Carrizo Plains

Home to the Chumash, Salinan and Yokuts peoples

By María Ayllón

January 7^th, 2021

Carrizo Plains is the largest single native grassland remaining in California. The San Andreas Fault occurs along the eastern edge of the Carrizo Plain at the western base of the Temblor Range.

San Andreas Fault & Temblor Range

The San Andreas Fault runs along the northeast side of the plain. The section of the fault in the Carrizo Plain is the oldest section along the entire fault.

Painted Rock

Painted Rock is a smooth horseshoe-shaped marine sandstone rock formation with pictograph rock art about 250 feet across and 45 feet tall near Soda Lake within the Carrizo Plains.

The interior of the rock alcove is adorned with many pictographs created by the Chumash, Salinan and Yokuts peoples over many thousands of years.

Soda Lake

Soda Lake is a shallow, ephemeral, alkali endorheic lake in the Carrizo Plains. Its formation began during Pliocene-Pleistocene time when tectonic deformation associated with the San Andreas Fault defeated a stream that once drained the valley.