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| Selby Rocks   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: California, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 35.13560°N / 119.8348°W County: San Luis Obispo Activities: Hiking, Bouldering, Scrambling Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter Elevation: 2360 ft / 719 m | Page By: tarol Created/Edited: Apr 2, 2008 / Apr 3, 2008 Object ID: 393445 Hits: 288 Loading... Page Score: 88.44% - 10 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
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 TapeThere 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 LinksCarrizo Plain National Monument
Carrizo Plain Weather Forecast
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