Elizabeth Lake

Elizabeth Lake is a sparsely populated residential area in the foothills of the Sierra Pelona Mountains on the outskirts of Los Angeles County. This neighborhood is surrounded by the 650,000-acre Angeles National Forest and rests at 3,000 feet of elevation in the geographical area known as the Antelope Valley. Though dry and arid and filled with the chaparral and pine trees characteristic of canyon country the neighborhood’s namesake has historically provided a consistent source of water for recreational use though it has been dry for the last few years due to drought conditions. “It’s typically very lush,” says Michelle Pendergrast, a licensed broker associate with Keller Williams Antelope Valley. “It feels very separate from the more urban areas around Lancaster and Palmdale. It’s more rural.”

Ramblers made of dark wood siding with two bedrooms and old stone retaining walls built into pine groves on hillsides can be found for under $350,000 in this area. Charmingly bohemian homes like this remind one why people for the last century have decamped from Los Angeles City to create in the wide open air of this gateway to the Mojave Desert. In other parts of the neighborhood, capacious three-bedroom ranch-style homes rest on half-acre lots at the tops of hilly cul-de-sacs where California poppies bloom and Joshua trees stand. At the top of this buyer’s market 2,000 square-foot homes on 5-acre plots atop small mountains survey the scene like headquarters of the ranch dynasties of old that were prevalent in this area at the turn of the 20th century.

Outdoor recreation is popular with residents far and near. When it’s full, Lake Elizbabeth draws a steady influx of boaters and family picknickers year-round. The Pacific Crest Trail runs right through next-door Lake Hughes. For outdoor lovers with less time on their hands, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve might be more convenient. Just over 8 miles north of Elizabeth Lake, this vast state preserve ramps up in spring when a vibrant array of poppies blanket the land, but it’s open all year and offers over 8 miles of hiking trails to visitors. The nearby city of Lancaster has a slew of amenities for residents of Elizabeth Lake, but close by there are a couple of quirky western spots to take note of. The Salt Lick Tavern is new to the area, but it’s upscale dinner offerings, craft beers on tap and classic western décor with a touch of hipster have made a fast favorite among locals. The Rock Inn has been serving locals next to Lake Hughes since 1929 and has live music every weekend. New residents can connect with the Lakes Community Center Association to meet neighbors and get settled. “It’s a community of people who really rely on each other,” says Pendergrast.

Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Elementary School has a B grade for its overall performance and an A for its teachers on school rankings website Niche. The Gregg Anderson Academy in next-door Palmdale has an overall grade of B plus despite an average class size of 25. The hardworking teachers in this school received an A minus on the site. Highland High School scored a B plus for its college preparatory curriculum. Many of the locals work at the nearby Edwards Air Force Base, which has an outpost of NASA. There is also a classified Air Force manufacturing facility in Palmdale where aircraft makers such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing operate. Agriculture has historically been the local industry, but the area has recently been chosen as the site of the largest windfarm in the state, the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area. State roads will take you to the 5 freeway in Santa Clarita or the 15 in San Bernadino. As people move further out from the city centers in Southern California, places like Elizabeth Lake attract the kind of rugged and solitary lovers of the land that have made these mountain ranges iconic in California culture.

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Written By

Abbot Street

Photography Contributed By

Joseph Choo

Video By

Luke Mancari