The desert around San Felipe is some of the best off-road terrain in North America. Miles of open desert, ancient volcanic landscapes, mountain passes, and sandy washes make this area a destination for ATV riders, dune buggy drivers, and off-road enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you’re renting a quad for a few hours or watching trophy trucks blast through the SCORE San Felipe 250, the off-road culture here is deeply woven into the town’s identity.
Guided ATV Tours
If you don’t have your own machine, San Felipe Off Road is a local ATV rental company that offers guided adventure tours through the surrounding desert. They run several different routes:
Mountain Run — This tour takes you around ancient volcanoes and over Scorpion Pass, a dramatic mountain crossing with views of the Sea of Cortez and the desert below. It’s a good introduction to the terrain without being overly technical.
Rancho Cajon Trail — A longer six-hour tour that follows the front range of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, the mountain range that forms the backbone of the Baja California peninsula west of San Felipe. The tour includes a lunch stop and covers a mix of desert flats, rocky trails, and scenic ridgelines. The cost runs approximately $165 per rider.
San Felipe Off Road is open daily except Tuesday. Reservations are required by 3pm the day before your ride.
The Terrain
The landscape around San Felipe is varied and dramatic. To the west, the Sierra San Pedro Mártir rises sharply from the desert floor, with peaks reaching over 9,000 feet. Picacho del Diablo (Devil’s Peak), the highest point in Baja California at 10,154 feet, anchors the range. The foothills and bajadas (alluvial fans) that slope down from these mountains toward the coast create a network of natural trails and washes that are ideal for off-road riding.
To the south, the road toward Puertecitos passes through increasingly remote desert terrain. Side trails branch off into canyons, dry lakebeds, and volcanic formations. The turnoff to Valle de los Gigantes — home to a forest of giant cardón cacti, the tallest cactus species in the world, with specimens over 60 feet tall and up to 300 years old — is a popular off-road side trip accessible from Punta Estrella Ranch near kilometer 14 on Highway 5.
The desert floor itself is a mix of hard-packed sand, rocky sections, and soft sandy washes. After rain (which is rare but does happen), the desert briefly transforms — wildflowers can appear, and dry washes become temporary streams.
Bring Your Own Rig
Many visitors to San Felipe tow their own ATVs, side-by-sides, or dirt bikes down from the US. The drive from the Calexico/Mexicali border crossing is approximately 125 miles (about 2 to 2.5 hours) south on Highway 5. The road is paved and straightforward.
Once in the San Felipe area, there’s an extensive network of trails and desert roads to explore. Some popular riding areas include:
- The desert flats west of town, which offer wide-open riding on relatively smooth terrain
- Canyon routes in the foothills of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir
- The coastal trail south toward Puertecitos, which combines beach sections with desert riding
- Punta Estrella area, with access to Valle de los Gigantes and surrounding desert
A note on riding: Mexico has different regulations than the US regarding off-road vehicles. Be aware of local rules, stay on established trails, and respect private land (ranchos). Carrying basic recovery gear, extra water, and a first aid kit is always smart when riding in remote desert terrain.
The SCORE San Felipe 250
San Felipe is home to one of the most famous off-road races on the planet. The SCORE San Felipe 250, organized by SCORE International, is the season opener of the SCORE World Desert Championship series. It has been running for nearly four decades and is known as “SCORE’s fastest race” due to the terrain that allows high speeds across open desert sections.
The 2026 edition — the 39th SCORE San Felipe 250 — is scheduled for March 25–29, 2026. The approximately 283-mile course sends competitors through the Baja desert in categories including trophy trucks, unlimited buggies, Class 1 cars, motorcycles, and UTVs. The 2025 race saw 251 teams start and 191 finish, with UTVs setting a record at 91 entries.
Race week is an event in itself. Contingency — the pre-race technical inspection — doubles as a parade through San Felipe’s streets, where spectators get an up-close look at the race vehicles. The finishing line celebrations happen along the Malecón, with crowds cheering as teams cross the line after hundreds of miles of desert racing.
Even if you’re not a racer or a die-hard off-road fan, the SCORE San Felipe 250 is worth experiencing. The scale of the machines, the skill of the drivers, and the enthusiasm of the crowd make it one of the most exciting events of the year. Read more about San Felipe’s festivals and events.
Off-Road Culture
Off-roading isn’t just a tourist activity in San Felipe — it’s part of the local culture. The Baja peninsula has been synonymous with desert racing since the first Baja 1000 in 1967, and San Felipe has always been at the center of it. Local mechanics work on race vehicles. Families come out to watch the races. The terrain that draws professional racers from around the world is the same terrain that locals ride on weekends.
That shared enthusiasm means you’ll find good support for off-road activities in San Felipe. Parts and basic repairs are available in town. Local riders and rental operators can point you toward trails that match your skill level. And the riding season is essentially year-round — the desert climate means dry conditions almost every day, with the cooler months (November through March) being the most comfortable for extended rides.
More about San Felipe: