The Carrizo Plain National Monument in southeastern San Luis Obispo County, California, is a beautiful vacation destination for anybody that lives in or is traveling through the region.
A brief history
Located in San Luis Obispo County, California, Carrizo Plain National Park was established in 2001 but upon discovery of its archeological value, the park was further deemed as a National Landmark. This is due to the fact that the park is actually the largest area of native grassland in California.
Main attraction
Your first stop, if you’re a fan of geological history, is the Goodwin Education Center. Here you’ll find guided tours of the area, exhibits like the endangered species diorama, and even a large in-house library. For recreational activities at the Carrizo Plain National Monument, there’s birdwatching, with abundant crows, magpies, warblers, finches, pelicans, swans, doves, larks, and even falcons to follow through the skies and into the trees with your binoculars.
There are also two designated campgrounds that offer some provisions: the KCL Campground, with 12 campsites, two of which are compliant with the American Disability Act, are complete with picnic tables, fire pits, horse corrals, and vault toilets. The other is the Selby Campground, with 13 campsites and the same amenities, without horse corrals. The Selby Campground in particular offers excellent hiking opportunities.
Carrizo Plain National Monument also offers horseback riding, which is an excellent way to see the entirety of the monument. This region also boasts fantastic hunting grounds for upland game and various mammals, though some restrictions do apply. The Carrizo Plain National Monument is condor habitat and a lead-free zone, stipulating that non-lead bullets are required to hunt. Target shooting is not authorized, and hunting some mammals, like the pronghorn antelope, is prohibited.
The monument offers six established hiking trails: Soda Lake, Overlook Hill, Wallace Creek, Painted Rock, Caliente Mountain Ridge, and Caliente Mountain access trail. Each of these trails provides a variety of gorgeous flora and fauna to enjoy. Bicycles can be brought and used at the monument as well, though only existing roads may be accessed by bicycles, as the monument is a sensitive habitat.
Last but surely not least, the monument offers wonderful wildflower viewing opportunities from mid-March to mid-April. Whether you’re just passing through or making it a destination on your itinerary, you will be awed by all the nature around you at Carrizo Plain National Monument!
3. When to go
The best time to check out Carrizo Plain National Monument or California in general, is between September and October. This results in smaller crowds and is often the best time to check out any outdoor activities.
Related articles: California’s Best Hikes: Yosemite’s Half Dome, 3 Northern California Hikes Perfect for Fall, or 5 High Altitude Camping Destinations in California.
Featured Image from Abhilash Anithkumar/Unsplash
