California Parks | Site of Discovery and Wonder

A Stroll Through Vasquez Rocks State Park

April 14, 2015 6 Comments

Recently, our caretaker, Glenn Malapit, drove Dad and me to Vasquez State Park. In the old days, you could see this strange collection of rocky ledges from the Sierra Hwy. But the Antelope Valley Fwy. is well to the east of the rocks, so you must drive a ways on Agua Dulce Canyon Road and Escondido Canyon Road before you get your first glimpse of this unusual collection of rock formations. These formations were used in old westerns, and more currently, Star Trek. The parking lot is on a gravel road with several stones of its own that need to be negotiated before your stroll begins. But, perhaps, a few words of the history of this Park are in order.

Erosion and movement along the Elk Horn Fault are responsible for the shale-basalt slabs of today. The slabs are part of the Soledad Basin, which formed over time from thousands of feet of sediment.

Native Americans lived here for almost 2000 years, beginning with 200 B.C. However, they were eliminated by diseases carried by the Spanish. Tiburcio Vasquez and his bandits brought life back to the Basin. Eventually, after a lucrative career, he was caught and executed, but the Park remains as a reminder of his reckless life.

What follows below are some photos of our trip to Vasquez Rocks State Park.

One of Vasquez’s Rocks

Vasquez Rocks

A small valley in Vasquez Rocks

standing in front of Vasquez Rocks

A stratified ledge in Vasquez Rocks

Me, enjoying the beauty of Vasquez Rocks

One of the hollows at Vasquez Rocks

A stratified edge of Vasquez Rocks

Dad at 92 and I in front of the Rocks.

The same as above photo.

the base of one of Vasquez Rocks with spring flowers

A vision of hardened sediment

One of the sharp edges of Vasquez Rocks

An opening in the Rocks

A series of openings in the Rocks.

A wide opening in Vasquez Rocks

The top of a rock reveals some surprises

A major division of the Rocks

A closer look at the rock surface

Some interesting mounds in the Rocks

Filed under California Parks, Nature Tagged with Elk Horn Fault, Native Americans, Spanish bandits, Tiburcio Vasquez, Vasquez Rocks State Park

A Visit To Placerita Canyon State Park

February 19, 2015 3 Comments

Last Friday, Glenn Malapit and I took a trip to lower Placerita Canyon State Park. This is the area of the nature center that offers a series of short hikes around the canyon. Placerita Canyon was the site of the first California Gold Rush in 1842 when a hired hand, Francisco Lopez of the Rancho San Francisco, discovered flakes of gold. But today, that memory has faded, and the canyon is known for its branching trees, boulder formations and creek beds. Scrub oak, and huge sprawling oak trees abound, with sycamore and willow where the shade is plentiful. What struck me were the magnificent patterns of dark branches against a blue sky. The rocks, mostly quartz, feldspar, and gneiss, with gleaming biotite mica, provided their own wondrous forms. The area is quite dry and exposed, so a coolish day is recommended for extensive walking.

When Glenn and I arrived, there were bus loads of children with teachers ready to introduce the kids to the natural world. Most of the children walked around in the nature center to view samples of natural phenomena and to hear talks on the special features of the park. It was not quiet, but children add their own qualities to the park experience. The photos below reveal some aspects of Placerita Canyon, but one needs to go there to appreciate its bounties.