Introduction:
What? :
Carrizo Plain National Monument is the largest native grassland remaining in California.
Here you can witness the San Andreas Fault as it is cutting through the valley.
Another prominent feature on the monument include the white alkali
flats of Soda Lake and the vast open grasslands×¥ At spring (~April), after rainy winter, wildflowers
carpet the valley floor. This is one of California prime destination for witnessing the amazing phenomena of flower blooming.
Recently, during April 2023 I visit here again to see the flower blooming, it was amazing sight.
All the valley floor and the mountain sides where cover with flowers, colored with green grassland, light orange, yellow, purple and blue.
Where? :
The Monument is located about 160 miles north of Los Angeles, 260 miles south
of San Francisco in southeastern San Luis Obispo County.
It is located east of highway 101 and the city of Paso Robles, and west of highway 33 (that is running parallel to highway I5).
The main north access Soda Lake road starts at hwy 58, 50 miles south east of Paso Robles or
43 miles west of Bowerbank at hwy 5.
You can also access the park from it south side on hwy 33/166 (https://goo.gl/maps/RvE834vfyA1NnVeUA).
This south entrance start with an old paved section later transform into 18 miles long dirt road (do not try to use it
after rain when it is muddy).
Google Map Link
When? :
Spring (the month of April and May) is an ideal time to visit, as the Carrizo Plain is one of the best wildflower destinations in the state.
At summer this
is mainly dry open grass land without any water in the lakes.
Due note
1: Carrizo Plain National Monument is one of the best kept secrets in
California. When visiting this place during summer or fall, the chances are that you will be alone
with nature. when visiting here during the flower bloom season you will see many other visitors.
Due
note 2: The Carrizo Plain National Monument does not provide any services such
as water, food, or fuel. also cellphone reception is minimal or not exist. When heading this location make sure your car fuel
tank is full.
Due note
3: Do not drive with your car in the mud, even on official roads. When dirt roads are wet, they become impossible for driving!
This is
a remote area with limited car towing services.
Roads driving conditions:
Only the northern portion of Soda Lake road is paved and open year-round, many other roads within the Monument have an unimproved dirt road.
When dry most of the valley
main and marked roads are good for any vehicles, mountains road may need 4x4.
Unpaved road become impassable to cross during periods of rain; roads often take weeks
to dry out after a rain.
Due
note 4: For most of it part this is BLM land so you can camp for the night
without any permit.
Due note 5: Please follow warning signs and respect private property when visiting your
public lands.
My thoughts:
We visit here as a side location on our trip, arriving from Pismo
Beach and going back to the 101 highway at Paso Robles.
Driving
east on hwy 166 from Santa Maria was nice, you can see how the green coastal landscape
change into a dry desert once you get into and cross the mountain range.
We visit here during the dry winter of 2021. We will try to time our next visit during the spring, when wildflower blooms.
This is very secluded place, and during the summer, with almost no other visitors. There are few interesting geological thing to see here.
Out of the main roads, far
away destination but I recommend visiting here.
Recently during April 2023 I visit here again to see the flower blooming, and it was amazing sight!
all the valley floor and the mountain sides where cover with flowers, colored with green grassland, light orange, yellow, and blue.
The
visit:
The Carrizo Plain National Monument located in southeastern San Luis Obispo County.
It spread over 246,812-acre and it is the largest native grassland remaining in California.
The Carrizo Plain Natural Area became a National Monument in
January 2001 by presidential proclamation.
The Carrizo Plain is a large enclosed grassland plain, approximately 50 miles long and up to 15 miles across, the valley is located between Caliente Mountain Ridge in the south west to Temblor mountain range on the north east.
The San Andreas
Fault is cutting through the valley. When visiting Wallace Creek Interpretive Trail,
you can actually see how this fault changed the landscape.
Prominent
features on the monument include the white alkali flats of Soda Lake and the vast
open grasslands.
When conditions are right, after rainy winter, wildflowers carpet
the valley floor.
Soda Lake, normally a dry lakebed, is the largest remaining natural alkali wetland in southern California and the only closed basin (no water outlet) within the coastal mountains.
Because there is not water outlet Soda Lake concentrates
salts as water evaporates, leaving white deposits of sulfates and carbonates.
After rainy
winter and when lake has water in it, it is beautiful to see it reflecting the
surrounding hills. When we visit it at the dry winter of 2021 the main lake was
all dry, there was some water in the side lake, access from Simmler rd.
Hikes:
Most hikes
are short and easy.
Wallace Creek Interpretive
Trail:
Easy 1-mile
hike to a place you can actually see the San Andreas Fault and the way it changed
the landscape.
The
creek flows out of the Temblor Range and at San Andreas Fault it takes 90
degree to the right and after another 150m it is going back to the old flow
path to the left. That's how much a series of quakes has moved the fault over
the past 3,800 years.
In
January of 1857, the magnitude 7.9 Fort Tejon Earthquake moved the land in this
creek a full 30 feet from its previous location.
Soda Lake Trail:
Trailhead Parking Lot is right on Soda lake road, short walk down wide gravel trail
to Lakeside. you can walk out onto the salt flats if it is day. There is also 200-yard
raised boardwalk along shore.
Overlook Hill:
Low
hilltop with a better view of the surrounding and the lake below. A short drive
will take you to the back of the hill parking lot just below the hilltop, a
short clime and you are at the viewing point.
Nature Conservancy:
On your
way to the painted rock trail head you will cross the “visitor center”, here you
can get directions, reviews and information, when we visited here it was
closed.
When I visit there during April 2023 weekend the renovative visitor center was open and rangers explain the many visitors about what you can see in this area.
Painted Rock:
Painted
Rock is an important Native American site and is open to the public from July
16 through the end of February. When we visit it during Feb 2021 the access was
close and by advance permits guided tour.
From the
end of the road this is 15-mile out and back hike to the painted rock.
Traver Ranch:
When we
visited here it was close and there is not so much to do here.
www:
https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/carrizo-plain-national-monument
Map:
https://www.blm.gov/visit/carrizo-plain-national-monument
https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/media-center-public-room-california-carrizo-plain-national-monument-recreation-map-and-guide.pdf
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