Homeschool Field Trip Vasquez Rocks, Agua Dolce California

Vasquez Rocks is an iconic landmark located in California. As a child, I have fond memories of visiting this place with my parents. I vividly remember climbing the massive rocks that seemed to tower over me. Recently, I had the opportunity to take my own two daughters to witness these incredible rock formations and it was still as amazing as it was when I was a kid.

One of the many joys of homeschooling the girls is the amount of freedom we have to take learning outside into the real world. Vasquez Rocks, which is only a short drive up the 14 fwy past Newhall, CA, features 932 acres of spectacular rock formations, and a seasonal stream. Although in past years, California didn’t get much rain through out the year, that luck seems to be changing as we have gotten 2 years now of heavy rainfall. The seasonal stream may be seen more often if it the new weather pattern sticks around.

We packed a lunch and our portable potty (yes everyone with kids needs this in their cars! Such a lifesaver!) and headed to the rocks that have been used in many hit movies, television shows, and commercials.

To avoid crowds, we decided to go in the middle of the week. When we arrived at the location, we were pleasantly surprised to find it quite empty.

After getting off the freeway, you have to drive through the mountains for a short while until you reach a turnout on your left that leads to the parking area. If you continue driving past the first parking lot, you will come across a spacious open parking lot that offers better access to the most famous rocks.n parking lot and better access to the most famous rocks.

It’s true what they say about re-living experiences through your child’s eyes. As we pulled up to our parking spot in front of one of the most iconic rocks at Vasquez Rocks, my girls’ eyes lit up with excitement. They couldn’t wait to get out of their car seats and start climbing the rocks.

We started up the slanted rocks and quickly realized we need to get Heart some climbing shoes. Found these on Amazon after our trip to use on the next adventure. I just held her hand most of the way to avoid her slipping. When going to Vasquez Rocks, you definitely need hiking shoes or shoes with tread on the bottom.

1. Kids Hiking Shoe

2. Women’s Hiking Shoe

3. Men’s Hiking Boot

The History of Vasquez Rocks

The rock formations in this area are believed to have been shaped by rapid erosion that occurred during uplift around 25 million years ago. These formations were later exposed by uplift activity that occurred along the San Andreas Fault. Interestingly, the Tataviam people were already living in this region when the Spanish arrived. Today, they still reside in the area and have a modern tribal government.

Due to continuous exposure to the elements, these steep rock formations erode over time. The varying layers of sandstone that make up these formations comprise of both soft and hard layers, and hence, they erode at different rates. This creates a unique layered effect, with some rocks sharply angled and prominently rising towards the sky.

Movies & Television

Over 200 movies, music videos, and television shows have been filmed at Vasquez Rocks. Several episodes of Star Trek, along with some of the movies, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles, Planet of the Apes, The Twilight Zone, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” music video, and many others have been filmed in this area.

How to Make Vasquez Rocks into a Homeschool Lesson

Vasquez Rocks is a great place to take your kids and go as a family as well as a group or pod of homeschooled kids. While you are there, you can teach them about the history of the rocks, why they are shaped the way they are, what movies were filmed there etc.

Art lessons can be an easy lesson to throw in too. Take a sketch pad, and some pencils and have them draw what they see in front of them. What better way to observe these Rocks than to just sit back and take it all in and let your creativity do it’s thing.

If kids are interested in Photography, they will love taking photos of the rock formations. You can suggest trying different shooting angles such as low and high angles, and shooting through different objects to capture the rocks in a unique way that they wouldn’t normally do. This can add a creative and interesting touch to the final result. There are many textures on the rocks and plant life, therefore, you can suggest practicing macro photography to capture everything up close. This will allow for a more detailed and intimate look at the subject, highlighting the intricate details and textures that may be missed in wider shots.

The Interpretive Center is located at the entrance to the Rocks. Although we didn’t make it in there this time, we will leave this adventure for the next visit. The new eco-friendly building is a great addition to the park, providing visitors with lots of information about the park’s history and the animals that roam in the area. The building houses a small gift shop and even has a few live animals on display, such as a tarantula, rattlesnake, and more. It’s a great way to learn about the park and its inhabitants in an engaging and interactive way.

A Fun Trip for All

Vasquez Rocks is about 40 minutes from Los Angeles ( I suggest going when there are low traffic times). It’s perfect for kids aged 5+ and unfortunately it is not stroller friendly.

Cost: Free! No entrance or parking fees!
What to Bring: Sunscreen, Hats, Hiking Shoes, Hiking Stick, Water (We suggest Mananalu),