Pole Line Road
- OTG Crew
- Jan 4, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 29
A favorite jeep track among San Felipe locals leads to rocky canyons, and hidden WWII history. Are you ready to explore Baja's Pole Line Road?
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic
Trip Length: 112 miles, 1.5 - 3 days
Season: Year round, but October - May tends to be the best time to go before the Summer heat settles in.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
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Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 3-4
Peak Technical Rating: 5
Typical Terrain: Rocky jeep tracks a few very steep hills and plenty of sandy washes.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: High clearance 4x4
Recommended Moto: Given the moderate and rocky terrain a dual sport bike is recommended.
Adventure Vans: Adventure vans are not recommended.
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Fuel: There are no fuel stops along this route.
Provisions: n/a
Gear: n/a
Alternative Routes
La Ventana entrance
Distance: 13 miles
Technical Rating: 2
For those coming from the San Felipe area, consider taking the La Ventana entrance to Pole Line Road, which saves driving further north along the pavement. This dirt road is full of numerous turns and lots of fun bumps along the way, but certainly nothing technical.
Mano Summit
Distance: 40 miles
Technical Rating: 3-4 (exact conditions unknown)
If you're coming from the west or plan to continue westward, then consider the Mano Summit track. This track is most often used by local rancheros, and it's condition can change from one year to the next, so take the current technical ratings with a grain of salt! In recent years, two ranchos near the summit have installed gates. Sometimes the gates are open, and at other times they are locked. The rancheros who own the properties may let you pass through for a nominal fee. There is also a 7 mile go-around that completely bypasses the gates (Los Pinos bypass). Be sure to read the details on this below.
Los Pinos Bypass
Distance: 40 miles
Technical Rating: 2-3
Locals have identified a possible reroute around the Los Pinos compound, but intel on this detour is sparse, but we recommend giving it a go if you're in the area.
North Summit Entrance
Distance: 13 miles
Technical Rating: 3-4 (exact conditions unknown)
This track goes by two ranchos that offer camping in the area, Rancho los Compadres de la Sierra, and Rancho LetMar. Once you reach the ranches, the road to the highway is typically in much better condition.
Camping Recommendations
There are dozens of spots to set up camp along the route, pick one that works best for you. Many locals camp near Mano Junction.
Discovery Points
Duna Sandcali
El Salar
Bad Hill
Pole Line Road
Cerro Colorado
Cañon Jaquegel
Basketball Hill
Cañon Enmedio
Airstrip
Misión de Santa Catarina
Misión Cemetery
Heroes de la Independencia
Land Managers & Other Resources
Permits & Papers
Canadians and Americans are required to obtain a Mexican tourist card (FMM) and Mexican auto insurance before driving into Mexico. BajaBound.com is a fantastic resource covering all of the ins and outs of the process, which really isn't as tedious as you might think! Check out Baja Bound's FAQ page on entering/exiting Mexico.
Adventure Badge OTG has partnered with All Roads Taken to offer an adventure badge for this route. >> Buy your adventure badge today!
Route Details
The Pole Line Road is an old relic from WWII. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the American military genuinely feared that the Japanese could be operating secret airfields and military bases in the sparsely populated Baja peninsula. With the permission of the Mexican government, the United States built a series of airfields in Baja to fortify the California coast. A series of radar stations weren't built in Baja, including Radar Station B-97 near San Felipe. To ensure communications between these radar stations and bases, a 150+ pole line was erected from Ensenda to San Felipe. The Pole Line Road in this route guide follows a small portion of the old Pole Line Road.
Pole Line Road is a favorite among Baja and San Felipe locals looking to do a quick overnighter. It's long and technical enough that doing the entire route in a single day is downright grueling-- and we don't recommend it! Instead, most folks will spend 1-2 nights camping and exploring the trail and surrounding area. You'll know you've reached the Pole Line Road when the trail becomes a cobblestone road, and yes, you should see a series of old telephone poles that also parallels the trail.
While out on the Pole Line Road, the scenery is quite typical of what you can expect outside of San Felipe. Washes, rocky trails, lots of canyons with mountains looming in the distance. Much of the Pole Line Road track is filled with rocky and eroded trails, and quite a bit of sand as well. For sections like Bad Hill, Basketball hill, and Cañon Enmedio, expect to be in 4-low and moving at tortuga speed! You may follow the primary track, or enter via the wash near La Ventana. This is fantastic track for those wishing to experience a bit of local history, while escaping some of the more crowded routes/trails that surround San Felipe.
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