Trifter

Painted Rock is a fossilized sand dune monolith rock structure located on the Carrizo Plain in California where artists have been leaving their work for over 4,000 years.

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The Carrizo Plain is a 50 mile long and 15 mile wide enclosed plain that lies right on top of the San Andreas Fault in southeastern San Luis Obispo County.

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Painted Rock itself is roughly 250 feet long and reaches heights of 45 feet.

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Native American Indians including the Chumash, Salinan and Yokut tribes used the rock as a gathering place and the walls are adorned with artwork from these peoples.

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It is believed that the Painted Rock area has been inhabited since at least 2,000 BC.

Image Source (Petroglyph believed to have been left by Spanish Explorers)

According the the United States Geological Survey Spaniards came through the Painted Rock area in the 1700’s and Portuguese settlers left their own engravings at Painted Rock in the 1800’s. In the early 1900’s the prehistoric rock art suffered damage from graffiti and gunshots.

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In 1991 a team of volunteers cleaned up Painted Rock as best they could and today the site is protected by laws and is part of the Carrizo Plain National Monument.

The nearby Goodwin Education Center offers guided tours of Painted Rock as well as environmental education about the site. Painted Rock is open to visitors from July 16 to March 1 each year. From March 1 to the end of May access to Painted Rock is by guided tours from the Goodwin Center only. The site is closed to almost all visitors from the end of May until July 16 due to the raptor nesting season.

The roads to the Goodwin Education Center can be impassable during heavy rains but the area only receives some 6 inches of total rainfall each year. Nevertheless due to the restrictions sometimes placed upon visits to Painted Rock it’s best to call ahead if you are planning a visit (805) 475-2131. To reach Painted Rock and the Goodwin Center from the north take Soda Lake Road south off Highway 58 for 13 miles and then turn right onto Painted Rock Road and the center is 1/2 mile down the road. From the south take Soda Lake Road north off Highways 166/33 and continue for 30 miles until your reach Painted Rock Road and turn left for 1/2 mile to the center.

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Painted Rock is a beautiful unique rock formation full of history where artists have been leaving their work for over 4,000 years.

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