Saddleback Butte State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Open 24 hours
- Entrance fee
- $6 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions6-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(661) 946-6092
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 3,040 acres, Saddleback Butte State Park lies in Los Angeles County, about 17 miles east of Palmdale.
The park supports horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
| Visitor center | Sat–Sun | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Day-use area is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Campground is open 24 hours/day.
The short self-guided Dic Dowen Nature Trail is located at the visitor center in the day use area, with information on the natural history of the park and area. This trail is accessible to people with disabilities, strollers, etc. Please note, the day use area gates are locked at 5 p.m. but additional day-use parking is located at the trailhead in the campground. The park office and visitor center are open weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring displays and hands-on exhibits about the natural and cultural history of the area.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $6 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $6.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
The campground is first-come, first-served with 37 sites containing a table, BBQ grill, and fire ring.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions · leash up to 6 feet
Not allowed in or on: trails; trails in california state parks.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed only in the picnic area, campground, and park road. Dogs not allowed on trails. Please note, dogs are not allowed on trails in California State Parks (with the exception of service dogs), to minimize impact on the wildlife in the park. Dogs are allowed on a 6-foot leash in the picnic area and campground, and may be walked on the 2/3-mile park road in between the picnic area and campground. See Visiting Parks with your Dog for more information.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Campground Facilities
The campground is first-come, first-served with 37 sites containing a table, BBQ grill, and fire ring. Most sites have a ramada to provide shade and a wind block. Potable water faucets and full restrooms with a flush toilet and sink are located throughout the campground. No showers. Eight people maximum per campsite.
Campfires are permitted within designated fire rings. DO NOT collect firewood from the park- it is illegal, and dead vegetation provides critical habitat for the desert wildlife. Firewood may be purchased from the camp host for $6 (proceeds go to our non-profit support association). Firewood bundles are also available at the Saddleback Market, 4 miles south of the park.
Read more from the park
RVs/Trailers: All parking slots can accomodate up to 30'. However, exact length varies by campsite and many can accommodate longer rigs. Slots are angled for ease of backing in. Use of the RV dump station is $10 (credit card only).
Group Camp: The Joshua Group Camp accomodates 9-30 people and up to 12 vehicles. The fee is $100 per night. Reservations are required for the Joshua Group Camp and can be made through the Reserve California website. Please call the Great Basin District Office at (661) 724-1206, for more information.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, RV Dump Station, RV Access
Max trailer: 30 feet
Max camper/motorhome: 30 feet
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursPicnickingRanger and interpretive programsWildlife viewing and birdingGeocachingHikingBikingHorseback ridingCamping
Trails
Hiking
To reach the peak: take the Little Butte Trail for about 2.5 miles starting from below the day-use area, or the 2-mile Saddleback Butte Peak Trail from the trailhead parking area in the campground. Both trails begin on a mild slope through loose sand among creosote bushes and Joshua trees to the base of the butte, where they merge. It then becomes a challenging climb on sand and rock, but the view is worth every step. At the top, enjoy a breathtaking 360º view over the Antelope Valley and east across the Mojave Desert.
For a nice moderate 3-mile loop: go up one trail to where they merge, come back down on the other, and then take the park's gravel road back to your starting point.
The short self-guided Dic Dowen Nature Trail is located at the visitor center in the day use area, with information on the natural history of the park and area. This trail is accessible to people with disabilities, strollers, etc. Please note, the day use area gates are locked at 5 p.m. but additional day-use parking is located at the trailhead in the campground.
Read more from the park
See the "Equestrian" section for additional trail information. Day use vehicle entrance fees apply. Please note, dogs are not allowed on trails in California State Parks (with the exception of service dogs), to minimize impact on the wildlife in the park. Dogs are allowed on a 6-foot leash in the picnic area and campground, and may be walked on the 2/3-mile park road in between the picnic area and campground. See Visiting Parks with your Dog for more information.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
- Group facilities
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Saddleback Butte State Park offers hiking, picnicking, camping and equestrian use among the Joshua trees and creosote dotting the high-desert landscape. The peak of the granite mountaintop towers 1,000 feet above the broad alluvial plains of the Antelope Valley on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. The park is 17 miles east of Lancaster on 170th Street East, between East Avenue J and East Avenue K. Phone (661) 946-6092 for more information.
Camping
There are three individual accessible campsites (#4, #6, and #22) and an accessible group campsite available in the campground. All campground restrooms are accessible, with flush toilets and sinks. There are no shower facilities at the park. The campfire center is accessible with accessible parking and entrance route.
Read more from the park
Picnic Area
There are five accessible picnic sites with accessible restrooms.
Trails
The Dowen Nature Trail is a 0.57 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. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes with intermittent sections between 5% to 8%. Accessible parking and restroom facilities are available at the trailhead.
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Dowen Nature Trail 3% Average 4 FT Average Aggregate & Concrete
8% Maximum 5% Maximum 4 FT Minimum
Exhibits/Programs
The Visitor Center and exhibits within are accessible, including parking and entrance route.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 18326 E Avenue J
Lancaster, CA 93535 - Nearest town
- Palmdale — about 17 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 34.6752, -117.8255
- Phone
- (661) 946-6092
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is 17 miles east of Lancaster on Avenue J East.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology