Destination: Mike's Sky Ranch

by Michael Satterfield

Since 1967, Mike's Sky Rancho has been a destination for off-roaders, Baja racers, and those just looking to get away from it all. Located in the Arroyo San Rafael Mountains, about 80 miles southeast of Ensenda, the property sits on the edge of the San Pedro de Martir National Park. The hotel is the perfect hub for enjoying the area's hundreds of hiking or off-road trails, exploring the national park, or horseback riding.

The hotel was founded by Mike Leon, an American whose family had originally come from Jalisco, Mexico, and owned bars in Tijuana. While the bars were successful Mike wanted to slow down and bought several thousand acres in the remote mountains of Baja, California. The hotel served hunters, fishermen, and of course off-roaders, many of whom consider Mike's a second home. Leon had been a SCORE racing driver himself, driving for Volkswagen and Isuzu, taking first place in the 1984 Baja 1,000 for Isuzu and would win the 1985 Baja 500 just six months later.

Mike's isn't your typical resort, it is rustic, remote, and family-owned and operated. Your accommodations include dinner and breakfast, but you should bring snacks or a cooler with supplies for lunch as the kitchen is closed for lunch. The dining is family-style and the menu is fixed, but the food is good. The hotel has a nice pool, a bar that is open nightly, and generally a collection of interesting guests to meet from all over the world. Rooms are simple, but clean and have their own bathrooms, rooms may have a single bed, double, three twins, etc... so make sure to ask about the bed configuration for your room. Also, the ranch is so remote that they are off the power grid, electricity is provided by a generator from dusk until 10pm, and it isn't likely you will have cell service.

The hotel is open year-round and rates are seasonal, they don't have a website for booking reservations, you will need to call or write a letter, so be sure to plan ahead. Also check the calendar for Baja Race events, as the hotel has served as a checkpoint for the Baja 500 and Baja 1000, as well as other off-road races. Be sure to check out the wall of business cards from all the guests who have stayed at the hotel from around the world. Mike's is a bit like a living history museum of Baja racing, the collection of t-shirts, posters, and other memorabilia from legendary off-road racers is constantly being added to.

Getting to Mike's from Ensenada is fairly easy, just head 80 miles east on Highway 3. The turn-off to Mike's is about 10- 11 miles past the town of Valle de Trinidad, where you will see a sign "Rancho Mikes." This is where you will turn right and also where the road turns to dirt, it is a single road for nearly 14 miles, at the fork in the road stay left. From that junction, you have another 8 miles to go. There are signs to help guide you and a 4X4 or off-road motorcycle is recommended as the road can have some rough patches depending on the season.

Most guests that stay at Mike's are part of groups brought in by tour operators, from Wide Open Baja, Go Baja Riding, Baja Trail Rides, Trail Boss Tours, and many others. Because these larger groups often fill the hotel it is important to make sure you have a reservation before arriving. These tourist-focused programs give people a Baja experience for a week or weekend and keep Mike's busy.