The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Bureau of Land Management is a federal agency that manages historic and natural sites for the enjoyment of the public. Bureau of Land Management campgrounds provide affordable camping for visitors near these lands. Search "BLM camping near me" to find campgrounds close to you. Indians once inhabited the Carrizo Plain National Monument area in Southern California. Some pictographs are still on the rock formations. A few ranches and homesteads from settlers who later moved to the area are still here as well. Interpretive trails, hiking, and guided tours are popular activities at the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Visitors can also venture over to visit Death Valley National Park, which is about three hours northeast of the monument.
During your stay, you'll want to take the Wallace Creek San Andreas Fault Line Hike to see the deep gash that an earthquake left behind. Dogs aren't allowed on the trail, but it's an easy hike.
Length: 1.7 miles
Intensity: Easy
You'll have views of Painted Rock and the San Andreas Fault line when you hike this loop trail. It also has wildflowers and bird-watching opportunities.
Length: 4.3 miles
Intensity: Easy
You can go fishing at a mountain stream or creek or the Santa Ynez River in the Los Padres National Forest. Fishing is also allowed on Sand Dollar Beach, where you can catch a wide variety of fish that live in the Pacific Ocean. The 10-mile stretch of water along Salmon Creek Trail in the national forest has a lot of trout.
You'll find major climbing crags in the Santa Ynez Mountains. These mountains reach 4,000 feet above sea level and feature a narrow strip of land that has the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta, California. Some areas in the mountains have thick brush and poison ivy, so you should come prepared for protecting your skin.
Carrizo Plain National Monument is home to several rare and threatened species, including the San Joaquin kit fox, blunt-nosed lizard, and the giant kangaroo rat. Other animals you may see include prairie falcons, owls, quails, and sparrows. In the Los Padres National Forest, you have a chance of seeing sea otters, brown pelicans, doves, quails, turkeys, antelope, elk, Columbian black-tailed deer, California mule deer, and black bears.
You can have a picnic at the Sand Dollar Beach Day Use Area, Willow Creek Beach Day Use Area, Sandstone Day Use Area, and the Pino Alto Day Use Picnic Area. Picnic tables and vault toilets are available at the Sand Dollar Beach Day Use Area and the Pino Alto Day Use Picnic Area. Willow Creek Beach Day Use Area also offers toilets. Two toilets and one trash bin are at the Sandstone Day Use Area.
Hunting opportunities in the region are available at some areas of the Carrizo Plain National Monument and the Los Padres National Forest. The types of game you could hunt in the Carrizo Plain National Monument include wild pigs, rabbits, doves, and quails. In the Los Padres National Forest, you could hunt deer, wild boar, black bears, wild pigs, turkeys, rabbits, and doves.
Cross-country skiing, sledding, tubing, and snowshoeing are winter sports available at the Los Padres National Forest. Mt. Pinos Ranger District, featuring peaks over 9,000 feet, is popular for cross-country skiing. You can also go snowshoeing, sledding, and tubing in designated areas in the district.
Selby Campground, Mt. Pinos Campground, and McGill Campground are some of the nearby campgrounds you can go to for RV camping. Selby is a secluded campground that offers vault toilets and horse corrals. Mt. Pinos Campground is close to a lot of trails and provides good privacy for campers. Vault toilets are also available at Mt. Pinos Campground and McGill Campground.
Bureau of Land Management free camping is available at Selby Campground. You can also find dispersed camping in the Monterey Ranger District, Santa Barbara Ranger District, Mt. Pinos Ranger District, and Santa Lucia Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest.
There are sometimes fire restrictions in these regions to reduce the chance of wildfires. With a California campfire permit, you can use portable stoves with gas, pressurized liquid, or jelled petroleum fuel. All vehicles in the Carrizo Plain National Monument need to stay on the road. Carrizo Plain National Monument is a remote area without water, fuel, food, and other important services nearby. Come prepared with extra fuel and water as well as survival equipment. You should drive more cautiously on dirt roads when it's raining. High-clearance vehicles are recommended if you plan on driving in this area.
Non-motorized vehicles, dogs, horses, campfires, and geocache-type activities aren't allowed in the Painted Rock Exclusion Zone of the Carrizo Plain National Monument. You're also not allowed to recreate or sell pictures of the pictographs and petroglyphs in the Carrizo National Monument for commercial use. Boats and flotation devices aren't allowed on Soda Lake.
As a remote area with semi-primitive campgrounds, Carrizo Plain National Monument delivers solitude and serenity. The San Andreas fault, Soda Lake, and historic sites are fascinating attractions to see. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Following Leave No Trace principles is important while BLM RV camping because it keeps the land safe and beautiful for those who come after you. Leaving food scraps or improperly disposing of human waste can attract animals or spread diseases. It can also harm the ecosystem. You must also avoid taking things from the land or drawing or carving on rocks, trees, or anything else in the area.
Carrizo Plain National Monument is located at 17495 Soda Lake Road, Santa Margarita, California. California Valley is one of the closest locales to the Carrizo Plain National Monument. From California Valley, travel down Soda Lake Road, then turn right to stay on Soda Lake Road. Turn left after about half a mile to continue on Soda Lake Road. Your destination will immediately be on the left.
Ready to visit Carrizo Plain National Monument? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
