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Saddleback Butte, elevation 3,651 feet, is a granite mountain
top that stands some thousand feet above the broad alluvial bottom
land of the Antelope Valley about twenty miles east of Lancaster, on
the western edge of the Mojave Desert. The 2,955 acre state park
surrounding Saddleback Butte was created in 1960 to protect the
butte (one of many similar land features in the Antelope Valley).
Even more importantly, to preserve a representative example of the
native Joshua Tree woodland and other plants and animals that were
once common throughout this high desert area.
Principle activities in the
park include camping, picnicking, hiking, photography,
bird-watching, and other desert nature studies. Hunting and shooting
are not permitted, and there are no roads, trails, or other
facilities in the park for off-road vehicles. No off-road vehicle
use is permitted in the park or surrounding area.
A 4.5 mile horse trail skirts the lower north and west portions of
the butte. The trail is outlined by a fence and rock. Horses must be
kept within the designated trail and staging area.
The best time of year to visit
this park is in the springtime (February through May) when
wildflowers are apt to put on a fine display of color. Autumn
(October and November) is also likely to be pleasant, although
temperatures may vary widely and rather suddenly. Summer
temperatures average 95 degrees F but occasionally range on up to as
much as 115 degrees F. Average minimum temperatures during the
winter is 33 degrees F - frost and subfreezing temperatures are
common, and snow falls occasionally.
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| Boy Scouts camping at
Saddleback Butte State Park. |
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