabeth and David on the trail, April 30, 2005.
To the left of the main peak is a pinnacle that resembles Mexico’s ‘Virgen of Guadalupe’, thus the canyon’s name.
Palo Verde trees were in bloom!! Lot’s of color in the Baja desert with so much rain this year.
Back in our palapa, where ample shade is welcomed in the desert.
As the sun crosses the sky, the canyon’s beauty increases with the continuous change…
BOOMER!
Hotschott’s doggy… one need not fear others with this puppy for protection!
Here is the hot tub at camp site ‘La Paloma’. It is very nice for summer as it is in the tree’s shade. When you direct the hot spring water to spray up into the tree, it rains back down quite cool!
The blooming palo verdes, green palms, and other colors were really great.
Camp site ‘La Jolla A’ which is between ‘La Paloma’ and ‘La Jolla B’. These three are the lowest sites in the canyon, share a common driveway, but are otherwise private. See the camp map in the web site to see how they are placed.
Sunday was a little cloudy, but otherwise it was very nice… we hated to leave!
Beautiful Guadalupe Canyon…
The Cantu or Rumorosa Grade on Hwy. 2. Laguna Salada is in the distance… Guadalupe Canyon to Tecate takes me 2.5 hours driving time.
Tecate Border Line
The only ‘un-fun’ part of any Mexican vacation is the crossing back into your own country. We had a 50 minute wait in line Sunday starting at 5 pm. The new border is much better and has a new entrance, well signed, east of the traffic circle.