Sierra de la Laguna Loop

The Sierra de la Laguna rises like an island of pine and oak from Baja California Sur’s desert floor, harboring the peninsula’s last remnant of temperate forest. This backcountry loop winds through ranching country and abandoned mining camps, crossing seasonal streams and climbing to Picacho de la Laguna at 6,857 feet. The route passes through Rancho La Burrera and skirts the edge of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where you’ll find petroglyphs and stone corrals built by ranchers generations ago.

This is moderate 4×4 territory requiring high clearance and good tires — the volcanic rock will shred sidewalls if you’re careless. Winter and spring offer the best conditions, though flash floods can make arroyos impassable. No permits needed, but water is scarce outside of winter months. Stock up in La Paz or Todos Santos before heading up. You’ll earn solitude most overlanders never find in Baja, plus some of the best star-gazing south of the border.