Soda Lake Boardwalk | California

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There is no cell phone reception at this site. 

Parking for the boardwalk is in a packed-gravel lot off Soda Lake Road, near the west shore of Soda Lake in the northwest corner of the Carrizo Plain National Monument.  

The parking lot has room for about 10 vehicles.  It does not have designated accessible spaces, but the flat, well-packed surface should accommodate most mobility device users. There is no toilet or potable water. 

A 4-foot gap between the wooden parking barriers allows visitors to enter the 0.8-mile trail leading to the boardwalk. At the entrance, a trail marker and angled interpretive panel provide site information. The trail is largely flat, with an uneven surface of dirt and grass that gets muddy when it rains. 

The boardwalk starts at the end of the trail, traveling 816 feet along the shore of Soda Lake. There is a large, 5-inch lip from the trail surface to the boardwalk. The 5-foot-wide boardwalk is made of recycled milk jugs and can be slippery when wet. Interpretive signs and benches with no arms or backs are scattered along the boardwalk. 

Descriptions and photos uploaded June 2026. Please note that actual on-the-ground conditions may vary due to natural events (e.g., weather, wildfires, erosion), normal wear and tear, or site improvements.