Visiting Carrizo Plain National Monument

Carrizo Plain National Monument is located in San Luis Obispo County and features over 200,000 acres of public land for visitors to enjoy exploring year-round. The national monument is very remote and provides you that peace and quiet you just can’t seem to get in surrounding cities. It is a place to become one with nature and it’s considered one of Southern California’s best kept secrets. Well…till now of course!

2017 Superbloom

The 204,107 acres of public land are currently being completely taken over by the California superbloom. This is something that has happened from time to time in this area. However, in 2017 satellites have even been able to track these colorful wildflowers from space! Visitors are coming from every direction, to catch a glimpse of the wildflowers before they disappear. Including us of course!

Carrizo Plains has become a social media sensation with the National Monument even promoting contests and suggesting wildflower goers use the hashtag #TracktheBloom on their social media accounts. It was so exciting to see so many visitors and so many monument rangers feeling the bloom!!! I mean look Lemon is even happy.

---

Visting Details

The National Monument isn’t the easiest to get to, first reason being the monument is pretty remote, like I mentioned above, and two you’ll travel on unpaved roads at times. It is very important to be aware that you are in a remote area. The dirt roads also turn to pure mud after the rain. You can easily get stuck in this mud so use caution when exploring.

---

Tracking the 2017 Bloom

Now I must admit since I really felt like crap anytime I stepped out of my truck because I was very allergic to the wildflowers, I did the best I could to view as many flowers as possible while staying close to my truck since I was feeling so ill. I’ll share the areas I did explore.

Simmler Road

This is where the majority of people are hanging out to play in and take pictures with the wildflowers. Use caution when driving as people are so taken back with the flowers that they seem to forget their surroundings! This road is also dirt so drive slow. You’ll also get views of Soda Lake. Make sure to park in a designated area and get out and explore the landscape.

Wallace Creek Trail

There are hiking trails where you can get up close and personal with the valleys and flowers. These trails are most likely where the epic social media images you see, are coming from. Since I was highly allergic, I didn’t venture too far, but other people were continuing onward and upward into the rolling hills! The trail head can be located off Elkhorn Road. Here are some great directions for locating the trail head.

Guy L. Goodwin Education Center

Make sure to stop at the educational center to get more information on the National Monument and ask where the best wildflower sighting have been. You can also enjoy a picnic here and walk around checking out all the flowers surrounding the center.

Tips for Your Visit

• Lot of people are out #trackingtheboom so use cautious when driving around.
• Remember this is a remote area so bring water and food for the day.
• Get directions. My phone didn’t work. Don’t rely on it for directions.
• Don’t go when it is or raining or right after it has rained. (Dirt roads are not accessible.)
• Bring your camera, there’s opportunity for great photos.
• You can camp here as well.
• You can go on a guided or unguided tour.

Superbloom Resources

• LA Times write up of the superbloom.
• California Through My Lens visits the National Monument.
• Carrizo Plain National Monument Website.
• The superbloom at Walker Canyon
• Satellite images of the superbloom!

Now hurry and #TracktheBloom before it’s too late. Adventure awaits!