Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
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35.13560°N / 119.8348°W |
County:
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San Luis Obispo |
Activities:
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Hiking, Bouldering, Scrambling |
Season:
|
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
|
Elevation:
|
2360 ft / 719 m |
|
Selby Rocks
These rocks near Selby Campground are fun to explore and scramble on, nothing technical about it, just a cool place to hang out, have a picnic, explore, and take your kids. Unlike Painted Rock, there are no restrictions I've seen posted about climbing on Selby Rocks. They are easy to get to from the road going to Selby Campground. There are mortar holes that were made by the Chumash Indians but no pictographs on this particular rock formation. Also enjoyable to explore is the short but picturesque canyon to the south where the creek has carved into the sandstone cliffs. Here in the shady alcoves you will find many birds nesting and lizards. It's a steep but easy scramble to get down into the canyon.
Also in March and April after a wet winter the wildflowers are spectacular in this area! I saw California Poppies, Red Maids, Bush Lupine, Goldfields, Golden Bush, phacelia, fiddleneck, and a few others in late March of 2008.
Getting There
From Soda Lake Road take the road southwest to Selby Campground. About a mile before you get to the campground and right before the turn off to Caliente Ridge there are a couple of small turnouts. Park here and it's an easy walk east to the rocks. Go south of the rocks for a few hundred feet to access the small sandstone canyon.
Red Tape
There is no entrance fee or hiking permits needed in this area. Please practice Leave No Trace ethics. No off road vehicles allowed in this area.Camping
Selby Campground is one mile up the road. It is a free site complete with picnic tables, shade pavillions, fire rings, and a pit toilet. There is also a water spigot but the water is not potable.
KCL Campground is another nearby campground. It too has pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. There are a few eucalyptus trees for shade here but no water. KCL tends to be more popular with RV campers whereas the long dirt road to Selby seems to discourage them.
Both campgrounds are free but donations are accepted!
External Links
Carrizo Plain National MonumentCarrizo Plain Weather Forecast
Mazer - Jun 17, 2017 1:48 pm - Hasn't voted
Selby RocksOriginal post is that there are no signs limiting access to this area, when in fact BLM has posted signs all over the are denoting it a Wilderness Area. The rocks are protected and anyone wishing to play around or climb on them needs to contact the BLM for access information.