Soda Lake

Soda Lake is situated on the Carrizo Plain in the eastern reaches of our county. It is the largest remaining example of the San Joaquin Valley grasslands as they existed in California three hundred years ago.  It is a powerful, desolate, yet peaceful landscape of sky and earth in a pattern seen nowhere else.  Soda Lake is often dry most of the time.  Winter rains can draw thousands of Sandhill Cranes.  Watch, and you may see antelope, tule elk, foxes and raptors plus many other birds.  Trees are rare.  Sky is plentiful.

The starting point is about an hour from SLO.  Take Hwy 58 east from Santa Margarita.  Fifty-two miles later you will come to a sign that reads "Soda Lake".  Turn right.  About 8.8 miles later you will see a small sign directing you to an overlook.  It is a small hill surrounded by flat land.  You will park here.  You can walk to the top of the overlook where you will have a wondrous view. 

The ride will loop around Soda Lake, but will not be near the shore.  There are no steep climbs.  Cars will be few.  You can walk down into Wallace Creek.  It is a classic example of an offset stream in the San Andreas Fault.  At that point you can actually go INSIDE the Fault.  It is deeper than you are tall.