Saddleback Valley

{{about|the geographical area in Southern California|school district in the same region|Saddleback Valley Unified School District}}
{{short description|Large valley in Orange County, California}}
{{Infobox landform
| name = Saddleback Valley
| type = [[Valley]]
| photo = Saddleback from Lake MV.JPG
| caption  = Saddleback Mountain and its foothills viewed from [[Lake Mission Viejo]], a lake in the valley
| location = [[Orange County, California]], [[United States]]
| coordinates  = {{coord|33.626289|-117.681028|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref  =
| area =
| highest_point = [[Santiago Peak]]
| highest_elevation  = {{cvt|5689|ft|m}}
| highest_coords = {{coord|33.710513139|N|117.534218203|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:NGS|format=dms|display=inline}}
}}

'''Saddleback Valley''' refers to the flat and foothill areas west-southwest of the [[Saddleback (Orange County, California)|Saddleback]] [[double summit|double peak]] of the [[Santa Ana Mountains]] and east-northeast of the hilly [[Crystal Cove State Park]] in southern [[Orange County, California]]. The region primarily encompasses the cities of [[Mission Viejo]], [[Lake Forest, California|Lake Forest]], and [[Rancho Santa Margarita, California|Rancho Santa Margarita]], as well as the communities of [[Coto de Caza]] and [[Ladera Ranch]]. The cities of [[Aliso Viejo]], [[Laguna Woods]], [[Laguna Hills]], and [[Laguna Niguel]], as well as some of Orange County's eastern canyon communities, partially reside within the valley. The southeastern portion of [[Irvine, California|Irvine]] also encroaches upon the area, but the two are not typically associated with each other.

The cityscape within Saddleback Valley is [[suburban]], a remote reach of the [[Greater Los Angeles#Los Angeles metropolitan area|Los Angeles metropolitan area]]. The area is recently developed and on the outskirts of the [[Southern California]] [[megalopolis]], so wildlife sightings are more common. [[Snake]]s, [[coyote]]s, and [[mountain lion]]s have long inhabited the area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Living with Wildlife |url=https://cityofmissionviejo.org/departments/animal-services/living-wildlife |website=Animal Services |publisher=City of Mission Viejo |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mountain Lion |url=https://www.orangecountyoutdoors.com/wildlife/land-mammals/mountain-lion#:~:text=Mountain%20Lions%20can%20be%20found,foothills%20directly%20connected%20to%20them. |website=Wildlife |publisher=Orange County Outdoors |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref> Mountain lion attacks on people have happened in the outlying wilderness parks of Saddleback Valley, but they are very rare.<ref>{{cite web |last=Forgione |first=Mary |title=The cougar in that viral video looked scary, but experts say the runner was safe |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2020-10-14/mountain-lion-stalking-video-utah |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 14, 2020 |access-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref>

==Cultural impact==
The identity of Saddleback Valley has proven to be of importance throughout the history of major civilizations in the area. Many businesses, schools, places, and other entities in the region have "Saddleback" or "Saddleback Valley" incorporated into their names. [[Saddleback Church]], one of the largest megachurches in the world, is based in Lake Forest. [[Saddleback College]] is located in Mission Viejo and bears the name of the region, as well as an illustration of the Saddleback mountains as their logo. [[Saddleback Valley Unified School District]], as its name suggests, serves much of the valley with public elementary, intermediate, and high schools. Several small businesses in the area have also included Saddleback in their names and branding.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Saddleback From Laguna Niguel.jpg|Saddleback Valley viewed from the hills of Laguna Niguel
Saddleback from RSM.JPG|Saddleback Mountain from Rancho Santa Margarita
Snow on Saddleback (2008) 02.JPG|Snow on Saddleback Mountain in 2008 viewed from Rancho Santa Margarita
Laguna Niguel and Saddleback.JPG|Saddleback Valley as seen from Laguna Niguel
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{California}}

[[Category:Valleys of Orange County, California]]
[[Category:Valleys of California]]