Joshua Group Camp

Biking is a great way to get the lay of the land at Saddleback, which has several trails that explore different parts of the stunning desert landscape. Like all activities in the desert, make sure you have a water bottle handy and stay on the beaten path, as exposure can ruin a trip pretty quickly!

While we know what you are thinking (“A hike? In the desert? Say WHAT?”) hear us out for a minute. While it’s true that summer temperatures can get toasty, there really isn’t a better way to get to know the arid beauty showcased at Saddleback. Springtime offers the surprisingly lush wildflower hike, which winds 5 miles along lovely and exotic desert blooms and the stunningly sparce Joshua Trees that call the park home. Those in search of a pretty amazing view will enjoy the trip up the Saddleback Peak, which rewards climbers with a vista of the stark wide open spaces of a California Desert. You can find all the hikes here, and be sure to bring plenty of water and stay hydrated, as desert wandering can take it out of you!

Bring out your inner Eastwood and hit the desert on horseback. Nearly 15 miles of trails are calling your name, hoss, including one that skirts the north and west bases of the butte and a 10 mile ride through wide open spaces large enough to quell anyone’s restless spirit. There is also an equestrian staging area and trailer pull through. Check out the last page and map out your course here. With miles and miles of desert expanse to explore, it’s easy to get lost in the majesty and timelessness of the place (something we highly encourage). And don’t worry: we won’t tell if you start humming your own Western theme.

Don’t let its silence fool you: the desert is alive and teeming with all kinds of critters. Daytime explorers could see foxes, rabbits and desert tortoises, but should keep a weather eye out for rattlesnakes, since this park is home to two different kinds. The mojave “green” rattlers have the most toxic venom among rattlesnakes, while the mojave sidewinders are known to have the least toxic. Either way, our advice is to watch where you are walking and give both a wide berth. Bird watchers should keep their eyes on the sky and surrounding shrubbery as permanent avian residents include golden eagles, hawks, owls, cactus wrens, shrikes and horned larks. The desert also comes alive at night, with night lizards, wood rats, ladder-backed woodpeckers, yucca moths, termites, and night snakes.