Butte Wait, There's More!

Hiking to a mountain peak in the desert?  And you don’t even have to leave Los Angeles County? No special effects here—it’s all natural at 2,955-acre Saddleback Butte State Park. Here you can get a taste of the Mojave Desert from Saddleback Butte, a solitary mountain rising 3,651 feet. Summit it on a 5-mile (round-trip) journey that ascends 950 feet. Begin with a mile of sandy cross-desert trekking before reaching a boulder-covered knoll known as Little Butte. Keep going as the trail continues up the slopes to the much larger and more impressive Saddleback Butte. Push up a rocky canyon to a saddle south of the peak. Here you'll get a dynamite view of the snow-capped San Gabriels to the south. A column of rock near this landing stands out from the mountainside like a hoodoo. You haven't topped out just yet! Time to get your ascent on by taking a narrow, rocky track all the way to the summit, where the vista is enormous. Hoist yourself to the top of the boulder-clad crown and see it all. The desert floor surrounds the mountain on all sides and you can see as far as the San Bernardino Mountains. Happy New Year!

Enter Saddleback Butte State Park by the picnic area and visitor center off Avenue J, east of 170th St. in Lancaster. Walk 300 feet down Dowen Nature Trail and make a left onto Little Butte Trail. Cross the short butte at 1 mile and continue 0.5 mile to a junction. Turn left, briefly overlap an equestrian trail, and ascend to the summit. There is a $6 day-use fee per vehicle. Open 9:00 a.m. to sunset. No dogs.