Southeast Antelope Valley

If you look closely while flying over Southeast Antelope Valley, you’ll notice a rupture in the earth, almost like a dry creek bed that zig zags across the arid landscape. This desert scar is none other than the San Andreas Fault, a tectonic boundary that runs vertically from northern California to the Mexico border. You might not want to be here when an earthquake strikes, but this natural earthwork is one of the landmark features of this rural hub at the foot of the Sierra Pelona Mountains.

Located about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, this area is where you’ll find several small towns scattered like tumbleweed across the southern tip of the Mojave Desert, including Pearblossom, Crystalaire, Juniper Hills and Valyermo. It’s southeast of the city of Palmdale, where you’ll likely head for all your shopping and dining needs. “It’s quiet. It’s very scenic. And it’s right up against the mountains,” says Realtor Kirk Swirczynski of Century 21. “When COVID started, we had a lot of people moving out here to get away from the city. That hasn't really changed."

Here, you’ll find a mix of small, rural residential neighborhoods as well as homes that are spaced far apart on large tracts of land. In Pearblossom, for instance, the streets are lined with single-story homes built between the 1950s and 1980s, while nearby subdivisions offer upscale ranch homes and some contemporary homes. Head into the flatlands and you’ll find long, winding driveways that lead to remote, desert dwellings. Wherever you are in this part of the valley, you’ll have stunning views of the snow-capped peaks and ridges of the mountains. Home prices typically range from between $250,000 to around $600,000 for larger, newer homes, though some homes with hundreds of acres of land can sell for more than $1 million.

Southeast Antelope Valley is bordered by the rangy woodlands, nature preserves, hiking trails and scenic vistas at Angeles National Forest. This federally protected park is a local treasure that stretches for more than 1,000 square miles and protects the San Gabriel and Sierra Pelona mountain ranges. Its craggy slopes are mired in oak woodlands, lavender flowers and chaparral shrubs at its lower elevations, while evergreen pine and fir trees envelope the tallest peaks. Whether you’re going on a moonlight hike at the Devil’s Punchbowl, or climbing the expert trails that lead to the top of Twin Peaks East, you’ll find the adventure you’re looking for in Angeles National Forest. For something smaller, residents can gather at Pearblossom Park, a small neighborhood greenspace with a playground and an athletic field.

Students living in the area can attend Pearblossom Elementary School, which serves Kindergarten through 8th grade students, and Littlerock High School. Pearblossom Elementary is in the heart of the town and is walkable from many nearby homes. It has around 350 students. Littlerock High School, constructed in 1989, serves most of the communities in Southeast Antelope Valley, although some students may attend William Knight High School.

If you’re in a pinch, you can swing by Town & Country Market in Pearblossom for snacks and other goods, or head over to the nearby town of Littlerock where you’ll find several low-key dining options, like Littlerock Grill and Tibor’s Gourmet Hungarian Deli and Sausages. For everything else, you’ll have to travel about 20 miles northwest to Palmdale, where you’ll find big box stores like Walmart, Stater Bros. Markets and Target. If you need to make it to Los Angeles, it’s also about 20 miles to the Antelope Valley Freeway. Hop on the highway and you’ve got about an hour-and-a-half drive to cultural destinations in the big city.

If you’re looking for a rural, desert lifestyle within reach of Los Angeles, you might want to consider Southeast Antelope Valley. It’s an ideal destination for adventurous hikers and outdoorsy types who enjoy their privacy.

Written By

Daniel Berti

Photography Contributed By

Joseph Choo

Video By

Peter Medawar