RT Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and Nature Center

932-acre park known for its rock formations, the result of sedimentary layering and later seismic uplift and has often been used as a location for films and television shows

General Information

Hours:

March 1 – October 31: Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 7:30pm
November 1 – February 28: Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 5pm
Closed Mondays year-round

Fees:

Free admission
Free parking available at multiple trailheads and the interpretive center

Pet Policy:

Leashed pets are welcome throughout the park and on trails; owners should bring water and be mindful of heat and terrain

Closest cities with hotels:

Santa Clarita (20 mi), Palmdale (25 mi), Lancaster (30 mi)

Seasons:

Fall and spring for mild temperatures and optimal hiking conditions; open year-round

Location:

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and Nature Center, CA

Website:

parks.lacounty.gov

How to Get There

From Los Angeles, CA (40 mi): Take I-5 N to CA-14 N, exit at Escondido Canyon Rd, turn left and follow signs to Vasquez Rocks Natural Area entrance.

Overview

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area is a 932-acre park in the Sierra Pelona near Agua Dulce with dramatic tilted sandstone slabs formed 25 million years ago, popular with hikers and climbers and a well-known film location, especially for Star Trek. Bandit Tiburcio Vásquez hid among these rocks in the 1870s. It has a nature center and a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail, and the park is free.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Vasquez Rocks", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0