This impressive mountain range is part of the Peninsula Range that extends for over 930 miles and down into Baja CA Sur. The highest peak in the Peninsula Range is Mount San Jacinta in Riverside County at 10,834 ft. The highest peak in the Sierra de la Laguna is 6,857 ft and overlooks the southern peninsula from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas. The name Sierra de la Laguna is in reference to the dry ancient lake beds that can be reached on an extended hike to the peak. From there the views are breath taking. The Sierra de la Laguna range is the dominate landmark in the area comprised of approximately 400 square miles of rugged mountain.
At the base you have a beautiful desert and dry arroyos for most of the year. Once you climb up you find trickles that form beautiful water falls, hot springs and a wide variety of flora and fauna including oasis of palms. Above 2600 ft the dryness gives way to pine-oak and Black Oak forest. Above 5200 ft you find Mexican Piñon.
The variety of ecosystems, endemic species and sub species are some of the reasons that make this range worth protecting. There are estimated to be 694 species of plants with 85 being endemic. The Mexican government designated the range as a Biosphere Reserve in 1994. UNESCO later called it “a highly important and contrasted ecosystem” that is an important source of water to the surrounding communities of Todos Santos, Los Barriles, Santiago, Miraflores, San Antonio, Pescadero, Las Cuevas and Buena Vista. The annual rainfall is just 25″ and mostly comes from summer storms and occasional winter rains. The majority of these communities raise cattle, making the case that we should continue with the reserve status and not bow to mining interests. These wealthy mining companies have unsuccessfully tried again and again to gain license to strip mine these glorious mountains for gold, silver and precious metals. If approved they would bring jobs but beware of the vast open pit that would become of this enterprise. They would use arsenic to separate the precious metals and contaminate the water supply that is in such short supply in our desert and semi arid environment.
The next time you fly into Los Cabos be sure to get a window seat. The eye is drawn to the incredible coast lines down both the Pacific and Gulf Coasts. Do not forget to gaze over our amazing mountain range that we love to explore, climb and discover. The next time you drive to La Paz from Cabo up highway 19 along the Pacific coast be sure to come back the other side of the loop down Highway 1 and the Sea of Cortez side. It takes a little longer but the “Loop” takes you completely around the Sierra de la Lagunas, you might just fall in love with the inland part of our paradise.
For more information and your “Insider’s Guide” to Los Cabos, go to www.cabosfinest.com.
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