Tour Description

The tours meet at the Goodwin Education Center off of Soda Lake Road at 10 a.m. and will caravan up to the ranch. Visitors should bring a sack lunch to enjoy while sitting on the ranch house veranda at the tour conclusion. The El Saucito Ranch has the distinction of having the oldest standing historic house on the Monument and is the only ranch on the monument to have been occupied from the pioneer period to modern time. Historic sites such as the El Saucito Ranch are special places that tell us a story about the heritage of California. The tour includes a short hike lead by a BLM employee around the grounds of the ranch, descriptions of the facilities and the operation of the historic ranch, and stories about the way life was 100+ years ago on the Carrizo Plain.

Saucito Ranch Tour will only be offered on April 7, 2013.

Tour Details

• Duration: 2 hr. 30 min.
• Distance: 1 miles
• Accessible: No
• Effort: Moderate

Know Before You Go

This is a remote area with minimal facilities available. Handicapped accessible, public rest rooms are located at the Goodwin Education Center, Painted Rock Parking Area, Overlook, Selby Campground, KCL Campground and the Traver's Ranch (see map for locations). There is no drinking water available. The nearest public phone is in California Valley, 15 miles north of the Goodwin Education Center on Soda Lake Road. Gas is available in Maricopa and Santa Margarita. Be sure to start your trip to the CPNM with a full tank of gasoline. Emergency services are available year round at the California Division of Forestry (CDF) Station at California Valley by dialing 911. Note: Cellular phone service is not available throughout the entire Carrizo Plain.
Wear sturdy shoes for hiking. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Carpool whenever possible. Be prepared for all types of weather; bring a Jacket a hat and sunscreen.

Amenities

Portable restrooms.

Directions

If you are approaching from Highway 58, we are located east of Santa Margarita and west of McKittrick. Turn south off of Hwy. 58 onto Soda Lake Road and continue for 13 miles, then turn right onto Painted Rock Road. If you are approaching from Highway 166/33, Soda Lake Road is near the top of the grade north of Cuyama and south of Maricopa. Look for the now-closed Reye's Station (the relict Union 76 gas station), which is at the intersection of Hwy. 166/33 and Soda Lake Road. Follow Soda Lake Road northwest for approximately 30 miles, then turn left onto Painted Rock Road.

Important Information: Tour dates earlier than the reservation are not available at Carrizo Plain National Monument. Also, there are no first-come first-served tours available at Carrizo Plain National Monument. All tour reservation must be booked through www.recreation.gov.