The Antelope Valley is an arid plateau located between the Tehachipi and San Gabriel Mountains. It enjoys clear air and strong winds, and fantastic visibility. While not everyone will appreciate the rugged beauty of the desert and the rugged mountains nearby, others find the scenery spectacular. Dotting the landscape are the Antelope Valley's trademark Joshua Trees, which only grow in the Mojave Desert.
Immediately north of the intersection of Avenue "S" and the Antelope Valley Freeway is a low hill, through which the freeway cuts. This is called the "Palmdale Bulge" and it is located immediately above the San Andreas fault. Strata of rock are clearly visible, warped and twisted in dramatic fashion by the tectonic interaction of the Pacific and North American plates. While most visitors only glance at the formation from the freeway, it is possible to park and hike about one-half mile through the desert to overlook the formations. Be careful and do not approach too close to the edge of the steep cutaway.
Aircraft in flight can be seen irregularly -- much of the United States' most advanced airplanes have been assembled and test-flown here. Most impressive to see in flight are the B-2 Spirit Bombers which are assembled at Air Force Plant 42, located along Sierra Highway. Other advanced aircraft such as the F-35 can be seen in test flights, as well as some older aircraft such as F-22s, T-38s, B-1s, C- and KC-135s, and even the occasional B-52 or C-5 Galaxy. A small dirt parking lot at the intersection of Avenue N and Sierra Highway affords a straight-down-the-runway look at whatever is being tested and flown that day. The SR-71 and F-117 are not seen in the skies anymore, but the frames of these and other history-making airplanes can be seen at Blackbird Park on Avenue P and 25th Street East.
