National park · Mexico
Constitution 1857 National ParkParque Nacional Constitución de 1857
Go only with a high-clearance vehicle: from Ensenada it is 52 km (32 mi) on MEX 3 to the Ojos Negros turn-off, then 32 km (20 mi) of potholed dirt to the park and Laguna Hanson; a 4x4 is recommended, and road and lake conditions after winter storms are a check. Timing and dry-road claims are a check.Go only with a high-clearance vehicle: from Ensenada it is 32 mi (52 km) on MEX 3 to the Ojos Negros turn-off, then 20 mi (32 km) of potholed dirt to the park and Laguna Hanson; a 4x4 is recommended, and road and lake conditions after winter storms are a check. Timing and dry-road claims are a check.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²)
approximate
Established
1962
Best months
—
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 10Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
- Baja Peninsula ↗Carry your passport and Mexican FMM tourist card; army checkpoints on Highway 1 are routine and you must stop.
- Baja Peninsula ↗Mexican auto liability insurance is required; US policies usually do not cover Mexico.
- Baja Peninsula ↗Fill the tank whenever you can; Pemex stations in the middle section can be closed or dry.
At a glance
- Country
- Mexico
- Area
- 50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²)
- 5,009 hectares (50.09 km²) per the park decree; boundary figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1962
- Best months
- —
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Ensenada
Constitution 1857 National Park is a highland surprise: 50 km² of pine, juniper and seasonal lakes at 1,580 m in the Sierra de Juárez, inside a peninsula most people picture as desert. President Adolfo López Mateos created it by decree in 1962 to protect this forest island; the highest ground reaches 1,852 m. Laguna Hanson (Laguna Juárez) is the largest of the lakes that fill in the winter wet season and shrink through the dry months, and it holds the cabins, the two tent campgrounds and the shark-shaped rock formation. There are no marked trails, no reliable published entry fee and no services beyond pit toilets, so the trip is really a decision about your vehicle and your timing: 32 km of potholed dirt after the Ojos Negros turn-off, a 4x4 recommended, and worth an overnight if you want the lake at sunrise. Road and lake conditions are a check.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1962.
Size and age
50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²) · national park since 1962
5,009 hectares (50.09 km²) per the park decree; boundary figures vary by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Ensenada.
Why go
- A pine-and-juniper highland at 1,580 m in the middle of Baja desert — cold nights, frost and occasional snow in winter.
- Laguna Hanson (Laguna Juárez) is the largest of the seasonal lakes and usually holds some water all year.
- Piedra los Tiburones, a rock formation on the eastern shore that reads as two stacked sharks.
- Quiet camping: tent sites near the lake with pit toilets and very few other people midweek.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold, frost, some snow; lakes may freeze (check)
- FebWet season; mud on the access road (check)
- MarMild days, cold nights (check)
- AprOften dry and clear; road conditions are a check
- MayWarm; lake level is a check
- JunHot afternoons; go early (check)
- JulHeat; lake level drops (check)
- AugHottest and driest; little shade on the plains (check)
- SepHot; storm tails possible (check)
- OctCooling and often dry; road conditions are a check
- NovCrisp; first frosts (check)
- DecCold; snow possible on the high ground (check)
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn sheepAll year · Resident but rarely seen; look at open slopes at first light. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Mule deerAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Raptors (falcons, golden and bald eagles, vultures)Mar–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Waterfowl on the lakesNov–Mar · Numbers follow the winter wet season. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Bats (more than 30 species use the park)Apr–Oct | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Ensenada
MEX 3 east 52 km (32 mi), left at Ojos Negros, then follow signs for Acceso a Laguna Hanson for 32 km (20 mi) of dirt road to the park.MEX 3 east 32 mi (52 km), left at Ojos Negros, then follow signs for Acceso a Laguna Hanson for 20 mi (32 km) of dirt road to the park.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From San Diego / Tecate
Cross at Tecate, MEX 2D east 52 km (32 mi) to La Rumorosa, then south 62 km (39 mi) on the signed access road; high clearance advised, 4x4 recommended.Cross at Tecate, MEX 2D east 32 mi (52 km) to La Rumorosa, then south 39 mi (62 km) on the signed access road; high clearance advised, 4x4 recommended.
2.5–3 h
From Valle de Guadalupe
Back to MEX 3, then the same Ojos Negros turn-off; a natural stop on the way in or out.
2.5–3 h
From Baja road-trip plan
Where this park fits between Ensenada, the wine valley and the peninsula's other parks.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Laguna Hanson (Laguna Juárez) | The main highland plain at 1,580 m, with the lake, cabins, campgrounds and the shark rocks. | Reached by the signed dirt access road; open year-round, weather permitting. |
| Pine and juniper high ground | The upper slopes and ridges, up to 1,852 m, with conifers and the best walking. | Open; no marked trails — navigate by map and track. |
| Chaparral and coastal sage lower slopes | The drier lower elevations on the way in, with different birds and plants. | Open; mostly seen from the road. |
| Seasonal lakes and wet meadows | Small lakes that fill in winter and dry through summer. | Open; expect mud and soft ground after rain. |
Sketch map
- 1Laguna Hanson (Laguna Juárez) · Viewpoint≈32.043, -115.926Main lake and highland plain; approximate.Map ↗
- 2Piedra los Tiburones · Viewpoint≈32.045, -115.910Eastern shore of the lake; approximate.Map ↗
- 3Campamento Laguna Grande · Sleep≈32.043, -115.912Map ↗
- 4Campamento Sierra Juárez · Sleep≈32.044, -115.919Map ↗
- 5Cabanas Laguna Hanson · Sleep≈32.044, -115.927Map ↗
- 6Ojos Negros turn-off from MEX 3 · Gate≈31.910, -116.270Approximate; follow signs for Acceso a Laguna Hanson.Map ↗
- 7Ensenada · Town≈31.867, -116.600Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Park centre from Wikidata; lake, campground and cabin points are approximate, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No reliable published entry fee found; a small local charge has been reported — check at the gate. Do not treat entry as confirmed free (check). |
| Tent camping (Campamento Laguna Grande or Sierra Juárez) | MXN 80 (≈ US$5) | person per night | 2026 estimate; pit toilets, no showers. |
| Rustic cabin at Laguna Hanson | MXN 800 (≈ US$45) | cabin per night | 2026 estimate; amenities vary by cabin — confirm before you drive out. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping no permit
Cabin booking permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- MX$80≈ US$5
- MX$800≈ US$45
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) — Parque Nacional Constitución de 1857 before you go.
Park rules
- Water
- Bring all drinking water; do not rely on the lake or on any tap in the park.
- Fires
- No open fires outside designated rings; the pine forest and dry grass burn easily.
- Litter
- Carry everything out; there is no rubbish collection at the campgrounds.
- Roads
- Stay on the signed access road; side tracks are unmaintained and soft after rain.
- Military checkpoints
- Common on MEX 3 and MEX 2 — carry ID and vehicle papers, and expect a short stop.check
Where to stay
In the park
Cabanas Laguna Hanson
Rustic cabins at the south end of the lake; amenities and rates vary by cabin.
In the park
Campamento Laguna Grande
Tent sites near the lake with pit toilets; very few other campers midweek.
In the park
Campamento Sierra Juárez
Second tent campground close to Laguna Grande.
Near the park
Ensenada
The practical base: hotels of every level, food and fuel before the drive.
Near the park
Valle de Guadalupe
Wine-country rooms on the way, about 2.5–3 h from the lake.
Safety
Cold and rapid weather change medium
Rough dirt access road medium
No services or phone signal medium
Heat and sun in summer medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The lake plain, campgrounds and the short walk to Piedra los Tiburones are on gentle ground and can be done with limited mobility in dry weather.
- The ridge routes are unmarked, rocky and steep in places; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
- No paved paths, handrails or accessible facilities were found in the park (check).
Visiting lightly
- Camp only at the established sites near Laguna Hanson and leave the shoreline as you found it.
- Do not feed or approach bighorn sheep or deer; they lose condition when they depend on visitors.
- Take out all rubbish, including toilet paper, and use the pit toilets rather than the bushes.
- Buy supplies in Ojos Negros or Ensenada so the small roadside businesses along the access road keep the benefit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Constitution 1857 National Park?
No reliable published entry fee was found — a small local charge has been reported, so check at the gate rather than assuming entry is free. Budget MXN 80 per person per night for tent camping and about MXN 800 for a rustic cabin at Laguna Hanson (2026 estimates).
What are the best hikes in Constitution 1857 National Park?
There are no marked trails in the park (check). The easiest walking is on the flat highland plain at Laguna Hanson, past the campgrounds toward Piedra los Tiburones. Longer ridge routes exist on paper but are unmarked; treat any route, time and difficulty as a check and carry a map and GPS track.
When is the best time to visit Constitution 1857 National Park?
The source describes a temperate climate with cool winters and warm summers, and winter as the wet season with rain, frost and occasional snow. Spring and autumn are commonly recommended, but the dry-road and clear-sky claims are a check — confirm access-road conditions before you drive out. Jul–Sep is hot and dry, with the lake at its lowest.
Do I need a 4x4 to reach Laguna Hanson?
A 4x4 is recommended for the park and backcountry, and high clearance is advised for the 32 km dirt access road, which is potholed and soft after rain. Do not commit a low-clearance car to the access road; conditions are a check.
Can I camp or sleep inside the park?
Yes. Two tent campgrounds near Laguna Hanson charge about MXN 80 per person per night and have pit toilets; rustic cabins at the south end of the lake run about MXN 800 (2026 estimates). There is no food or camp store on site — bring everything from Ensenada.
Is there phone signal or fuel in the park?
Assume no phone signal and no fuel. Fill up in Ensenada, carry water, food, a spare tyre and a paper map, and tell someone your route before you leave MEX 3.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go