Agua Dulce, California

Vasquez Rocks

Named after a bandit and the star of several Hollywood prehistoric landscapes, these sandstone formations are a historical part of the Los Angeles natural landscape.

Jutting out of the earth near the San Andreas Fault, the Vasquez Rocks are a group of sandstone formations located just 45 minutes outside of Los Angeles.

Formerly the home of the Shoshone and Tataviam peoples, the 932-acre site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and is maintained today by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation.

Over the years, these rocks have been a favorite film site for Hollywood, appearing in numerous films and TV shows such as Planet of the Dinosaurs, Star Trek, and The Flintstones. They were named after the bandit Tiburcio Vasquez.

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L.A. Science Weekend: Natural History and Space

May 10—May 12, 2019

Join New York Times Journeys and Atlas Obscura for three days of scientific learning in Los Angeles, focused on natural history and zoology or space and aviation. This two-track program includes panels, exclusive visits and special access to scientists and venues to get up close to everything from telescopes and taxidermy to dinosaur skeletons and space artifacts.

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