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Why GPS Guidebooks? PDF Print

We started the Baja GPS Guidebooks because we wanted to keep people safe off-roading in Baja, Mexico.  While that has always been the main course, a lot has developed beyond this mission.  We spend most of our time researching private property (and gather permissions in areas like Santa Veronica for our Events) and try to keep the peace between off-road pleasure and the increase in Baja's wealth, land development, and community growth.  We research and publish only the areas we feel are safe for travel (unlike illegal plantation areas and private properties that do not wish your presence).  We keep you on safe trails and lead you in a path without locked gates, dead ends, and warn you about potential terrain dangers like unexpected sink-holes and 2 way traffic areas or surprise blind turns, cliffs, and other obstructions.  Baja is a 3rd world country and travel there should be well thought out.  We aim to gift off-roaders all the critical information one could study prior to your trip and offer safe, accurate, and simple routes leading you in directions you may never have found without us!  The guidebooks offer a kind of treasure hunt fun with a plethora of options to loop epic rides all over the peninsula.  With just novice GPS navigation skills, our routes move you fluidly without needing to stop and look at a map.  Not only do we keep it safe, accurate, and simple but we make it affordable too at $125 with hundreds of inter-connectable routes. If you plan to take a self-guided tour in Baja or just want to learn some new routes you may not already know, the Baja GPS Guidebooks and our website are the 'one-stop' resource for all your off-road needs, questions, and pleasures, especially for Baja.  If you don't find the answer you are looking for here, email us anytime..... we probably have the answer.

Our Statement & Quest

Changes are bound to occur in everything. Life isn't about careers, money, pleasure, or concerns, it's about how we handle all of the above. Attitude counts no matter what we do in life. Act POSITIVE, communicate POSITIVE, and react POSITIVE. Keep trying, nobody is perfect; that is our quest.

Here are a few tips along with many you've heard before. PLEASE use them no matter where you are (especially Baja):

  1. 1. Share trails - Discriminating against other recreations only hurts our fight to continue keeping trails open to the public. Sharing is an ancient formula to resolution; a basic rule we were all taught by our mothers.

  2. 2. Smile! A good attitude goes a long way, even if the other person isn't playing the same game.

  1. 3. SLOW Down for oncoming traffic, hikers, mountain bikers, animals, cowboys, and Lizards. Smile and wave. This is sooooo important.

  2. 4. Use Hand Signals - It's an old law that isn't used enough. If you have 3 riders behind you, hold up 3 fingers to oncoming traffic so they are aware of how many are behind you. Each rider after the first should hold up 2 fingers then 1 and the last person should hold up a fist (zero) to show they are the last one. EVEN Spanish speaking individuals can understand; it's universal. The more we use it, the safer we are.

  3. 5. Understand Private Property - It changes all the time and it's hard to know, especially with single-track, what is private and what is not. Research your areas; know where you are allowed by asking questions in the area. If you make a mistake, always stop for people waving you down. Apologize and understand your limits. Ask for permission, if possible, and take no as an answer if you are unwanted. People are cool if you care, but they still may not want you there, and it's their right. Our GPS Event routes are on private property and we spend months gathering written approvals from each ranch owner. We announce the trails are not open to common users and we appreciate that they are not being used after events (our route from 2 years ago are grown over and hardly used).  Our guidebooks are specifically designed to keep you out of areas you are unwanted and off private property. Unfortunately, property is being bought in many of our popular riding areas creating new issues all the time. TO THIS DATE, THERE ARE NO ROUTES THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO OUR GUIDEBOOKS OR EVENTS! Please watch for updates per each guidebook on this site for new information.

  4. 6. Be a Tree-Hugging Motor-Head - While recycling may not be the long-term answer, it is the best way to handle waste, especially oil, antifreeze, and other toxic fluids. PLEASE find out where your nearest recycle center is and use it. Baja's waste management is pretty grim and recycling there is bleak. Ask the cantina, local garage, gas station, or grocery what to do with toxic waste. Baja's remote areas burn almost all wastes whereas major cities have other programs. You will find Baja's proper disposal if you ask. Dumping toxic fluid on the ground is inexcusable and tossing it in garbage bins in major cities puts employees at risk.

  5. 7. Support Your Sport - As we continue to experience hatred from the extremists, keep a balanced attitude. It takes large groups to make impact and that means we have to stick together as positive trail users. Don't play the blame game, just get involved, urge others to implement these ideas, and support your sport so our voices can be heard loud. Be a member of the Blue Ribbon Coalition (http://www.sharetrails.org), AMA (http://www.ama-cycle.org), and/or NOHVCC (http://www.nohvcc.org). It is all of these associations that keep our trails open and fight for our ability to recreate legally. Get on the newsletter list for "American's for Responsible Recreational Access" (ARRA) at http://www.responsiblerecreation.com . Check their site to get informed quick and easy in lay-terms! They also have easy links and sample letters making it easy to stay involved. REMEMBER, it takes "all of us" to make a big enough impact to keep public lands open (mountain bikers, hikers, motorists, equestrians, 4X4's, and picnickers). Make friends.

  6. 8. Buddy Sport - There is no "i" in "team". It takes two (minimum) to have a safe trip and nothing less. Be safe.

  7. 9. Pass Information On - If you see a fellow activist breaking these common laws, reach out and educate them. Helping one another be better consumers, off-roaders, and public land users creates constructive patterns. Support one another and help create an important standard of positivity.

  8. 10. GPS is environmental, provides security and safety along with the guidebooks, and offers you a safe, accurate, and simple resource to Baja. Support your sport by keeping a good attitude while accepting other types of off-road vehicles, navigation, and new ideas.

If we have missed anything and you would like to suggest something to add, please contact us using the Contact Us link at the top of the page.