Saddleback (Orange County, California)

Coordinates: 33°42′55″N 117°32′29″W / 33.71528°N 117.54139°W / 33.71528; -117.54139

An aerial view of Santiago and Modjeska peaks of Saddleback from the west, looking eastward toward the San Jacinto Mountains and beyond

Saddleback, sometimes called Old Saddleback or Saddleback Mountain,[1] is the landmark formed by the two highest peaks in the Santa Ana Mountains and the ridge between them. Resembling a saddle as viewed from most of Orange County, California, this formation dominates the county's eastern skyline. On the clearest days, Saddleback is visible from most of the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Santiago Peak is the highest peak in the range and the highest point in the county at 5,689 ft (1,734 m).[2] Modjeska Peak is the second highest at 5,496 ft (1,675 m). The two peaks form part of the border between Orange and Riverside counties.

The hilly land in south Orange County is known colloquially as Saddleback Valley, and hence many institutions are named after Saddleback, including Saddleback Church, Saddleback College, and the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.

Riding up through Silverado Canyon, motorists will notice igneous volcanic rock, which indicates that Saddleback Mountain was formed prior to the San Andreas Fault, back when a subduction zone occurred where the Pacific Plate went under California.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Variant Names of Santiago Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  2. ↑ "RP 1". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey.
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