Summary
Saddleback Butte, elevation 3,651 feet, is a granite mountaintop that towers some thousand feet above the broad alluvial bottom land of the Antelope Valley about fifteen miles east of Lancaster, on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. The state park surrounding Saddleback Butte was created in 1960 to protect the butte (one of many similar land features in the Antelope Valley) and examples of native Joshua Tree woodlands and other plants and animals that were once common throughout this high desert area.
The Saddleback Butte State Park is a great stop if you want to see Joshua Trees and really feel like you are away from the city. The park has the Dowen Nature Trail, which is a nearly 0.75-mile accessible loop trail that originates from both the park’s visitor center and day use area. The trail offers the visitor a pleasant stroll through Mojave Desert vegetation that includes large stands of Joshua Tree. Trail surface is constructed of compacted soil and concrete. Accessible parking and restroom facilities are available at the trailhead. It has a great day-use area that is currently open, with the visitor center and overnight camping areas closed until further notice.
California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (661) 946-6092. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov