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A visit to the El Volcan Cold Water Geyser is one of Baja's must-do events. To catch the monthly eruption (in the daytime) would be perhaps the most amazing thing to experience in Baja. When we were in the area 11 years ago, my travel amigo Lorenzo de Baja considered setting up a camp for up to a month to witness the event!

I have no knowledge of any photos or documentation of the eruption other than in Walt Peterson's 'The Baja Adventure Book' describing the event as a 60 foot plume of water and gas (CO2?) lasting several minutes.

One last look at El Volcan:



Here is the fork 2 miles from El Marmol (and 2 miles from Arroyo El Volcan)... facing northeast. Before the road was graded, both branches looked equally used (or unused):




On the road to El Marmol


Nearing the Onyx quarry you can see the old road climbing the hill... this was the road south, 10.3 miles back to the old main road (between Agua Dulce and La Virgen). I travelled it twice (in 1974 and '75). Neal Johns took it about 10 years ago... I wouldn't go solo as there may be some deep washouts.


The schoolhouse


Some of the home foundations from 1958 and earlier.














Graveyard




In 1953:






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Sign pointing the way to El Volcan (4 miles) and La Olvidada (10 miles). It is 9 miles from this point back to Hwy. 1 (Km. 148/9). Rancho Sonora is just south of the El Marmol jcn.

See the onyx gifts for sale there!

A couple miles before reaching Highway One is the site of Rancho San Simon where only a windmill, pila (water tank), and the world's only onyx cattle trough can be seen today!

Here the graded road to Highway One curves south, and the original road to San Agustin is barely noticed continuing southwest.


The owner of Rancho Sonora (son of that rancho's founder 'Santiago') was filling up some barrels with water from the windmill.








The World's only onyx water trough!






Matomi Mountain


Coco sure gets around!



Next, we go to Rancho Sonora and see the onyx curios for sale there.

We reached Hwy. 1 and turned south to visit Rancho Sonora, which can be seen a kilometer away from the El Marmol junction (located between Km. 149 & 150).


(Photo from Vern)

I had last stopped here in July, 2000 with Lorenzo de Baja, after we camped by El Volcan. We had come for breakfast and enjoyed the treat before heading north.

Rancho Sonora was established about 1965 on the old main road, 1/2 mile north. In fact, you can see the foundation for it just to the right of the new El Marmol road, where it crosses the old road (a big tire sign for Tres Enriques ranch is to the left at the old road).

When the highway was built through here in 1973, Santiago moved his ranch to the side of the highway (as did others seeking business with travelers). It was posted here on Nomad that Santiago passed away a few months ago. It was his son we had just met at the windmill.

Next to the rancho is a large parking area for R.V.s for camping or to park and use another vehicle to run to El Marmol.



























We next headed to El Rosario... 57 miles away. Then to the border another 225 miles north.

Another great Baja adventure from the bucket list "Search for Santa Isabel"!

Hope you enjoyed a look into our weekend in Baja!

Wonderful story and photos DK. I am going to share this photo with some friends who know that region well going back to their childhood and may know some of the kids in the photo...

Wouldn't that be cool! The photo was taken ABOUT 1953... maybe '52. El Marmol was shut down by the Southwest Onyx Company in 1958 when demand for the natural rock dropped and was replaced with plastics!

The village of Guayaquil (just past the Santa Catarina Landing turnoff) was where they moved to, according to one book... I would think they would want to get far away from that area!