The crown jewel of hiking in Baja California Sur, this 3-day round-trip trail climbs from the desert floor to the 2,163m summit of Picacho de la Laguna, the highest point in the state. The ascent passes through cactus desert, thorny scrub, cloud forest, and finally pine-oak meadows at the summit. The high-altitude meadows (La Laguna) are unlike anything else on the peninsula — a cool, green oasis in the sky. Campsites are located in the meadow at approximately 1,800m.
The Picacho de la Laguna Summit Trail is the most demanding hike in Baja California Sur, climbing roughly 1,600 metres from the desert floor to the 2,163-metre high point of the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve. Two trailheads serve the route: Cañón San Dionisio, reached by dirt road from Santiago off the Los Cabos highway, and El Portrero on the East Cape side. Both need a high-clearance vehicle for the final kilometres, and no public transport reaches either, so most hikers arrange a lift or a guided transfer from Todos Santos, Santiago or La Paz. Parking is informal roadside space near the last ranch, and no permit fee is charged for access, though the reserve is federally protected and camping is expected to be low-impact.
The full round trip covers about 20 kilometres spread over two to three days. The lower canyon follows a boulder-strewn arroyo where the surface alternates between loose river cobbles, sand and granite slabs, with route-finding needed at every braid of the streambed; signposts do not exist and cairns are sparse. Above roughly 1,200 metres the gradient steepens through thorny scrub into oak and then pine forest, where shade becomes continuous and the footing turns to dirt and root steps. The trail emerges at La Laguna, a former lake bed at about 1,800 metres that serves as the standard campsite. The final push to the summit crosses granite outcrops and short scrambling steps with modest exposure. Hikers short on time or daylight commonly turn around at the meadow, which delivers most of the ecological interest without the summit block.
Water is the crux of the route. Canyon streams flow mainly after the summer chubascos and can run dry from March onward, while the meadow spring is reliable in most years but must be filtered or boiled. No huts, refuges or emergency shelters exist anywhere on the trail, and mobile coverage disappears above the ranches. Nights at the meadow fall below 5 degrees Celsius even in spring. Guides based in Santiago and Todos Santos charge roughly 1,100 to 1,900 pesos per day, and hiring one is standard practice on this unmarked terrain.
Trail facts
- Trail area
- Sierra de la Laguna, between Todos Santos and Los Cabos
- Best season
- October to April (dry season)
Location
23.5333, -109.9167 View on map
Highlights
- Summit views over Pacific and Sea of Cortez
- Endemic pine-oak forest ecosystem
- Wild deer and mountain lion habitat
- Meadow wildflowers after summer rains
Tips for visiting
- Hire a guide from Todos Santos or Santiago — trails are poorly marked
- Bring warm sleeping bag; summit temperatures drop below 5°C at night
- Water available at the meadow; purify before drinking
- Start early from trailhead to reach camp before dark
When to visit
October through April brings cool, stable weather and the safest canyon conditions, with the meadow at its greenest early in that window after the summer rains. Departing the trailhead at first light is essential to reach the La Laguna campsite in daylight.
Accessibility
The trail is not wheelchair or stroller accessible at any point. It begins in a boulder-filled arroyo with unstable footing and finishes with short granite scrambles, and there are no graded paths, handrails or accessible facilities anywhere in this part of the Sierra de la Laguna reserve.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Picacho de la Laguna hike take?
Most parties allow two to three days for the roughly 20-kilometre round trip, camping at the La Laguna meadow around 1,800 metres. Very strong hikers occasionally push to the meadow and back in a long single day, but the summit block realistically requires an overnight.
Is a guide necessary for this trail?
A guide is strongly advised. The route is unsigned, the canyon has multiple misleading side arroyos, and there is no mobile coverage above the ranches. Guides from Santiago and Todos Santos charge roughly 1,100 to 1,900 pesos per day.
Is drinking water available on the route?
Seasonal streams run in the lower canyon after the summer rains and a spring supplies the meadow in most years, but both must be filtered or boiled. Hikers should still carry at least three litres per person for the ascent, since flows can fail entirely by late spring.
How cold does it get at the La Laguna campsite?
Overnight temperatures at 1,800 metres regularly drop below 5 degrees Celsius, and winter nights can approach freezing. A three-season sleeping bag and an insulating layer are needed even when the coast is warm.