Loreto · Sierra de la Giganta · Sea of Cortez
Hikes, walks, rides & explorations
This is wilderness. There are few signs and fewer trail markers, so every trip into the desert and mountains is an adventure.
The Guidebook
Over 85 hikes, walks and rides
Hiking Loreto isn’t meant to be a catalog of every trail. It’s a guide to some of the beautiful places we’ve found, and to finding your own adventures. The more we hike, and the more other hikers find, the more we can add. It’s meant to be a sharing of information.
- Trail descriptions & difficulty ratings
- Mountain bike rides
- Island hikes by panga
- Hand-drawn area map
- Desert hazards & first aid
- Ranch culture, missions & history
A taste of what’s inside
Featured hikes
Full directions, maps and dozens more hikes are in the Hiking Loreto guidebook.
Before you go
National parks & fees
On August 16, 2023, presidential decrees created Nopoló National Park and Loreto II National Park, giving Loreto three national parks. They cover the hills of Loreto and the canyons south of Juncalito down to Puerto Escondido.
A fee and wristband are required to hike, ride, kayak, snorkel or fish in the parks. Residents and retirees qualify for a discount. Pay at the park office at the Loreto marina.
Fee information as of January 2025. For the latest, see Conserva Loreto and The Ocean Foundation.
Hikes inside the parks
Nopoló area
Nopoló Canyon, The Estuary Traverse, Nopoló Viewpoint
Juncalito – Ligüí area
Juncalito Beach, Waicuri, Juncalito Canyons, Copper Top, Tabor, Cañón de Mariposa, Rainbow Rock, The Hart Trails, Rattlesnake Beach
Desert hiking tips
Go in winter
Winter brings great hiking temperatures. Avoid the summer months.
Carry more water
More than you think you need. Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Be self-sufficient
There’s no organized search and rescue. The local ER is open 24 hours but usually has no snake antivenom.
Watch the sky
Arroyos can flash flood. Stay out of canyons when rain threatens.
Go with someone who knows
Hire a local guide
Many hikes are tricky to find. A local guide means you won’t get lost, and it supports the local economy. Most guides provide transportation, lunch and a wealth of knowledge.
Said Orozco · Loreto Guide
Guided hikes in the Sierra de la Giganta.
Saddling South · Trudi Angell
Mule and horse pack trips through the ranches and canyons of Baja’s sierras, with vaqueros whose roots go back centuries.
Aventuras · Bikes, boats & more
Rent a bike or e-bike, hire a panga to Isla Coronado, go whale watching, fishing or riding.
Eat, rest and explore
Local favorites
Good food, good guides and a little pampering after the trail. These local businesses support the guidebook, so please support them.
Support the place you hike
Giving back in Loreto
Casa Hogar La Esperanza
Loreto’s group foster home for children, run with DIF family services. Give through the Sister City Association’s Casa Hogar fund.
hb-sistercity.org/casa-hogarEco-Alianza de Loreto
Environmental education and the Loreto Coastkeeper program.
ecoalianzaloreto.orgConserva Loreto
Research, education and protection of Loreto’s conservation areas.
conservaloreto.org.mxThe Ocean Foundation
US charity behind Keep Loreto Magical. Tax-deductible for US donors.
oceanfdn.org/loretoSoft Paws Cat Sanctuary
No-kill shelter for cats, with adoption help to the US and Canada.
softpawsloreto.orgHermosa Beach Sister City Assn.
Student exchange, bombero training and Casa Hogar foster home.
hb-sistercity.orgFound a new trail?
This guide grows with every hiker. Send us trail updates, corrections, new routes or questions, and we’ll fold them into the next edition.