We drove south from San Diego to La Paz on September 19th, following the passage of Hurricane John. The effects of the rain were evident from the turn of to Punta Abreojos South, the desert is amazingly green. About 5 miles south of Vizcaino there is road work and resurfacing for about 7 miles. Vado Lester, 48K north of Santa Rosalia the road is washed out very badly. All the way down Cerro del Infierno there are rocks slides into the road. Once you enter Santa Rosalia, take it slow, there are washes into the road from many side roads and vados.

In the entire coastal section from Santa Rosalia to north of Insurgentes we recommend NO night driving. There are severe washouts in many vados, and chunks missing from the side of the road that you could not possibly see at night. Road repairs are going on throughout this section of highway and you may come upon slow moving trucks and work crews with little warning. Watch for orange and orange/black precaution signs – they mean it!

There are rocks slides all along the road from north of Santa Rosalia all the way south to the pass through the mountains north of CD Insergentes. The size of these rocks ranges from tire poppers to car stoppers. Also beware drivers in the opposite lane dodging problems in their lane,

Hwy 1 through Mulege was all right. From the bridge you can see down into the river bottom, the area was decimated.

North of Santispac the bridge is washed out and in the middle of being repaired. Slow down and beware. Watch for the signs. South of El Coyote Trailer park at the bottom of the hill the road is washed out. This one isn’t well marked so watch out. About 2km further south the problem repeats itself, another big washout.

South of El Requeson there are lots of rocks slides but they all seemed to be out of the roadway.

There are many washouts south of Mulege that are poorly marked watch for the orange and black striped markers and SLOW DOWN. (Insider Tip: Also watch for white painted rocks on the shoulder, when out of hwy cones, crews revert to this older form of Baja road communication) We saw some markers in the north bound lane that had been tipped over, hard to see them that way when the wind or a passing truck knocks them over.

There are bad washouts that were not well marked at 32km, 25km, and 16km north of Loreto. These are some pretty serious washouts and you come upon them very quickly. The rest of the way into Loreto there were lots of small washouts that were not well marked.

Leaving Loreto there are several major washouts and men and equipment in the roadway, making the repairs. There is a very big rock slide at the scenic overlook south of Loreto. There are three more washouts before Nopolo and three more before the Puerto Escondido turnoff.

After Ligui there is one bad washout that is not marked. Again, 65km, 46km and 16km there are washouts, four bad ones in all on the way to CD Insergentes.

South of Constitucion the road is washed out at Santa Rita. (for those of you who travel the hwy often, you know this area seems to wash out when we have a heavy dew)

About 112km north of La Paz there is bridge work, down to one lane. 103km north of La Paz and arroyo washed out the roadway and again 77km north of La Paz.

From there into La Paz it was pretty clear sailing. The entire roadway would be considered passable, with a few rough patches and detours along the way. Again, we stress avoid driving at night. The animals are finding the new grass growth along the roadside very attractive. In the evening they are often looking for water in the flooded vados and despite the infinite amount of desert where they could graze and drink safely they seem to find the roadside of particular interest.