Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Saddleback Butte State Park adventure.
Lay your head under the Mojave Desert's starry starry night sky beneath the rocky Saddleback Butte.
Escape to this state park in Antelope Valley that epitomizes the Southern California high desert. The 2,995-acre wonderland of serenity lies east of Lancaster and a doable 90-minute drive from Los Angeles.
The park was created in 1960 to protect the butte and preserve the high-desert Joshua tree woodlands. Saddleback's 2,455-foot elevation on the western edge of the Mojave Desert clears the world-weary mind and inspires the soul.
The highlight of the state park is the 3,651-foot summit of Saddleback Butte. Park in the picnic area, fill your water bottles and set out on the paved nature trail. It turns into a rock-lined path known as Little Butte Trail. This leads you directly toward Saddleback Butte. A 4.8-mile round-trip to the summit rewards you with jaw-dropping views.
The campground offers 40 sites with a table, fire ring, and grill. Come in spring when it's nothing but a carpet of yellow coreopsis as far as the eye can see.
The ideal time to visit Saddleback Butte State Park is from February to May when the desert blooms with wildflowers. Autumn also offers pleasant temperatures, while summer brings hot days and cool, star-filled nights. Winter can be chilly, so come prepared.