Wallace Creek

Walk Review

• We hiked the very short trail to Wallace Creek to learn about the tectonic movements and how they affect California.

• The trail offered no shade. The views (especially on the way back) were grand. You could see far and grasp the vastness (and emptiness) of this place.

• The parking lot offers no amenities, though it is a large parking lot for Carrizo standards.

• There were numerous signs that explained geological movements and the significance of Wallace Creek.

Friends

Steve, Mercedes, and Chris joined us for this jaunt.

What Happened?

.6 miles, 21 mins, 92 ft of ascent

After Soda Lake, we decided to drive over to the east side of Carrizo to learn about the San Andreas Fault, which runs the length of Carrizo Plains.

To get there, we drove on Simmler Road. The name itself doesn’t evoke much interest, but it is a road that can get very muddy and requires 4x4 when the road is wet. Fortunately, we had learned at the visitor center that the road was open to all. Still, we weren’t sure how Chris would do in his Honda Civic since he had the lowest ground clearance compared to my truck or Steve’s Ford C Max. Fortunately, the ground was pretty flat, and Chris made it with zero issues.

The walk itself was informative, though I wasn’t particularly excited about what I had learned. There wasn’t much to do otherwise, so we walked back to the car to drive back to Selby Campground.

The way back was made interesting because after making sure Steve, Mercedes, and Chris knew how to get back, I booked it as fast as I could on Simmler Road as it is one of my favorite things to do on dirt trails. I was shocked to see that Chris, in his Honda Civic, was keeping up with me! The only thing more surprising was a snake that I dodged as it slithered in the middle of the road. When Simmler Road intersected with Soda Lake Road, Chris hung back to wait for Steve and Mercedes as Cassie and I went ahead to find and save a spot for the gang.