Quick summary: The Baja 1000’s organizers have asked Mexico’s federal environment ministry, SEMARNAT, to approve a racing corridor of roughly 1,930 km across Baja California Sur for the next 16 years. It is a permit application, not a course map — SCORE still has not published the route for the 59th Baja 1000 on Nov 9–15, 2026.
Baja 1000 environmental permit: Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Filing | Environmental impact statement (MIA) submitted to Mexico’s federal environment ministry, SEMARNAT |
| Filed by | The Baja 1000’s promoter; the Gringo Gazette identifies the filer as SCORE International |
| Permit term sought | 16 years, 2026 through 2041, for an event held mainly each November |
| Corridor length | About 1,930 km (roughly 1,200 miles) across Baja California Sur — BCS Noticias reports 1,926.855 km, the Gringo Gazette 1,939 km |
| Surface | About 85% existing dirt roads and trails; the remainder paved highway |
| Protected land | 205.5 km of the corridor, about 11%, inside the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve |
| Scale described | About 400 vehicles a year across 36 classes |
| Impacts assessed | 21 negative and seven positive impacts identified in the filing |
| What this is not | Not the 2026 Baja 1000 course map; SCORE has not released the 59th Baja 1000 route |
| Facts verified | September 2026 |
What did the Baja 1000’s organizers file?
According to BCS Noticias and the Gringo Gazette, the promoter submitted a manifestación de impacto ambiental — Mexico’s environmental impact statement — to SEMARNAT covering an annual off-road race across Baja California Sur through 2041. The filing describes a corridor of about 1,930 km, roughly 85% of it on existing dirt roads and trails, with 205.5 km running inside the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. It assesses 21 negative and seven positive environmental impacts, with the heaviest effects on soil, air, wildlife and vegetation.
Does this tell us the 2026 course?
No, and it is worth being clear about that. The application covers a multi-year corridor, not one year’s route, and it reaches much further north than anything SCORE has described for 2026: El Vizcaíno sits well beyond Loreto, the northernmost town on the list SCORE published in August. Treat the corridor as the outer envelope the organizers are asking permission to use, not as the 59th Baja 1000 course. The official map, mileage, start times and spectator areas are all still unannounced.
What happens next?
SEMARNAT now reviews the application, a process that normally includes a public consultation period. Neither outlet reports a comment deadline or a decision date. We are checking daily and will publish a where-to-watch guide as soon as SCORE releases the official course map; until then our spectator guide covers SCORE’s safety rules and live tracking, our Los Cabos travel guide covers flights and where to stay, and our things to do guide covers race week away from the course.
Sources: BCS Noticias – Baja 1000 busca autorización ambiental para operar 16 años en casi 2,000 kilómetros de BCS (Aug 28, 2026) · Gringo Gazette – Baja 1000 Seeks 16-Year Permit to Race Through BCS (Aug 29, 2026) · SCORE International – This Is the Road to the BFGoodrich Tires 59th SCORE Baja 1000 (Aug 13, 2026). Facts verified September 2026.