Three hundred years ago, California’s Central Valley was vast grassland where antelope and elk grazed and wildflowers swept the spring landscape. Today, amid urban and agricultural development, a remnant remains in the Carrizo Plain National Monument.

Carrizo Plain National Monument is one of the best-kept secrets in California. It is listed as an Audubon Important Bird Area. Only a few hours from Los Angeles, the Carrizo Plain offers visitors a rare chance to be alone with nature.  Some visitors say you can "hear the silence."  The plain is home to diverse communities of wildlife and plant species including several listed as threatened or endangered and is an area culturally important to Native Americans.

This remote monument, traversed by the San Andreas Fault which has carved valleys, created and moved mountains, and yet up close, is seen in the subtle alignment of ridges, ravines, and normally dry ponds.  Prominent features on the monument include the white alkali flats of Soda Lake, Painted Rock, vast open grasslands, and a broad plain rimmed by mountains.   When conditions are right, numerous wildflowers can carpet the valley floor; although short-lived it can be breathtaking.

Soda Lake, normally a dry lake bed, is one of the dominant geographic features of the Carrizo Plain. It is the largest remaining natural alkali wetland in southern California and the only closed basin within the coastal mountains. As its name suggests, Soda Lake concentrates salts as water evaporates, leaving white deposits of sulfates and carbonates that look like baking soda.

The Carrizo Plain National Monument does not provide any services such as water, food, or fuel. Plan your trip accordingly and ensure you get these items in one of the neighboring communities of Taft or Santa Margarita before you come. These gateway communities lie 15 miles from the south entrance and 60 miles from the north entrance. Also, ensure you bring the appropriate apparel for the time of year you are visiting.

The Carrizo Plain has two major access points. From the north, the access is via Soda Lake Road off of State Route 58 View Map. This should be considered the primary route to enter the Carrizo Plain from either San Luis Obispo County, or Kern County. The other major access is from the south via Soda Lake Road off of State Route 33/166 View Map. Many roads within the Monument have an unimproved dirt surface and become impassable during periods of rain. The main road, Soda Lake Road, is open year-round. However, rains may make parts of Soda Lake Road slippery, muddy, and impassable at times. Proceed with caution on these roads, especially during winter months, and obey all closed road signs.