The Sagebrush Lizard lives at high elevations possibly because it finds that the competition is not so intense. Juvenile Sagebrush Lizards are the last to go in to hibernation and the first to come out. Because these lizards live at higher elevations with cooler temperatures, basking time is very important. By inhabiting sunny, open areas and, if possible, places with volcanic rock, obtaining sufficient heat is not a problem. It is glass or porcelain-like, resembling obsidian.
Heat is absorbed and transmitted faster than the porous lava rock which holds heat in gas cavities.
These rocks cool slowly in the evenings. When the lizards bask on these rocks, they are able to become more active earlier in the morning and last well into the evening. This is especially important since the active seasons are short. Bushes, trees, or rock crevasses are good places for refuge when the midday heat becomes too extreme. These places are also good for sleeping and for escape.