Sierra de San Pedro Mártir

The Sierra de San Pedro Mártir is a giant National Park and the true geographic heart of Baja California. Beautifully mountainous, the park is not what people think of when they imagine Baja, but it is one of the biggest and most natural areas on the peninsula, with hiking, exploring, and adventure as far as the eye can see. 

The park covers some 170,000 acres. The highest peak in the state, the Pichaco del Diablo, (Devil’s Peak) reaches a staggering 3,096 meters above sea level, although much of the park is relatively high altitude also. Pine and fir trees struggle to grow up the sides of the mountains, but the peaks are snow-capped. The park has also been home to the prestigious San Pedro Mártir National Astronomical Observatory since 1975. 

The park is well-known for the several marked hiking trails. One of the best known is a 9.65 kilometer round-trip to the El Altar area with views of the Picacho del Diablo, the San Felipe desert and even the sea in distance. A very few, rare California Condors have also been calling the park home since 2009. They have had several chicks within the last several years. 

The park admission fee includes a camping permit, but you need to bring everything. There are some cabin rentals near the main entrance to the park too, but for those who aren't carrying everything in a back, more generous accommodations are a bit further afield. 

Most people will get to the park traveling south from Ensenada. The turn off for the park is at Km 184 from Mexico Highway 1 at the little town of Licensciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz.  But the park is still another two hours (100 kms) inland from there. From the other side of the peninsula, trips usually start at Mexico Highway 5 at the toll booth called La Ventana. Exiting the highway onto Highway 3 (The San Felipe - Ensenada highway). From that highway, the trip through the desert mountains takes just shy of three hours. Use caution though. Almost no services or gasoline will be available along the way.