CABO'S MOUNTAINS
One of the things that suprises many first time visitors to Cabo the most when they fly into the Los Cabos International Airport is the tall mountains they see on final approach. They expect to see the spectacular beaches and desert terrain...but mountains? The mountains behind Cabo San Lucas are the grand finale in a long string of ranges that start in Alaska and work their way down through north America, finally ending at El Arco in Cabo San Lucas Bay.
The mountains directly north of Cabo San Lucas are called Sierra de la Laguna. This particular mountain range starts just south of La Paz and runs over 80 miles to Cabo. It's highest peak, Picacho de la Laguna, is over 7,090 feet above the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.
A large flat meadow, La Laguna, is located at over 5,600 feet in elevation. La Laguna was, for many centuries, an Alpine lake in a very unique geographic setting. Over time the erosion caused by heavy rains wore away at the edge of the lake allowing water to run down the mountain and the lake eventually dried up in the 1800's.
The highest point in the Sierra de la Laguna mountains is covered in clouds during much of the summer months and becomes a cloud forest similar to those is Costa Rica. Parcipitation in these mountains ranges from only a few inches per year in the lower elevations to well over 30 inches per year at the highest points. This is more rainfall than anywhere else on the Baja Peninsula, and probably more than most places on the west coast of the United States.
As the elevation increases the plant species in these mountains evolves from desert, to tropical, to sub-Alpine. The fana in these mountains is also abundant, and changes with the increasing altitudes.
In 1994 the Mexican government declared Sierra de la Laguna a Biosphere Reserve, not unlike the biosphere on Mexico's Caribbean coast at Sian-Ka'an. These biospheres prohibit development within the reserves, but do allow local ranchers to live in the buffer zone around the protected areas.
There are four trails that cross the Sierra de la Laguna, from west to east (or east to west). These are multi-day excursions for hikers that require significant planning. Shorter day hikes up these trails are possible, although enough time should be provided to get back down the mountain before dark.
Under the right conditions it is possible to drive across this mountain range on the most southern of the 4 trails. The vehicle being used must have high clearance, and 4 wheel drive is recommended. Carlos Fiesta made this crossing in the year 2000 in a Toyota 4-Runner with Baja explorer Dave Denis. The road was washed out in several areas, and Dave had to get out and 'walk' the vehicle through some areas where the road had almost completely disappeared at steep drop-offs. They reached the highest point in the mountain pass at approximately 3,500 feet before gradually decending towards the Pacific Ocean, ending up south of Todos Santos on Baja Highway One.
The Sierra de la Laguna mountains are one more gift that the Cape offers to visitors in search of adventure and open spaces. It is a unique environment worthy of protection and respect.