Rock Star Hike

Hike Vasquez Rocks in Los Angeles County

Hike Vasquez Rocks Natural Park Area

There’s a reason some geological formations become a hotspot for filmmakers, history buffs, and adventure seekers alike: They’re just so cool. And the sandstone giants of Vasquez Rocks might be the coolest damn formations in Southern California. Explore the craggy slabs on a 2.5-mile (round-trip) hike that also connects to a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail. Park at the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park Interpretive Center and grab a map.

Then follow signs for the Nature Heritage Trail. As you continue south, passing a campground, interpretive signs tell of local flora, such as a glorious California juniper, sagebrush, and yucca, as well as a Tataviam dwelling, grinding bowl and pictograph. Keep straight at the next junction (with Horse Trail), but be sure to climb the hill to your right for some great first views of the massive rocks, named after the notorious bandit Turbicio Vasquez, who hid from the law here. You can climb the 45-degree-angle behemoths that have been featured as alien terrain (Star Trek) and western backdrops (Blazing Saddles, Westworld).

These rocks were formed through roughly 25 million years of erosion. Keep heading southeast and follow signs to hike a section of the PCT, where you’ll stay left to keep the rock formation views going. This trail soon becomes the Geology Trail, passing through more boulders and depositing you at a dirt road leading back to the start. Rock on.

To get to the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park Interpretive Center and parking lot, take the I-5 to the CA-14 for 14 miles, exiting Agua Dulce Canyon Rd. and turning left. Stay on Agua Dulce Canyon Rd. for 2 miles, which becomes Escondido Canyon Rd. After another 0.5 mile, the entrance will be on your right. Dog-friendly!

Story and photos by Matt Pawlik

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View