Vasquez County Park is an amazing natural wonder. It is a little outside of Valencia off the 14 and is nothing so much a bunch of huge rock formations. I think that there are about three major ones but each one has a football field foot print and then go sloping or swooping up several hundred feet. out tour guide Tim Tiemann forced us out there (because Beckers have a depression related tendency to stay indoors, away from natural light and any form of exercise, preferably with a television on. Tiemann, who has come to enjoy an energy filled, physically fit life style always believe he can “help” our family but we resist... mightily. Still he is persistent and eventually he wins out because he wears us out.
We drove out to the park which took about 30 minutes. We saw some of the California fire damage but it is hard to tell in many of the areas because they are so naturally dry. Almost like a desert... oh... it is a desert. it is always hard for me to remember that without all the irrigation nothing would be green hear other then the pines and the cactus and the occasional palm tree on the coast. It really is a wonder that 4 million people populate this desert. It is also a wonder that is sucks ALL of the moisture out of your skin in about 2 minutes leaving you dry as a bone.
Vasquez has been the sight of numerous movies because the topography is so surreal and prehistoric. According to Wikipedia the following films had had scenes there:• Joe Dirt (2001)
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
• Planet of the Apes (2001)
• Bubble Boy (2001)
• Very Bad Things (1998)
• Free Enterprise (1998)
• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
• Guns of El Chupacabra (1997)
• Jingle All the Way (1996)
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
• The Flintstones (1994)
• In the Army Now (1994)
• Army of Darkness (1993)
• Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
• The Rapture (1991)
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
• My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988)
• Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987)
• Short Circuit (1986)
• Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983)
• Parasite (1982)
• Hearts of the West (1975)
• Blazing Saddles (1974)
• Apache (1954)
• Werewolf Of London (1935)
• Dracula (1931)
Quite a list. It really is awe inspiring. Wikipedia goes on to say “Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 905 acre (3 km²) northern Los Angeles County, California USA park acquired by LA County government in the 1970s. It is in the Agua Dulce vicinity between the Antelope Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley just north of Los Angeles and seen easily by motorists driving the Antelope Valley Freeway. Vasquez Rocks have been used innumerable times in motion pictures, various television series and in moving and still photography advertisements, and continues to be used in them today.” Nice summary.
The only other place I have been to that is anything similar is Enchanted Rock in the foothills outside of Austin and to a lesser extent “Elephant Rocks” in the eastern Ozarks. the raw rock power here tends to inspire and the last time we were here Jon was about 17 and I had a few anxious moments with him not knowing how to get down from a spot about 30 feet up in the air. I always thought “free climbing” was cool... until I saw my son do it. We tromped around the park, up and down for an hour or so with Jon climbing one nice crevasse and the group of us sitting at the top of a nice high crag. Pat and Laura made it to the top without mishap and we walked down on paths as Jon found more creative ways to descend. I strongly recommend this place for any trip to southern California. From wherever you go there it is definitely worth the trip and beats Sea World and Six Flags all to hell.
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