California Parks

Carrizo Plains National Monument

The Carrizo Plains National Monument (CPNM) a mere 100 air miles from Los Angeles is located in California's southern Coast Range, approximately 90 miles west of Bakersfield and 60 miles east of San Luis Obispo. Overlooked by tourists who favor the dramatic landscapes and waterfalls of Yosemite National Park or California beaches, there's a lot going on at the plains--more than meets the eye!

Most of the area is in the eastern portion of San Luis Obispo County but it also includes small portions of western Kern County. CPNM adjoins some of the most intensively managed agricultural lands and petroleum deposits in the U.S. yet the area remains relatively isolated and undeveloped, retaining an intact landscape character.

Prominent features include the white alkali flats of Soda Lake, vast open grasslands, and a broad plain rimmed by mountains. It is traversed by the San Andreas Fault, which has carved valleys and created and moved mountains.

Visitors can hike, explore and even camp in this rustic destination managed by Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov). Two improved campgrounds, the KCL and the Selby are available on a first come, first served basis, no reservations. For questions call: (661) 391-6048.

The Carrizo Plain is home to diverse communities of wildlife and rare and sensitive plant species. CPNM provides refuge for endangered, threatened, and rare animal species such as San Joaquin kit fox, California condor, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, giant kangaroo rat, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, longhorn fairy shrimp, and Kern primrose sphinx moth.

  • San Joaquin kit fox once seen in the entire San Joaquin Valley. The kit fox is considered an umbrella species since its habitat requirements and occurrence overlaps many other imperiled San Joaquin Valley species.
  • Blunt Nosed Leopard Lizard has been an endangered in California since 1971. Under the California Fully Protected Species Act in is against the law to take this species. The Monument is one of largest remaining population centers for the blunt-nosed leopard lizard.
  • San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel has been a California threatened species since 1980. Antelope squirrels are most abundant in sparse to moderate shrub cover, but can be seen in shrub-free areas where you'll find burrows of giant kangaroo rats, a species that faces similar fluctuations in population.
  • Pronghorn Antelope - 142 pronghorns were translocated to CPNM. Between 1990 and 2002 the population of the herd unit experienced a steady decline from the original 142 animals to 44 animals. There has been a recent increase of the herd to 84 animals. The present-day CPNM may not contain enough suitable habitat to support a viable population of pronghorn antelope. Restoration of native bunchgrasses and shrubs are considered important to improve habitat suitability.


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