Archives -> Carrizo Plain National Monument
The Carrizo Plain National Monument is located in Central California, mid-way between Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo. Extremely remote, the plain stretches north to south for approximately fifty miles and is flanked on the east by the Temblor Range (a jumbled mountain range created by the San Andreas Fault) and on the west by the Caliente Range.
The Carrizo Plain is probably best known for its springtime wildflower displays, where patches of wildflowers can sometimes stretch as far as the eye can see. In addition, the plain holds an abundance of wildlife, many species of which are on the endangered species list, including the San Joaquin Kit Fox and the Giant Kangaroo Rat. The Carrizo Plain, being flanked on the east by the San Andreas Fault, is also home to some very interesting Geological formations, including - but not limited to - Wallace Creek, a creek bed perpendicular to the San Andreas Fault that has been shifted several hundred feet due to the fault. The Carrizo Plain National Monument is governed by the United States Bureau of Land Management.
