Contact Info
- Phone:
- 661-942-0662
Basics
- Location:
- 80 miles north of Los Angeles in southwestern California
- Type:
- State Parks
Basic Directions
The park is located approximately five miles west of the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve on Lancaster Road (an extension of West Avenue I ), one mile south of State Highway 138 via 210th Street West.
Description
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park comprises a 566-acre stand of native Joshuas and junipers which once grew in great abundance throughout the valley. Today, only remnant parcels of this majestic woodland community remain in the valley, the rest having been cleared for farming and housing.
The Joshua tree played an important part in cultural history of Antelope Valley, providing a vital source of food and fiber materials for the Native Americans that inhabited the region. In early spring months, creamy white blossoms begin to grow on the ends of the branches of the Joshua. The blooms last for several months, growing larger and larger as the weeks go by. Set in a bed of wildflowers, the Joshua becomes a site of stately beauty.
Hours + Fees
Season:
Open year-round, from sunrise to sunset
