Bet you didn't realize you can drive to an alien planet, did you? Well, you totally can! The weird, angled rocks of Vasquez Rocks, a small wilderness park in northern LA Count, have doubled as an exotic alien world in multiple TV shows and movies, most notably in the Star Trek episode "Arena," where Captain Kirk fought the fearsome (and fabulously attired!) Gorn.
In addition to being a lover of the outdoors, I am also a huge nerd with a particular love for Star Trek, so it was pretty much mandatory that I make the hour and a half trek (haha!) north to this jumble of rocks off the 14 Freeway. The park is quite small at about 900 acres and while there are hiking trails crisscrossing the park, the real fun is in scrambling around on the rocks. The largest formation, nicknamed "Kirk's Rock," rises over 150' from the ground and has numerous nooks and crannies that can be explored. The slabs are a nice grippy sandstone and angled at 30 to 45 degrees, making for some fun and easy climbing.
It's a fun way to spend a few hours. I may or may not have spent part of my time at the park creeping around the rock outcroppings hunting for aliens and pretending to fight the Gorn, but that isn't necessarily mandatory for enjoying Vasquez Rocks! The park also has ample parking, restrooms and a nice new visitor center at the entrance and lots of picnic tables that make for a nice lunch spot.
Getting There:
The rock formations are visible from Hwy 14. From the freeway, exit at Agua Dulce road and head north for 1 1/2 miles. Follow the signs to the entrance of the park.
Fall - Spring are the best times to visit this park, as it can get brutally hot in the summer and there is very minimal shade.
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| If you squint, it does look pretty alien... |
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