Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is 900 acre park administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. The park is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily and is open later in the summer months. Admission and parking are free. Bicycling, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles are prohibited away from the designated roadways and parking areas. Trails are open to hikers and horse riding is allowed on designated trails. There are picnic tables, trash cans, and dump toilets available for visitors. Dogs are allowed on a leash and must remain under control at all times. Visitors are warned that mountain lions are present in the area.
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park was acquired by LA County government in two pieces in 1970 and 2001. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the park between the east and west portions of the Angeles National Forest and provides a spectacular opportunity to view the local geological formations up close.
The rocks were the result of 25 million years of earthquake activity along the Elkhorn fault, which is an offshoot of the San Andreas Fault. They were folded and tilted in 50 degree angle, and up to nearly 150 feet high, erosion gradually stripped away soil from around the rocks leaving these ancient and spectacular creations. Course-grained yellowish-gray sandstone beds several feet thick make up these strange jutting and sweeping formations. Shale, basalt, and reddish-brown conglomerate can be found layered between the sandstone slabs. Marine sediments found throughout the basin show that this area was once under water.
Till the arrival of the Spaniards in the late 1700's, the Tataviam Indians lived in the area around Vasquez Rocks which is thought to have been a major trading crossroads for the indigenous population. Sweet water was available on a year around basis from the springs in the area (hence the name Agua Dulce). The Tataviam took advantage of the outcroppings by living beneath the overhangs and using features of the sandstone for certain utensils such as grinding bowls. The little that is known of the Tataviam comes from artifacts and rock art found in archeological sites near Vasquez Rocks. The Indians used berries, charcoal and other indigenous materials to emblazon a variety of images inside caves and onto the rock surfaces. The Tataviam were ate acorns, yucca, juniper berries, sage seeds and islay, and they hunted small game.
In the 1870s Tiburcio Vasquez, one of California's most notorious banditos used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. Where the Antelope Valley Freeway cuts through the Rocks was once a cave large enough for Vasquez, 25 of his men and their horses. It was the largest cost overrun in constructing the 14 freeway. Vasquez's name has since been associated with this geologic feature. Vasquez Rocks maybe the only park in the United States named for a bandit who was hung for their crimes.
Since the 1920's, The Vasquez Rocks have been used as the setting for key scenes in a relatively large number of motion pictures and television series such as Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, The Flintstones, Blazing Saddles, CSI, and Bonanza. It also provided the inspiration for "Pride Rock" in the cartoon movie The Lion King.
Logging Requirements: Park near the park entrance at N34 29.310 W118 19.220. Proceed to the Geology Trail entrance at N34 29.320 W118 19.220. Take the trail from the first through sixth stations. You will pass by six stations identifying the types of geological phenomena found in the park.
1) Email me the types of formations identified on the wood signs in front of each station. Submit your email through my profile on the geocaching website.
2) From the list of phenomena identified on the Geology Trail, identify the type of formation you see at N34 29.133 W118 18.840
Logs that do not meet ALL 2 of the above requirements will be deleted.
