Tag Archives: stars

Open Sky Destinations

luxury in lassen
Cottages at Highlands Ranch Resort

Places to go see the Night Sky in California

Benton Hot Springs

Big Sur, CA

Blue Lake Campground
Modoc NF

Bodie Ghost Town

Bridgeport, CA

Cambria, CA

Eastern Sierra Lakes

Elk Creek, CA

Ferndale, CA

Gold Lake, CA

Kennedy Meadows, CA

Lake Cuyamaca

Lassen Volcanic NP

McCloud, CA

Mercey Hot Springs

Mineral, CA

Mineral King Canyon

Mono Lake, CA

Lake Almanor, CA

Lake Tahoe, CA

Silver Lake @ Bucks

Tuolumne Meadows
Hwy 120 @ Yosemite NP

Walker, CA

Wilbur Hot Springs

horseback

California Meadow Locations

Wild Land Ranches
Wild Land Ranches

Meteor Showers & Stargazing

 

lodge

Best Lodges with Sky Views

Lodge @ Blue Lakes
Hwy 20, Upper Lake
Clear Lake, CA

Caples Lake Resort
Carson Pass Hwy 88
Kirkwood, CA

Cardinal Village Resort
Eastern Sierra
Aspendell, CA

Gold Lake Cabin Rentals
Lakes Basin Recreation Area
E of Quincy, CA

Highlands Ranch Resort
Lassen NF @ Hwy 36
Mill Creek, CA

Hunewill Ranch
US 395
Bridgeport, CA

Kit Carson Lodge
Silver Lake @ Carson Pass
Hwy 88
Kirkwood, CA

McCloud Mercantile Hotel
241 Main St
McCloud, CA

Quiet Mind Retreat Lodge
Lake Cuyamaca
Julian, CA

Rock Creek Lodge
Eastern Sierra US 395
Rock Creek Canyon Rd
Toms Place, CA

Tioga Pass Resort
Hwy 120 @ east entrance
Yosemite NP

Mineral California
Battle Creek Meadows, Mineral, CA

Mike’s Sky Ranch

Baja Resort Off Road

A rare gem: a rustic river ranch in Baja California Mexico. Fully operational, clean hotel with great rates & home-cooked meals. Open year round.dirt bike trails

This historic place is a living legend; well known throughout the tourists circles. A quaint, family run, secluded backcountry lodge – in the middle of nowhere. A motorcycle haven, well known w/ crowds. Hundreds of bikes, buggies, sand rails & jeeps each year make it to this lovely destination.

Also a popular destination for campers with the horses, 4×4 clubs, SUV travelers as well. No motorhomes, caravans of clueless, nor RVs should attempt this remote Baja location.

Baja Ranch Inn
Mike’s Sky Ranch rests on a hillside overlooking the Arroyo San Rafael, which is a somewhat wooded river valley with steep, brush-covered mountains. The ranch offers motel-type accommodations for a very reasonable price: family-style meals, a swimming pool, horse-back riding, sycamore-shaded campsites. The individual hotel rooms are adequate with a bathroom, plus a variety of bed sizes & combinations.

Remote Ranch in Baja

The price is right. Mike’s Sky Ranch charges on a per person basis. The rental includes a bed, plus two meals:

  • dinner the night you arrive
  • breakfast the next morning
  • bring cash for bar drinks
  • bring snacks, lunches & own ice chest
Camping also available; inquire for rates

Mikes Sky Ranch Reservations
write a letter:
667 Twining Ave.
San Diego, CA 92154

Call during the week Mon-Wed
phone # 011-52-664-68-15514

Ask about information regarding nearby day-trips to – the Oberservatory by vehicle or, on foot, into the rugged country to the east. A nice watrerfall is only 1 mile hike up the canyon. Depending on the year and waterflow, this may or may not be impressive. Small rainbow trout sometimes can be found in the river next to the ranch. Hunters may find deer, rabbit, & quail.

Baja Dirt Roads

Imagine the remote, dirt, back roads of Baja Mexico. Dusty, bumpy, undeveloped & adventurous. Some areas may require 4 wheel drive depending on the rainfall & erosion at that time. Road conditions can change from year to year, so come prepared. Although a 2WD truck or SUV can easily make it all the way out to the infamous Mike’s Sky Rancho, it may not always be the case. Let’s just say on a heavy winter rainy season, beware. You may wanna see just how deep that river crosing really is before attempting that last obstacle.

Poolside MSR Baja

The swimming pool is clean & the properties water source is straight from the mountains via the year round flowing river next door. Camping out is an option down by the river.

There is a small bar that is open nighly; but please don’t expect poolside Palm Springs style service. This is a rustic place that caters more to the ‘roughin’ it’ types.

Getting there is half the fun. I wouldn’t try your first visit arriving at night, since the small dirt roads can get confusing with limited signage. There are no telephone poles out here, or even electricity wired this far out, so the small ranch uses a generator every night from dusk until 10pm.
“Man, when that generator goes off. Poof … the stars come on!”

30 mile Dirt Road access only

MSR Baja California MX

Located approx. 50-60 miles; south east of Ensenada, Baja south off MX Hwy 3

DIRECTIONS: From Ensenada & Hwy. 3 East bound: This road to Mike’s begins at signed junction 10-11 miles south east of Valle de Trinidad. High-clearance vehicles are necessary; 4WD is not required. The entire route is on rough dirt roads. The first part rises over rural dry brush landscape & then decends down into a wooded river valley – where the resort is located. The overall mountainous region has few large trees & plenty of dust. The road becomes rougher as it winds down & approaches a junction at mileage 13.8. Bear left to continue 8 miles to the ranch. Creek crossings and river crossings, slow down!

MAPS:
NatGeo Baja Map Set
North BAJA Norteoverview MAP

Baja Topo Map
Baja Almanac

The BAJA ALMANAC is by far the best back roads guide to Baja California MX. Numerous versions span from 1990-2001. May be difficult to find cuz it is out-of-print. Fast becoming a collectors item, since so few can be found on the ‘used book market’

Rainy New Years Eve
Rainy New Years Eve
River Crossing at Ranch
River Crossing at Ranch
Tent Camping
Tent Camping MSR, Baja California

Baja Roads

Bar Crew in 2003
2003 Bar Crew @ Mike’s