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Vasquez Rocks: Discover the Rocky Desert Where Star Trek was Filmed!

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When you enter Los Angeles , which is a massive city, you can immediately feel the atmosphere of the movie set and may be eager to meet some Hollywood stars on the streets of Burbank or on the Walk of Fame. You may think to yourself, “The movie sets where the American films that made history were shot have never been so close”, as you ride the train through Hollywood Studios on a tour of the most famous scenes of American cinema.

Perhaps not many of you know that not far from Los Angeles, there is another wonderful movie set that has been the setting for many movies, but the difference is that it is a completely “natural” set. It is called Vasquez Rocks and we want to tell you about it in this article.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park: A Desert of Rocks…In Motion!

Vasquez rocks: star trek and other movies shot here, vasquez rocks hike: pacific crest trail, useful recommendations, accommodations near vasquez rocks.

The Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is located north of Los Angeles, in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, near the city of Agua Dulce , no more than 40 minutes from Hollywood. Bikers enjoy its scenery on the nearby Antelope Valley Freeway.

Coming from Los Angeles, you’ll have to drive to Agua Dulce. Simply take I-5 N and drive to the Palmdale/Lancaster junction (Exit State Route 14N/Antelope Valley). From there, continue for 14 miles on CA-14 N. Once in Agua Dulce, you will find the entrance to the valley on Escondido Canyon Road .

There is no entrance fee for Vasquez Rocks Natural Area . However, please note that the park entrance closes at 7:00 pm from March to September and at 5:00 pm for the rest of the year. Camping inside the park is not permitted.

The list of films and TV series is very long, for example, Werewolf of London (1935), but also famous movies like The Flintstones , Planet of Apes , Austin Powers , Planet of Dinosaurs , Cars , and even the popular TV series Big Bang Theory (in the episode titled The Bakersfield Expedition ). Vasquez Rocks will also look familiar to Futurama and Shrek fans.

But what is the origin of the name of this valley Hollywood directors love so much? Long before the cinema, Vasquez Rocks had already been the scene of escapes and hideouts. In 1874, the famous California bandit Tiburcio Vasquez used these rocks to hide when he was running from the law. There is a trail that traces the steps of Vasquez and we will talk about it in a moment.

• Length : 5.65 miles
• Elevation Gain : 650 feet
• Duration : 2-3 hours
• Difficulty : Medium

This trail starts near the Visitor Center, where maps are available, as well as a very useful relief map of the whole area that shows the stops on the trail. It is a relatively quick trail that will take you through ridges, hills, rugged desert areas, tunnels, and small canyons. You will be immersed in deep silence as you observe the wonderful and surreal views with beautiful rock formations decorated with ancient petroglyphs.

The trails of Vasquez Rocks are not difficult, but don’t forget to wear suitable clothing and footwear for walking on rocks. There is a water fountain near the visitor center. Make sure you get gas before going to Vasquez Rocks, because you will be entering a desert area.

The Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park can be easily visited in one day during your stay in Los Angeles and is a great way to get out of the city. Here is an article that will help you choose the best area to stay in Los Angeles.

Tips on where to stay in Los Angeles

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

Bernardo Pacini

I am an enthusiastic traveler. I have also published some poetry. Besides traveling, my interests include literature, prog music and good food,.

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3 thoughts on “vasquez rocks: discover the rocky desert where star trek was filmed”.

One site I desired to bring to your attention, is the bottle houses near Rhyolite, California. It may be the least explored. And then there are the crawling rocks in what is it, Mojave? Ooppss, then there are the Intaglio lines similar to the Nazca lines of South America.

Hello! We talked about it here .

The Star Trek episode is known informally as “Gorn Home”!

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Vasquez Rocks: Santa Clarita’s Historic Backlot

by élite Magazine | Jul 23, 2018 | SCV Reel Talk

It’s easy to forget that one of most filmed locations in Los Angeles, if not California, sits just east of the Santa Clarita City border: Vasquez Rocks. The iconic location, named after cagey desperado Tiburcio Vásquez, who holed up in the area a century and a half ago, has been home to countless film and television productions over the years. Unlike many movie ranches and backlots, which are not open to the public, Vasquez Rocks is a public park owned and operated by the County of Los Angeles and is open for unbridled exploration. Given its significant relevance to the history of film and television, along with its distinctive look, this location is truly unique. In the original television series “Star Trek,” with William Shatner, Vasquez Rocks served as the backdrop for one of the most memorable scenes in the saga’s history. Season 1: Episode 18, titled “Arena,” features an epic battle where Captain Kirk fights the alien space captain Gorn in a comically dramatic duel of death. It’s highly advisable that you stop reading this article immediately and YouTube “Kirk vs. Gorn” before going any further. The scene made optimal use of the canted cliff face and signature rock formations. Since the original television show began airing in the mid-1960s, Vasquez Rocks has been featured on just about every iteration of Star Trek. The location has made appearances on screen in both of the film franchises, including the 2009 J.J. Abrams reboot, where Vasquez Rocks doubled as the planet Vulcan. Vasquez Rocks has been much more than an alien planet. True to its authentic Old West roots, Vasquez Rocks has been home to a multitude of westerns. These include pop culture pillars like “Bonanza,” “Rin Tin Tin,” “Wagon Train,” “Bat Masterson,” “F-Troop” and even the off-color 1974 Mel Brooks comedy, “Blazing Saddles.” Segments filmed at the rocks included the railroad scenes and character Hedley Lamarr’s rousing speech to his collection of miscreants and outlaws. “Badges…?” Faithful viewers will also recognize western scenes in HBO’s current hit sci-fi show “Westworld.” Comedies have certainly utilized the unique look of the rocks to further their storylines as well. In “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Adventure,” evil robot Bill and Ted kidnap the protagonists and take them to Vasquez Rocks, where they promptly kill them. This sets up a meeting with the Grim Reaper where Bill and Ted have to outwit him to “get back to the babes.” In “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” Vasquez Rocks is where Mike Myers and Elizabeth Hurley’s characters escape from Dr. Evil’s lair. The scene famously features Austin’s “shagadelic” Jaguar E-Type roadster amidst the backdrop of the rocks. In the 1994 movie “The Flintstones,” starring John Goodman as the boisterous Fred Flintstone, Vasquez Rocks doubled as the prehistoric town of Bedrock. The production took over the park as they recreated a material version of the cartoon metropolis. “The Flintstones” was a high-powered production from the start, with Steven Spielberg, who was credited as “Steven Spielrock,” as the executive producer. Aside from Goodman and Perkins, the movie featured a top-flight cast, including Elizabeth Taylor, in her last screen appearance, and Halle Berry. The 2000 sequel, “The Flintstones 2: Viva Rock Vegas,” was also filmed at Vasquez Rocks but did not revisit the commercial success of the original, which grossed nearly $342 million worldwide. Vasquez Rocks also starred in the “Friends” Season 5 episode, “The One Where Joey Gets a Big Break.” In the episode, Joey gets the lead in a movie and takes a road trip to Vegas (Vasquez), where he discovers the movie has no funding. Last, but not least, on this look at notable filming at Vasquez Rocks, are two high-profile music videos. Both Michael Jackson’s “Black or White,” and Rhianna’s, “Rehab,” featuring Justin Timberlake, heavily highlight the Rocks. If you are interested in more information on the history of filming in Vasquez Rocks, a simple Google search will reveal volumes of information. However, a quick trip up the 14 Freeway is the best way to truly discover one of Santa Clarita’s historic treasures. The City of Santa Clarita’s Film Office was started in 2002 and today processes over 500 permits per year, leading to over 1,300 film days! Filming is a great benefit to the community, adding over $30 million of positive economic impact per year to the local economy. For a list of what has filmed in Santa Clarita, go to www.FilmSantaClarita.com and follow the City’s film office at Instagram.com/FilmSantaClarita . 

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TRAVEL GUIDE

Preparing for a supernatural convention experience in honolulu.

The Supernatural Convention is bringing its own brand of fun to Honolulu, Hawaii. Here are a few tips on what to pack (reusable bag), things to skip (airport car rental), and many other tips (go see LOST filming location) to help make this a trip to "Super"natural paradise. 

A Strange New World: A Visit to the Vasquez Rocks

By Chris Gore

Of all the otherworldly places the crew of the starship Enterprise visited, one of the most remarkable was the planet on which Captain Kirk fought the Gorn. The classic episode of the original Star Trek series “Arena” pits Kirk against a slow-moving, hissing, yet intelligent serpent creature on a strange new world. But this planetoid on the far reaches of the galaxy is located closer than one would think… right here on earth… in the state of California in fact, in the city of Agua Dulce just outside of Santa Clarita, in the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park. Which means that earthlings like us can travel to this world and explore the awe-inspiring beauty of these unique rock formations.

This idyllic location for an alien world was literally millions of years in the making. The Vasquez Rocks were formed 25 million years ago due to rapid erosion and were exposed due to activity along the infamous San Andreas Fault. The name comes from local bandit Tiburcio Vasquez, who took refuge in that area from 1873 to 1874.

The setting of the Vasquez Rocks in the Star Trek episode “Arena” has made those rock formations iconic. But it is not an exaggeration to say that this place is a “rock star” having appeared in so many film and television productions. The “Arena” episode from 1967 was just the first time the rocks had starred in Star Trek. The location was used in Star Trek the Next Generation, Star Trek Voyager, as well as other Star Trek movies and as the planet Vulcan in JJ Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek movie. From the earliest Westerns to episodes of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, this desert paradise has been home to so many film and TV productions, it should have its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Wayward Nerd visited the formations to marvel at their beauty and, of course, to take our own photos. For any nerdy traveler, I can’t stress enough how important it is to bring three things with you when visiting the Vasquez Rocks:

2. A camera

3. A Star Trek item to include in your photos

While many choose to bring Star Trek props or uniforms, we brought with us a custom Star Trek LEGO figure of Captain Kirk and an alien to accompany us on our journey. Our tiny companions made quite the stunning models on our adventure.

Before venturing to the canyon itself, take some time to explore the visitor center. There, you will find an impressive scale model of the entire valley along with displays that tell stories of the park’s rich history. There’s also a gift shop in the visitor center where Star Trek items are for sale. Be sure to sign the guest book on the way out where you may even find some famous names. Helpful park rangers are more than happy to answer all your questions, even the nerdy ones.

It’s difficult to describe the feelings you experience upon walking through this famous natural landmark. As a film fan, I can’t help but become giddy at discovering and remembering all the movies in which this park played an integral role—from “Planet of the Apes” to “One Million B.C.” to “The Flintstones” to “Galaxy Quest” to the indie film classic “Free Enterprise” and so many more. If you have the time to take screen captures of the famous Kirk versus Gorn scene from Star Trek, you can even locate the exact spot where William Shatner stood when he found the alien beast.

There is no fee to visit the Vasquez Rocks and you’ll find ample parking. According to the official site, the park is open from sunrise to sunset with seasonal hours listed. I cannot stress how important it is that you bring water as you will truly be surrounded by desert and nothing else. I would also advise calling ahead to be sure that your exploration is not limited by any film or TV productions that may be present, which actually happened on the day we visited. Lucky for us, they hadn’t started shooting yet, so we were able to continue our journey.

Travel safe… and live long and prosper.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park

10700 West Escondido Canyon Road

Aqua Dulce, CA  91350

661-268-0840

http://parks.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dpr/Parks/Vasquez_Rocks_Natural_Area

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© 2015 Wayward Nerd. All rights reserved.

All 10 Star Trek Episodes Filmed At California's Vasquez Rocks

• Vasquez Rocks Natural Area has been a popular filming location for numerous TV shows and films, including Star Trek classics.
• The iconic fights and scenarios in Star Trek episodes were shot at Vasquez Rocks, solidifying its association with the franchise.
• From Captain Kirk's battle with the Gorn to Dr. McCoy's encounters, Vasquez Rocks has been a backdrop for many memorable Star Trek moments.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area in Los Angeles, California has been used as a filming location for several episodes of various Star Trek series. Because of its location around twenty-five miles from downtown LA, numerous television series have been filmed at Vasquez Rocks such as 24, The Big Bang Theory, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Roswell, and The Twilight Zone , among many others. The park has also popped up in many films, including Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, Blazing Saddles, Galaxy Quest, and the 2001 adaptation of Planet of the Apes.

Although Vasquez Rocks is a common filming location for many productions, they have become particularly associated with Star Trek . From Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) iconic fight with the Gorn to Dr. Leonard McCoy's (DeForest Kelley) encounter with the White Rabbit, Vasquez Rocks has served as the backdrop for many classic Star Trek moments. One prominent rock formation has even earned the nickname "Kirk's Rock," due to its association with Star Trek: The Original Series . Some of the films and television shows mentioned above filmed at Vasquez Rocks because of its connection to Star Trek, using it for a comedic spoof or parody.

Vasquez Rocks also served as the planet Vulcan in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009).

How To Watch All Star Trek TV Shows In Timeline Order

The Star Trek TV franchise has existed for 57 years and consists of 12 shows (and counting). Here's how to watch them all in timeline order.

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 15 - "Shore Leave"

Shore leave planet, star trek: the original series.

Cast Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, George Takei, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan

Release Date September 8, 1966

Showrunner Gene Roddenberry

Where To Watch Paramount+

When the USS Enterprise arrives at a planet that looks perfect for shore leave, Captain Kirk and some crew members beam down. Soon after they arrive, the crew making up the landing party begins experiencing strange encounters they cannot explain. Soon, Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and the rest of the survey team are stranded on the planet with no way to communicate with the Enterprise.

As they work to find a way out of their situation, a Medieval knight appears and seems to kill Dr. McCoy. Kirk and Spock then realize that the planet creates scenarios based on the Enterprise crew members' imaginations . As the Starfleet Officers try to refrain from thinking, an elderly "Caretaker" appears, explaining that the planet is a sort of amusement park that does not cause permanent harm. Dr. McCoy is restored, and the Caretaker apologizes for the misunderstanding.

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 18 - "Arena"

Metron planet.

In one of the most memorable episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, Captain Kirk finds himself stranded on a desert planet with a dangerous Gorn. An advanced species known as the Metrons have left Kirk and the Gorn on a barren unnamed planet, forcing them to battle to the death. Vasquez Rocks serves as the backdrop for Kirk's iconic fight with the Gorn , as the Enterprise Captain uses the resources found on the planet to create a cannon-like device.

Complete History Of The Gorn In Star Trek

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The Metrons allow Kirk's crew to watch their Captain from the safety of the Starship Enterprise, as Kirk first tries communicating with Gorn before the two fight for their lives. In the end, Kirk outsmarts the Gorn, but ultimately allows him to live, which impresses the watching Metrons. The Metrons conclude that there is hope for humanity, and they send Kirk and the Enterprise back to their own area of space.

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 27 - "The Alternative Factor"

Lazarus' planet.

When Captain Kirk and Spock investigate a strange anomaly on an unknown planet, they encounter a man named Lazarus (Robert Brown), who fades in and out of existence. Sometimes, Lazarus appears rational and well-kept, while other times, he is crazed and wounded. Kirk and Spock eventually realize that there are two versions of Lazarus — one from the normal universe and one from the anti-matter universe.

The rational Lazarus explains that Kirk must destroy his time-traveling spaceship in order to save both universes. Vasquez Rocks serves as Lazarus' home planet, and the setting for much of the action as the two Lazaruses chase one another. "The Alternative Factor" is generally considered one of Star Trek's weaker episodes, as neither the storyline nor the science makes sense.

Previous Star Trek: TOS episodes established that the Enterprise itself is propelled by a reaction between matter and antimatter, and yet "The Alternative Factor" suggests the universe will be destroyed if matter and antimatter come together.

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 2, Episode 11 - "Friday's Child"

In Star Trek 's "Friday's Child," Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down to Capella IV to negotiate with the inhabitants, but find that the Klingons have also sent a representative. After the Capellan leader who favored the Federation is killed, the new leader, Maab (Michael Dante) orders the death of the previous leader's wife, Eleen (Julie Newmar). Since Eleen is innocent and very pregnant, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy help her escape into the nearby hills.

Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Eleen evade capture in the desert landscape of Capella IV, represented by Vasquez Rocks. McCoy helps Eleen give birth to her son, and Eleen later takes control of her people while acting as her son's regent. She reestablishes the deal with the Federation and names her son Leonard James Akaar, after McCoy and Kirk.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 4 - "Who Watches the Watchers"

Mintaka iii, star trek: the next generation.

Cast Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden

Release Date September 28, 1987

Showrunner Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller, Rick Berman

As the USS Enterprise-D provides assistance to a hidden Federation outpost on Mintaka III in Star Trek: The Next Generation , a local named Liko (Ray Wise) sees the outpost. When Liko is injured while trying to get a better look, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gate McFadden) has him beamed up to the Enterprise for treatment. Liko regains consciousness and observes the Enterprise and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).

In order to avoid further breaking the Prime Directive , Crusher attempts to wipe Liko's memory, but the procedure doesn't work properly. Liko remembers Picard as a god and spreads this news to the other Mintakans, forcing Picard to beam down to the planet to correct the mistake. The familiar landscape of Vasquez Rocks stands in for Mintaka and serves as a nice callback to Star Trek: The Original Series .

Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 2 - "Initiations"

Star trek voyager.

Cast Jennifer Lien, Garrett Wang, Tim Russ, Robert Duncan McNeill, Roxann Dawson, Robert Beltran, Kate Mulgrew, Jeri Ryan, Ethan Phillips, Robert Picardo

Release Date May 23, 1995

Showrunner Kenneth Biller, Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller, Brannon Braga

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

In Star Trek: Voyager , Vasquez Rocks also make its way all the way to the Delta Quadrant, standing in for Tarok, a moon orbiting a gas giant. When Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) is captured by the Kazon, he escapes onto the nearby Tarok . Tracking his signal, Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Lt. Tuvok (Tim Russ) , and Kes (Jennifer Lien) later arrive on the moon to rescue Chakotay.

10 Star Trek: Voyager Alien Villains Ranked, Worst To Best

New alien villains fought against Captain Kathryn Janeway and the USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant, but some foes were more successful than others.

With help from a young Kazon named Kar (Aron Eisenberg), Chakotay reunites with his crew members. Despite having the chance to shoot Chakotay, Kar instead kills the Kazon commander , Razik (Patrick Kilpatrick). Kar and the remaining Kazon then allow the Voyager crew members to leave peacefully.

Aron Eisenberg played the Ferengi Nog in 45 episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Star Trek: Voyager Season 5, Episode 13 - "Gravity"

Subspace sinkhole planet.

In Star Trek: Voyager 's "Gravity," Tuvok, Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) , and The Doctor (Robert Picardo) find themselves stranded on a desert planet where time moves faster than it does elsewhere. While on the planet, they encounter a woman named Noss (Lori Petty), who helps Tuvok and Paris survive on the inhospitable planet. As Captain Janeway and the USS Voyager's crew work to retrieve their crewmates, Noss develops feelings for Tuvok that the Vulcan cannot reciprocate.

Captain Janeway is eventually able to communicate with her stranded officers and beam them back to Voyager. While only two days have passed on the ship, it has been over two months for Tuvok and Paris. Tuvok shares a mind-meld with Noss, showing her that he cares for her even if they cannot be together romantically.

Star Trek: Enterprise Season 1, Episode 5 - "Unexpected"

Xyrillian homeworld, star trek: enterprise.

Cast Dominic Keating, Connor Trinneer, Linda Park, John Billingsley, Scott Bakula, Jolene Blalock, Jeffrey Combs, Anthony Montgomery

Release Date September 26, 2001

Showrunner Manny Coto, Brannon Braga

When the Enterprise NX-01 discovers a cloaked Xyrillian ship traveling in its wake, Commander Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer) travels to the vessel to help with repairs. Once there, he works with the Xyrillian engineer Ah'Len (Julianne Christie), and the two grow close, eventually playing a telepathic game. Ah'Len takes Tucker to the holodeck to show him her home world, which is made up of shots of Vasquez Rocks combined with CGI.

When Tucker returns to the Enterprise, he notices a strange growth on his wrist, and Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) informs the engineer that he is pregnant. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) orders his crew to locate the Xyrillian ship, and Tucker returns to inform Ah'Len about what happened. She apologizes, not realizing that pregnancy is possible with a different species, and transfers the embryo to a Xyrillian host.

Star Trek: Picard Season 1, Episode 2 - "Maps & Legends"

Vasquez rocks, earth, star trek: picard.

Cast Orla Brady, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Jeri Ryan, Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Isa Briones, Evan Evagora, Marina Sirtis, Amanda Plummer, Whoopi Goldberg, Gates McFadden, Todd Stashwick, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, John de Lancie, Ed Speleers

Release Date January 23, 2020

Showrunner Akiva Goldsman, Terry Matalas, Michael Chabon

Star Trek: Picard season 1 marks the first time Vasquez Rocks appears in Star Trek as the actual location on Earth rather than as a stand-in for an alien planet. As Jean-Luc Picard sets out to look for Soji Asha (Isa Briones) , the android "daughter" of the late Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), he visits Starfleet Headquarters to request a ship and crew.

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After Starfleet refuses Picard's request for a ship, he seeks out his former colleague, Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd). Raffi had served with Picard during the evacuation of Romulus but had since left Starfleet. Now living in a small home situated in Vasquez Rocks, Raffi reluctantly agrees to meet with Picard.

Star Trek: Picard Season 1, Episode 3 - "The End is the Beginning"

Star Trek: Picard 's "The End is the Beginning" picks up right where the previous episode left off, as Jean-Luc works to convince Raffi to join him on his search for Soji, with Vasquez Rocks looming behind them. As revealed in a flashback, Raffi was kicked out of Starfleet after Picard resigned in protest after the synth attack on Mars. Raffi has come to resent Picard, especially since he did not help her during the intervening years.

Raffi refuses to accompany Picard, but she does offer to connect him to a pilot named Cristóbal Rios (Santiago Cabrera). However, after hearing what Picard had to say, Raffi begins doing her own research into the location of Dr. Bruce Maddox (John Ales) , who created Soji and her twin sister Dahj. In the end, Raffi leaves her home at Vasquez Rocks and joins Picard and his makeshift crew for a new Star Trek adventure.

All of the Star Trek series mentioned above are available to stream on Paramount+

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Unique Destinations, Weird History and More…

Vasquez Rocks: Outlaw Hideout Turned Hollywood Filming Location

What do Westworld , The Wild Wild West , Star Trek , Army of Darkness , and Zorro all have in common? Well, aside from being awesome, they all, at one point or another, filmed at Vasquez Rocks.

For me, Vasquez Rocks is a gorgeous natural landscape that is a perfect meld of my favorite things – it is both classically western and classically sci-fi.

Originally we planned to go out here a couple weeks ago, but the forecast called for clouds! And there was no way we was going to drive all the way out there for cloudy skies! Thankfully, earlier this week there were no clouds, but it was pretty windy! I almost lost my hat a couple times! But other than that it was gloriously sunny and few people around.

Vasquez Rocks’ iconic and unique shape make it very easy to spot in the wide variety of TV shows, movies, and even music videos, that used it as a backdrop. It has been used as canyons for outlaws (which is fitting considering its history that I’ll touch on in a bit), the land of prehistoric creatures, as well as otherworldly planets.

One of my favorite shows, Disney’s Zorro , filmed at Vasquez Rocks, however the exact episode escapes me. I guess it’s time to rewatch it! And I’ll update this post with a screencap when I do. Another personal favorite, the 60s The Wild Wild West filmed at Vasquez Rocks twice. In season one’s “The Night of the Sudden Plague” the area was the setting for the villain’s hideout. You can even see the tops of the rocks peeking over the edge of the fort.

The location was used in season two, in “The Night of the Cadre” where the climax of the episode takes place.

Episode 18 of Star Trek’ s first season, “Arena” is wildly accepted as the quintessential episode. In it Captain Kirk is locked in a battle with the Gorn in the area of Vasquez Rocks. The episode had such an impact that Vasquez Rocks was used again again throughout various incarnations of Star Trek .

HBO’s version of Westworld has also chosen to film at Vasquez Rocks, using it as the site of where the town of Escalante would be rebuilt, in the episode “Trace Decay.”

This of course is just a small sampling of the vast productions that have filmed here. The fantastic filming location blog I Am Not a Stalker offers many more images of shows and movies that used Vasquez Rocks.

Now, you know I can’t resist digging up the history of places, and Vasquez Rocks has a bit of an interesting history, especially how it got its name.

Vasquez Rocks History

Like all magnificent rock formations, Vasquez Rocks was created by mother earth millions of years ago. And long before Zorro rode across its landscape or Captain Kirk fought the Gorn, the land was home to the indigenous people known as the Alliklik or Tataviam as they are known today. When the Spanish arrived, the natives were noted as friendly, and like other Native Americans, were assimilated by way of the Spanish Missions. Up until this point these spectacular rocks had no name, or none that was noted. At the conclusion of the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States and that is when Vasquez Rocks’ name sake, outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez, enters the scene. With the rocks’ deep crevasses and high peeks to serve as lookout posts, Vasquez and his gang found these rocks to be the perfect hideout.  Vasquez earned a reputation as a murderer and thief, and a hefty bounty along with, ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 (depending on the source) as well as quite the ladies’ man. He apparently was very charming, loving to sing, dance, play guitar, and even write poetry. However, it is his womanizing that would lead to his downfall. When one of Vasquez’s many female playthings learned he fathered a child with another woman, along with frequent visits to a prostitute, she became enraged. She or one of her family members tipped off William Rowland, the Los Angeles County Sheriff. A shootout ensued at one of Vasquez’ other hideouts, and Vasquez was captured. Women reportedly arrived at his jail cell with flowers, and even a playwright of the nearby Merced Theater wrote a play called “The Capture of Vasquez.” Flattered, Vasquez allowed the actor portraying him to observe him in his cell to glean mannerisms and vocal inflections, and Vasquez even gave the actor his own clothes to wear in the production. Despite claiming he never killed anyone, Vasquez was convicted of murder, and hanged in San Jose on March 19, 1875. He is buried in the Santa Clara Mission Cemetery in Santa Clara.

Near the end of Vasquez’s reign, his former hideout became the location for borax mining as well as homesteading. When the mine closed in 1922 the homesteaders still benefited from an industry that was emerging in California, motion pictures. Homesteaders leased their properties for filming, but by the 1960s, the taxes on the land became too much, and they were bought out by Los Angeles County, and the area became what it is today, a park.

Vasquez Rocks is located in Agua Dulce, about 37 miles northeast of the heart of Hollywood. It is part of the Los Angeles County parks system. For further details on hours and offerings, please visit the website .

Sources Boessernecker, John. “ Bandido: The Countless Love Affairs of Tiburcio Vasquez .” California State Library Foundation Bulletin. p. 6-11. Glenn, John M. “ A History of Vasquez Rocks and the Vicinity .” SCVTV. Lewis, Randy. “ How Vasquez Rocks, L.A.’s onetime outlaw hideout, became ‘Star Trek’s’ favorite alien landscape .” Los Angeles Times. Peterson, Robert. “ The Hunt for Tiburcio Vasquez: A Chase Through a Californio’s L.A. ” KCET.

Image Sources The Wild Wild West images were screencapped by myself. Star Trek “Arena” Image Westworld “Trace Decay” Image

Outfit Hat: Redlands Galleria, Redlands, California Top & Skirt: Buffalo Exchange UFO Bolo Tie: Kesha Turquoise Jewelry: Various Boots: Antique Alley, Portland, Oregon

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5 comments on “Vasquez Rocks: Outlaw Hideout Turned Hollywood Filming Location”

Ahhh such a stunning location and that gorgeous blue sky! It looks like a magical place to visit – I love your outfit too! 😀 xx

elizabeth ♡ ”Ice Cream” whispers Clara (PS I’m hoping I might be able to entice you to follow each other on bloglovin haha xD)

This is so cool! And one of my favorite TV shows, Roswell was also filmed here.

Amazing photos! What a gorgeous, otherworldly landscape, and you’ve made beautiful use of it. Love the cute cowgirl look.

I think the zorro episode that was filmed at Vasquez Rocks was Luckiest Swordsman Alive (season 1 #12). There may have been other episodes as well.

This rock is also featured in the opening of “The Adventures of Champion” featuring Champion the Wonder Horse. The series ran one season (26 episodes) from September 23, 1955, to March 3, 1956.

Champion stands about halfway up the rock, rears up on his hind legs then runs down the sloping trail to the level ground below.

Vasquez Rocks...Captain Kirk and the Gorn, 13 November 2010

Vasquez Rocks, November 2010

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Published Jan 19, 2021

Gorn Easter Eggs are the Best Star Trek Easter Eggs

We're counting down the best references to the fan favorite aliens on the anniversary of Arena

StarTrek.com

Captain Kirk smacking a dude in a green rubber lizard costume might be one of the most enduring images from Star Trek: The Original Series . But, this classic kitschy showdown between human and Gorn in the TOS episode “Arena,” is also just one distillation of what made the classic Trek series great. Based upon a 1944 short story of the same name by Fredric Brown, the trappings of “Arena,” and the Gorn captain in specific feel right at home in the pages of a pulpy science fiction magazine. And yet, as a Star Trek episode, the story of “Arena,” isn’t actually about a whitebread Flash Gordon-type killing an enemy alien. Spoiler alert, this episode is actually about Captain Kirk not murdering an intelligent dino-man, even though he totally could.

Ever since the bipedal lizard aliens known as the Gorn appeared in “Arena,” Trek fans have been obsessed. Tragically, our Gorn-love is somewhat unrequited, because when it comes to live-action appearances of the Gorn, within the Prime Universe canon of the series, we’re still limited that iconic rubber lizard suit, designed by Wah Chang, and played by Bobby Clark, Gary Combs and William Blackburn. Yes, we saw a Gorn in the Enterprise episode “In a Mirror Darkly, Part 2,” but there wasn’t an wobbly rubber, and it all happened in Mirror Universe. 54 years after “Arena” aired on January 19, 1967, looking for in-the-rubber-flesh Gorn in the rest of Trek inherently means you are looking for Gorn Easter eggs.

In honor of the on-screen birthday of the Gorn in “Arena,” here, in no particular order, eight of the best Easter eggs and references to the Gorn throughout the Star Trek franchise.

“Time Trap” Gorn from Star Trek: The Animated Series

After the Gorn captain (sometimes named S'slee in official Star Trek roleplaying games) fought Kirk in “Arena,” the next Gorn we saw was in the TAS episode “Time Trap.” This Gorn was an “Elysian councilor”; an ad hoc group of various species who decided how to govern within a kind of Bermuda Triangle for starships. This Gorn did not have a big part, but for fans in the ‘70s, they did briefly quench the Gorn thirst.

startrek.com

Although there was not one single Gorn in live action Trek after “Arena” (1967) and before “In a Mirror Darkly, Part 2” (2005) there were three references to the planet Cestus III — where the Gorn attack began in “Arena” —  in Deep Space Nine . In the episodes “Family Business” and “The Way of the Warrior,” we get the sense that Cestus III is a peaceful and thriving colony in the 24th Century. Sisko also mentions Kirk “fighting the Gorn on Cestus III'' in “Trials and Tribble-ations.” DS9 also established that there is something called Pike City on Cestus III in the 24th Century, almost certainly named for Captain Christopher Pike.

Speaking of Pike, in the Discovery episode “Saints of Imperfection,” Pike says he heard Leland was “up to his ass in alligators” on Cestus III. If Pike is talking about the Gorn, then that is a Gorn Easter egg disguised as an alligator idiom.

Unseen Gorn babies — delivered by Bones!

In Star Trek Into Darkness , Bones says he has performed a C-section to help deliver Gorn babies — octuplets to be precise. Bones also says that these Gorn babies bit him, which is not shocking. Obviously, we never actually saw these Gorn babies, but we have to assume — despite what Bones says — that they were totally, and completely, adorable.

Lorca’s Gorn Skeleton in Star Trek: Discovery

An early clue that Captain Lorca had access to info that didn’t quite match-up with what he should have known about the Prime Universe was his creepy trophy room full of weapons and random mad scientist stuff. Starting with the Discovery Season 1 episode, “Context Is For Kings,” we also saw a Gorn skeleton among Lorca’s possessions. This skeleton pretty neatly matches the way the Gorn looked in “Arena,” which means it basically stands upright. This differs from the Gorn that Mirror Archer fought in Enterprise , which had a posture more like a dinosaur. In the Star Trek Adventures roleplaying game’s Beta Quadrant Sourcebook, one explanation is offered for the different looking Gorn. There’s (at least) two species of Gorn: the Russth ( Enterprise ) and the Ssessekh (TOS). While it’s not exactly canon, the Beta Quadrant Sourcebook suggests “anecdotal evidence points to as many as four others.”

In the 1968 prose adaptation of “Arena” by James Blish (found in Star Trek 2 , from Bantam Books) the author describes the Gorn with a tail! Before VHS recordings, Blish based his book versions of TOS episodes on early scripts, and his own sci-fi novelist imagination. As of now, a Gorn with a tail has not made it onto on screen canon.

Captain Freeman’s Gorn Doll in Lower Decks

In the Lower Deck s episode “Veritas,” Rutherford inexplicably finds himself at a Gorn wedding. But, because those Gorn are actually part of the plot, it’s hard to call this a true Gorn “Easter egg.” But, if you want a slightly less-obvious Gorn shout-out in Lower Decks , it's right there in Captain Freeman’s Ready Room. Starting with the episode “Much Ado About Boimler,” we learn that Captain Freeman has a small Gorn model (action figure) among her prized possessions.

The Vasquez Rocks

In real life, the place where Kirk and the Gorn fought in “Arena” was filmed at the Vasquez Rocks in California. However, this was not the only time a Star Trek production used the Vasquez Rocks to depict an alien planet. In addition to “Arena,” the Vasquez Rocks appear in the TOS episodes "Shore Leave,” “The Alternative Factor,” and “Friday’s Child.” The TNG episode “Who Watches the Watchers'' filmed there, as did the Voyager episodes “Initiations" and “Gravity.” In Enterprise , the Vasquez Rocks appeared in the episode “Unexpected.” In the films, the Vasquez Rocks was the planet Vulcan in The Voyage Home and Star Trek 2009 .

To date, Star Trek: Picard is the only in-canon appearance of the Vasquez Rocks where this spot is just called “The Vasquez Rocks.” And yet, this place is still most famous for being the place where Kirk fought the Gorn in “Arena.” Is every appearance of the Vasquez Rocks a Gorn Easter egg? Maybe not. But in the case of Picard , it sure feels like it!

The Gorn did what?

In the Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 debut, “That Hope Is You Part 1,” Book tells Michael Bunrham that the Gorn destroyed “two light years of subspace,” Michael responds by saying, “Wait, the Gorn did what?” This single reaction pretty much describes every single Gorn Easter egg on this list. You can use “the Gorn did what?” to react to anything. Try it!

“Gorn Egg” in Star Trek: Picard

According to self-professed Gorn lovers Akiva Goldsman and Michael Chabon, an alternate version of Season 1 of Star Trek: Picard could have featured even more Gorn references than what we saw on screen. In a video interview with Wired , Chabon and Goldsman joked that they attempted to jam way more Gorn Easter eggs into Picard than ended-up being possible. As Goldsman said in the interview: “No episode passed through our greedy Trekkie fingers...without Michael and I trying and failing to get a wink or a nod to the Gorn into text or on the screen.”

Episode Preview | Star Trek: Picard - Absolute Candor

Chabon goes on to say that in Picard episode 4, “Absolute Candor,” that behind Soji and Narek, in one scene, was meant to be a painting of a Gorn on black velvet. Chabon says two of these paintings were done by John Eaves, though in post-production, the painting was replaced by a Romulan control panel.

That said, in the Picard episode “The End is the Beginning,” there is, perhaps, the most perfect Gorn Easter egg of all time, which is literally called “Gorn Egg.” When Raffi finds a secret piece of evidence located on Freecloud, we briefly see the words “Gorn Egg” flash on her screen. Chabon claims in the same interview that the idea that someone would use “Gorn Egg” as a computer code could prove that in Trek canon, Gorn eggs are “hard to crack.”

But do Gorn actually lay eggs? Because Bones performed that off-screen C-section in Into Darkness , the answer feels like a no. Then again, that was the Kelvin Universe and Bones likes to exaggerate, too. Also, like we said, there are a lot of species of Gorn out there, so maybe some lay eggs and some don’t. It’s really tough to say until we see more live-action Gorn on screen.

Then again, perhaps the scarcity of the Gorn is what makes us continue to love them so much. Because if we had more Gorn than we already do, wouldn’t that make the Easter eggs less fun?

A Timeline Through the Star Trek Universe

Ryan Britt's (he/him) essays and journalism have appeared in Tor.com, Inverse, Den of Geek!, SyFy Wire, and elsewhere. He is the author of the 2015 essay collection Luke Skywalker Can't Read. He lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife and daughter.

Star Trek: Picard streams on CBS All Access in the United States,  in Canada on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave, and on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories.

Star Trek: Discovery streams on CBS All Access in the United States, airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada, and on Netflix in 190 countries.

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Vasquez Rocks

Vasquez Rocks was a location on the planet Earth .

In 2399 , Raffaela Musiker was living there when Jean-Luc Picard came to pay her a visit. ( PIC : " Maps and Legends ", " The End is the Beginning ")

• 1.1.1 History
• 1.1.2 Star Trek
• 1.1.3 Appearances in Star Trek
• 1.1.4 Other related appearances
• 1.2 External links

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

Vasquez Rocks in southern California

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a county park in Agua Dulce, California, roughly thirty miles north of Los Angeles. The area has been used in the filming of numerous Star Trek productions, including at least ten television episodes and two movies.

History [ ]

The familiar jagged rock face from "Arena", where Captain Kirk fought the Gorn

Vasquez rocks in "The Alternative Factor"

Filming "Who Watches The Watchers" at Vasquez Rocks

Vasquez Rocks is named after notorious bandit Tiburcio Vásquez , who used the rocky region to elude capture from California law enforcement in 1873 and 1874. On the television series Stories of the Century , Vasquez was portrayed by Anthony Caruso . Since 1928, nearly two hundred other film and television productions have been shot at Vasquez Rocks, including many westerns. The park was acquired by Los Angeles County in 1970.

Classic television shows such as Gunsmoke , Maverick , Bonanza , The Wild Wild West , and Kung Fu have all utilized Vasquez Rocks for filming, as have more contemporary hit shows like Airwolf , Alien Nation , Sliders , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (the rocks were used for the location of the Power Rangers' Command Center, which was in fact the House of the Book at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute used for Camp Khitomer in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ), Roswell , 24 , and CSI .

Films that have been shot at the region include the 1931 classic Dracula , Blazing Saddles (1974), Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), Army of Darkness' (1992), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Planet of the Apes , and Alpha Dog (2006).

Star Trek [ ]

The first episode to be partially filmed at Vasquez was " Shore Leave " (in which it depicted the Shore Leave Planet along with, Africa, USA ), spending two and half days on location, on Monday 24 October 1966 , Tuesday 25 October 1966 and Wednesday 26 October 1966 . In the next month, another two Star Trek episodes were shot there, " Arena ", spending two days at Vasquez, on Wednesday 9 November 1966 and Thursday 10 November 1966 , and " The Alternative Factor ". The latter also spent two days filming on location, on Tuesday 22 November 1966 and Wednesday 23 November 1966 . Star Trek returned to Vasquez for the second season , to film " Friday's Child ", which also spent two days on location, on Wednesday 24 May 1967 and Thursday 25 May 1967 .

For " Arena ", the destroyed colony at Cestus III was also filmed near Vasquez, at an outdoor fortress set, originally built by Screen Gems for the series Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers . Filming there took place on Friday 11 November 1966 .

Vasquez was seen again almost twenty years later in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , when some of the Vulcan scenes were filmed there. Three years later, in August 1989 , the Star Trek: The Next Generation third season episode " Who Watches The Watchers " was also located at Vasquez. Star Trek: Voyager also filmed scenes at Vasquez, including the barren moon surface for " Initiations " in July 1995 and the desert for " Gravity " in September 1998 . In late- July 2001 , Vasquez portrayed the Xyrillian homeworld in the Star Trek: Enterprise first season episode " Unexpected ".

In late- 2007 , director J.J. Abrams shot the Vulcan scenes of 2009 's Star Trek at Vasquez Rocks as an homage to its use in previous Trek productions. [1]

In January 2012 , Abrams filmed some scenes at Vasquez for Star Trek Into Darkness . [2]

Star Trek: Picard also used Vasquez as a location, filming the exteriors of Raffi Musiker 's home there for " Maps and Legends " and " The End is the Beginning " in early- May 2019 . For the first time, the Vasquez Rocks were portrayed as themselves instead of as a stand-in for a different location.

Appearances in Star Trek [ ]

• " Shore Leave " (as the Shore Leave Planet )
• " Arena " as (as the Metron planet )
• " The Alternative Factor " (as Lazarus' planet )
• " Friday's Child " (as Capella IV )
• " Who Watches The Watchers " (as Mintaka III )
• " Initiations " (as Tarok )
• " Gravity " (as Subspace sinkhole planet)
• " Unexpected " (as Xyrillian homeworld )
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (as Vulcan )
• Star Trek (as Vulcan)
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• " Maps and Legends " (as Vasquez Rocks, Earth )
• " The End is the Beginning " (as Vasquez Rocks, Earth)

Other related appearances [ ]

• Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
• Free Enterprise
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (A diner in a scene filmed at the location was named "The Arena Diner", as an homage to the episode "Arena").
• Brandeis-Bardin Institute's House of the Book, digitally edited atop, to create the Command Center/Power Chamber for the first five seasons of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
• The Big Bang Theory , Episode "The Bakersfield Expedition".
• Monk , Episode "Mr. Monk and the UFO".
• Bring Back... Star Trek
• How William Shatner Changed the World
• Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

External links [ ]

• Vasquez Rocks at SantaClaritaGuide.com
• Vasquez Rocks at Wikipedia
• Re-Uses of the Vasquez Rocks Location at Ex Astris Scientia
• List of productions filmed at Vasquez Rocks at the Internet Movie Database
• 2 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G)
• 3 Christopher Russell

Hiking the PCT in Vasquez Rocks

• November 1, 2013
• Jeff Hester

The famous Vasquez Rocks will be familiar to most people. They have been used as a film site for Star Trek ( Captain Kirk battling the Gorn ), Blazing Saddles, The Flintstones and many others. What you might not know is that the Pacific Crest Trail runs right through the park, and that there is a rich history that includes ancient Native American petroglyphs.

Getting to Vasquez Rocks Park

It took less than an hour to get their from LA, driving north on the 5 and east on the 14. The address of the park is:  10700 West Escondido Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, CA 91350 . There is a beautiful visitor center with maps and a fantastic relief map of the area. Stop in and they can tell you everything you want to know about the area.

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at Vasquez Rocks

I parked at the middle lot, halfway between the visitor center and the famous Vasquez Rocks. We started by hiking on the PCT to the visitor center, where we picked up some tips and oriented ourselves. From here, we backtracked down the PCT, this time following it down the back side of the rocks.

There is a small climb to the top of a hill. Stop here and check out the views.

Once you descend to the lower parking lot (basically a large, open flat area), look for the pepper tree. You’ll turn left (east) here and head down a dirt road to stay on the PCT.

At 1.25 miles, the trail veers right (south) and follows a slight ridge where we enjoyed panoramic views in all directions.

As you hike, watch for the concrete-reinforced zip-line tower on your left. As the story goes, there used be a hermit that lived across that gulch. He built a zip-line to ferry supplies back and forth. How, I don’t know, as both the zip line and the hermit are long gone.

At 1.75 miles you reach the end of the fire road. There’s a sign marking the boundary of the 2007 wildfire that burned much of the surrounding hillside. Follow the signs for the PCT as it descends into the canyon on a wide single track trail.

At the bottom, you’ll turn left and follow the Pacific Crest Trail signs into a fairly narrow canyon. There is a seasonal creek that runs through here, although it was bone dry in October. In spring, water crossings add to the adventure.

In the canyon, take time to notice your surroundings. You’ll see holes in the canyon walls with bird markings. There are owls that nest in there, and if you’re lucky you might spy one or two.

At one point in the canyon we stopped to watch some birds circling overhead. We could actually hear the wind in their wings with each flap and swoop. I’ve never really  heard  a bird fly before, and it was pretty special.

We continued through the canyon until about the 2.7 mile mark, with Highway 14 looming above us. There is a fork in the trail. Bear right, heading towards the highway, and you’ll soon see the tunnel. This is a tall, unlit tunnel. We didn’t need flashlights, but be aware that it is also used by horses and wildlife; you may want to avoid the center of the tunnel or you might step into something you’d rather not.

The tunnel leads under Highway 14. We stopped here and took a few photos, then turned around to head back to the Vasquez Rocks. We simply retraced our steps to the lower parking area, then veered straight toward the iconic Vasquez Rocks. I was interested in scrambling to the top, but not sure how easy or hard it would be.

There is a ridge that is fairly easy to follow that takes you within about 30 feet of the summit. From here, it was pretty easy scrambling up on my hands and feet. I was grateful to be wearing my Keen trail shoes. At the top, there are several places where you can sit and soak in the views.

Going back down was a little more “thrilling.” I crab-walked down the that steep section back to the groove, after which is was an easy scramble back down to the bottom.

From here, we circled around the south side of the rocks and headed west on the History Trail. Note that there are many unofficial trails criss-crossing this area and it’s easy to get off track. Look for the trail signs and follow them to the Tatavium petroglyph site. Here you’ll see some great Native American petroglyphs left by the Tatavium tribe.

We circled back to the Visitor Center to thank the staff for their tips, and hiked one last time on the PCT back to the middle parking lot and our Xterra.

Total milage: 5.65 miles. And all smiles. 

Vasquez Rocks Trail Map

Vasquez rocks photo gallery.

Click on any photo to view a larger version. You can also leave comments on any photo.

Vasquez Rocks Tips

• You can visit this park year round, but it can get very hot. Check the weather forecast, bring sun protection and plenty of water, and plan your hikes to avoid the mid-day extremes.
• Vasquez Rocks Park is closed after rains for two days or more (check with the visitor center).
• Parking and entrance is free. The park is open sunrise to sunset.

More Vasquez Rocks Resources

• Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park – official website
• Hiking Vasquez Rocks – Modern Hiker
• More on Vasquez Rocks in movies and television, as well as the geology and history – Wikipedia
• The True Hollywood Story of Vasquez Rocks, Hollywood’s Favorite Rocky Set
• Aprés-hike libations? We stopped at the Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewery in Valencia

Vasquez Rocks Weather Forecast

[forecast width=”100%” location=”91390″]

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Vasquez Rocks

Star trek (1966 - 1969).

Want to know more about Vasquez Rocks in , United States as seen in Star Trek starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley? Just start scrolling.

Captain Kirk battles a seemingly indestructible green lizard called a Gorn. (Episode 1.18)

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LOCATION DETAILS

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 932-acre (377-hectare) park located in the Sierra Pelona Mountains in northern Los Angeles County, California. It is widely known for distinctive rock formations, the result of sedimentary layering and later seismic uplift. Its repeated use as a filming location – especially for Star Trek – have given it the nickname Kirk's Rock. These rock formations were formed by rapid erosion during uplift about 25 million years ago. Vasquez Rocks are named for the outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez, bandit who used the rocks as his hideout.

(source Wikipedia)

William Shatner

Space. The Final Frontier. The U.S.S. Enterprise embarks on a five year mission to explore the galaxy. The Enterprise is under the command of Captain James T. Kirk with First Officer Mr. Spock, from the planet Vulcan. With a determined crew, the Enterprise encounters Klingons, Romulans, time paradoxes, tribbles and genetic supermen led by Khan Noonian Singh. Their mission is to explore strange new worlds, to seek new life and new civilizations, and to boldly go where no man has gone before.

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Re-Uses of the Vasquez Rocks Location

by Jörg Hillebrand and Bernd Schneider

Vasquez Rocks is a Los Angeles County Park of 745 acres. It has been used for location shooting in numerous movie and television productions , including eleven times for Star Trek:

1. Amusement Park Planet in TOS: "Shore Leave" (where Kirk gets beaten up by Finnegan) 2. Metron Asteroid in TOS: "Arena" (that the Metrons have set up for Kirk to fight against the Gorn) 3. Lazarus's Planet in TOS: "The Alternative Factor" (site of the rift between the universes) 4. Capella IV in TOS: "Friday's Child" (where Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the pregnant Eleen seek refuge) 5. Vulcan in "Star Trek IV" (the peak to which Spock retreats to meditate) 6. Mintaka III in TNG: "Who Watches the Watchers" (site of the "duck blind") 7. Tarok in VOY: "Initiations" (Kazon training ground) 8. Xyrillian homeworld in ENT: "Unexpected" (holo-simulation, not on location) 9. Vulcan in "Star Trek (2009)" (two different places, not on location, heavily digitally manipulated) 10. Vasquez Rocks in PIC: "Maps and Symbols" and "The End is the Beginning" (the only time the place appears as what it really is) 11. Ni'Var (Vulcan) in DIS: "All Is Possible" (two different places, not on location, heavily digitally manipulated)

It is not possible to identify all parts of Vasquez Rocks beyond doubt in the episodes and movies because it may appear very different depending on the camera angle - fortunately, because otherwise the various planets would look the same. Nonetheless several parts of the location can be clearly recognized.

General Information

Vasquez Rocks is located in Los Angeles County, halfway between Santa Clarita and Palmdale, north of the Antelope Valley Freeway (State Route 14).

The most characteristic part of Vasquez Rocks is a massive slanted rock formation with two spikes, consisting of distinct plates. On postcards and on private photos this formation is most often depicted from a plain on the north side where a parking lot is located. We will refer to this side as the front of the rock. The two peaks are pointing to the left when looking in this direction.

In TNG: "Who Watches the Watchers" Riker and Troi, dressed as Mintakans, walk along the front side of the formation. With a couple of screen caps assembled to a panorama, we get a quite good impression of this side of Vasquez Rocks. The eye-catching slanted rocks are located on the right, with the double peak pointing to the left. The "duck blind" for the observation of the native Mintakans is located in the peak. Many years later, PIC: "The End is the Beginning" shows the same panorama in one shot, thanks to the extreme widescreen format of the series (one of the very few occasions where this waste of TV screen space actually makes sense).

The characteristic rocks were previously filmed for two TOS episodes from roughly the same angle, as a comparison of the following screen caps from TOS: "Shore Leave" (right peak) and TOS: "Friday's Child" (left peak) demonstrates. On the latter picture we see the moment of the explosion that is supposed to throw back the Capellan pursuers.

The screen cap from TOS: "Friday's Child" brings to light that a path leads up the rock between the uppermost double peak and the lower peak on its left. The same episode also provides us with a view in opposite direction, from the path down on the plain.

Another path to the other side of the tall rock is located on the very right edge of the front views examined so far. In TNG: "Who Watches the Watchers" the Mintakans take this way, as does Kirk in TOS: "Shore Leave".

The following screen cap from TOS: "Shore Leave" may show the fork. The narrow left path leads up the rocks, the right one around the rocks.

TOS: "Arena" prominently features the rear side of Vasquez Rocks. Compared to the previous prospects the following images show the two spikes from the opposite side, so they are now facing to the right. More than 50 years later, almost the same angles were chosen for two shots in PIC: "Maps and Legends".

The rock can be seen from roughly the same angle in TOS: "The Alternative Factor", "Star Trek IV" and VOY: "Initiations". In ENT: "Unexpected" the camera position was close to the more rounded rock on the right.

The almost panoramic view of the rear side with Kirk and the Gorn reveals something like a road between the tall rocks on the left and the somewhat lower ones on the right. This is quite odd on a planetoid that the Metrons have prepared, for we wouldn't expect them to use wheeled vehicles. ;-) In one take we can even clearly see how the Gorn stands in the middle of that road. The other picture is taken from a somewhat different angle avoiding to include the road and shows more details of the right rock formation. These rocks were also clearly visible from the other side in the Mintakan panorama .

Raffi's trailer is located at the rear side of the rock formation in PIC: "The End is the Beginning". The relative position to the rocks, however, is not consistent and changes more than once during the episode. Also, the surroundings of Vasquez Rocks were heavily edited for the establishing shot in the episode, adding higher mountains than in reality (probably to obscure man-made structures of the 21st century).

We can make out the same rock hill with a rounded top in a number of episodes. This hill is located on the western side of the main rock formation, the right side as seen from the front.

Western fort

The "western fort" of Cestus III from TOS: "Arena" was located directly at Vasquez Rocks, but was shot in a fashion not to reveal the prominent rocks in the background. It is possible that the wrinkled metal sheet on the top of the wide-angle shot was deliberately used to obscure the rocks.

Digital manipulations

Lower Decks

Other appearances

More on a side note, Vasquez Rocks also shows up in the Futurama episode "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" (the Star Trek homage with almost all voices of the TOS cast).

A photo of Vasquez Rocks is used to represent Sherman's Planet in the Decipher Star Trek CCG, but this is non-canon as the surface of that planet was never on screen.

Re-Used Planet Sets - different planet surfaces that are amazingly alike

Locating Starfleet Buildings in San Francisco - matte paintings and their supposed real locations in and near the city

Most screen caps from TrekCore . The scan from Star Trek: TNG 365 comes from Memory Alpha . Thanks to Matthew Callis, who pointed out the Decipher card game to us.

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/reused_planets_vasquez.htm

Last modified: 27 Oct 2023

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