Laguna Hanson lake loop

The loop starts at the campground on the shore of Laguna Hanson, reached by 35 km of graded dirt road from Ojos Negros on Highway 3, a drive of about an hour in a standard car in dry weather; a park entry fee of roughly MXN 70 is collected at the gate of Parque Nacional Constitucion de 1857. The 6 km circuit is flat, sitting at about 1,600 m altitude, and follows sandy and packed-dirt tracks around the shallow lake through open Jeffrey pine forest and fields of rounded granite boulders, with essentially no elevation gain or loss. There is partial shade under scattered pines for much of the loop, though long stretches along the open shoreline are exposed to sun and wind. Landmarks include the campground and boat-launch area where the loop begins, a granite outcrop on the lake's north side that makes a natural rest stop, and the marshy inlet at the lake's far end, which can be muddy or partly underwater after rain and is a reasonable point to turn back if conditions are wet. The lake itself is often dry or reduced to a shallow pool by late summer, and its water is not suitable for drinking, so all water should be carried in. There are no huts on the route, but the campground has basic pit toilets and space for tents or vehicles. The flat, well-defined tracks and short distance make this the most accessible walk of any distance in the Baja California sierra, suitable for most fitness levels and families with older children.