All 10 Star Trek Episodes Filmed At California's Vasquez Rocks

May 26, 2024, 1 p.m.

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All 10 Star Trek Episodes Filmed At California's Vasquez Rocks

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Summary Vasquez Rocks Natural Area has been a popular filming location for numerous TV shows and films, including Star Trek classics.

The iconic fights and scenarios in Star Trek episodes were shot at Vasquez Rocks, solidifying its association with the franchise.

From Captain Kirk's battle with the Gorn to Dr. McCoy's encounters, Vasquez Rocks has been a backdrop for many memorable Star Trek moments.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area in Los Angeles, California has been used as a filming location for several episodes of various Star Trek series. Because of its location around twenty-five miles from downtown LA, numerous television series have been filmed at Vasquez Rocks such as 24, The Big Bang Theory, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Roswell, and The Twilight Zone, among many others. The park has also popped up in many films, including Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, Blazing Saddles, Galaxy Quest, and the 2001 adaptation of Planet of the Apes.

Although Vasquez Rocks is a common filming location for many productions, they have become particularly associated with Star Trek. From Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) iconic fight with the Gorn to Dr. Leonard McCoy's (DeForest Kelley) encounter with the White Rabbit, Vasquez Rocks has served as the backdrop for many classic Star Trek moments. One prominent rock formation has even earned the nickname "Kirk's Rock," due to its association with Star Trek: The Original Series. Some of the films and television shows mentioned above filmed at Vasquez Rocks because of its connection to Star Trek, using it for a comedic spoof or parody.

Vasquez Rocks also served as the planet Vulcan in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009).

Related How To Watch All Star Trek TV Shows In Timeline Order The Star Trek TV franchise has existed for 57 years and consists of 12 shows (and counting). Here's how to watch them all in timeline order.

10 Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 15 - "Shore Leave"

Shore Leave Planet

When the USS Enterprise arrives at a planet that looks perfect for shore leave, Captain Kirk and some crew members beam down. Soon after they arrive, the crew making up the landing party begins experiencing strange encounters they cannot explain. Soon, Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and the rest of the survey team are stranded on the planet with no way to communicate with the Enterprise.

As they work to find a way out of their situation, a Medieval knight appears and seems to kill Dr. McCoy. Kirk and Spock then realize that the planet creates scenarios based on the Enterprise crew members' imaginations. As the Starfleet Officers try to refrain from thinking, an elderly "Caretaker" appears, explaining that the planet is a sort of amusement park that does not cause permanent harm. Dr. McCoy is restored, and the Caretaker apologizes for the misunderstanding.

9 Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 18 - "Arena"

Metron Planet

In one of the most memorable episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, Captain Kirk finds himself stranded on a desert planet with a dangerous Gorn. An advanced species known as the Metrons have left Kirk and the Gorn on a barren unnamed planet, forcing them to battle to the death. Vasquez Rocks serves as the backdrop for Kirk's iconic fight with the Gorn, as the Enterprise Captain uses the resources found on the planet to create a cannon-like device.

Related Complete History Of The Gorn In Star Trek The Gorn have become one of the Federation's most formidable foes in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Here's everything we know about them.

The Metrons allow Kirk's crew to watch their Captain from the safety of the Starship Enterprise, as Kirk first tries communicating with Gorn before the two fight for their lives. In the end, Kirk outsmarts the Gorn, but ultimately allows him to live, which impresses the watching Metrons. The Metrons conclude that there is hope for humanity, and they send Kirk and the Enterprise back to their own area of space.

8 Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 27 - "The Alternative Factor"

Lazarus' Planet

When Captain Kirk and Spock investigate a strange anomaly on an unknown planet, they encounter a man named Lazarus (Robert Brown), who fades in and out of existence. Sometimes, Lazarus appears rational and well-kept, while other times, he is crazed and wounded. Kirk and Spock eventually realize that there are two versions of Lazarus — one from the normal universe and one from the anti-matter universe.

The rational Lazarus explains that Kirk must destroy his time-traveling spaceship in order to save both universes. Vasquez Rocks serves as Lazarus' home planet, and the setting for much of the action as the two Lazaruses chase one another. "The Alternative Factor" is generally considered one of Star Trek's weaker episodes, as neither the storyline nor the science makes sense.

Previous Star Trek: TOS episodes established that the Enterprise itself is propelled by a reaction between matter and antimatter, and yet "The Alternative Factor" suggests the universe will be destroyed if matter and antimatter come together.

7 Star Trek: The Original Series Season 2, Episode 11 - "Friday's Child"

Capella IV

In Star Trek's "Friday's Child," Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down to Capella IV to negotiate with the inhabitants, but find that the Klingons have also sent a representative. After the Capellan leader who favored the Federation is killed, the new leader, Maab (Michael Dante) orders the death of the previous leader's wife, Eleen (Julie Newmar). Since Eleen is innocent and very pregnant, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy help her escape into the nearby hills.

Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Eleen evade capture in the desert landscape of Capella IV, represented by Vasquez Rocks. McCoy helps Eleen give birth to her son, and Eleen later takes control of her people while acting as her son's regent. She reestablishes the deal with the Federation and names her son Leonard James Akaar, after McCoy and Kirk.

6 Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 4 - "Who Watches the Watchers"

Mintaka III

As the USS Enterprise-D provides assistance to a hidden Federation outpost on Mintaka III in Star Trek: The Next Generation, a local named Liko (Ray Wise) sees the outpost. When Liko is injured while trying to get a better look, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gate McFadden) has him beamed up to the Enterprise for treatment. Liko regains consciousness and observes the Enterprise and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).

In order to avoid further breaking the Prime Directive, Crusher attempts to wipe Liko's memory, but the procedure doesn't work properly. Liko remembers Picard as a god and spreads this news to the other Mintakans, forcing Picard to beam down to the planet to correct the mistake. The familiar landscape of Vasquez Rocks stands in for Mintaka and serves as a nice callback to Star Trek: The Original Series.

5 Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 2 - "Initiations"

Tarok

In Star Trek: Voyager, Vasquez Rocks also make its way all the way to the Delta Quadrant, standing in for Tarok, a moon orbiting a gas giant. When Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) is captured by the Kazon, he escapes onto the nearby Tarok. Tracking his signal, Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Lt. Tuvok (Tim Russ), and Kes (Jennifer Lien) later arrive on the moon to rescue Chakotay.

Related 10 Star Trek: Voyager Alien Villains Ranked, Worst To Best New alien villains fought against Captain Kathryn Janeway and the USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant, but some foes were more successful than others.

With help from a young Kazon named Kar (Aron Eisenberg), Chakotay reunites with his crew members. Despite having the chance to shoot Chakotay, Kar instead kills the Kazon commander, Razik (Patrick Kilpatrick). Kar and the remaining Kazon then allow the Voyager crew members to leave peacefully.

Aron Eisenberg played the Ferengi Nog in 45 episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

4 Star Trek: Voyager Season 5, Episode 13 - "Gravity"

Subspace Sinkhole Planet

In Star Trek: Voyager's "Gravity," Tuvok, Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill), and The Doctor (Robert Picardo) find themselves stranded on a desert planet where time moves faster than it does elsewhere. While on the planet, they encounter a woman named Noss (Lori Petty), who helps Tuvok and Paris survive on the inhospitable planet. As Captain Janeway and the USS Voyager's crew work to retrieve their crewmates, Noss develops feelings for Tuvok that the Vulcan cannot reciprocate.

Captain Janeway is eventually able to communicate with her stranded officers and beam them back to Voyager. While only two days have passed on the ship, it has been over two months for Tuvok and Paris. Tuvok shares a mind-meld with Noss, showing her that he cares for her even if they cannot be together romantically.

3 Star Trek: Enterprise Season 1, Episode 5 - "Unexpected"

Xyrillian Homeworld

When the Enterprise NX-01 discovers a cloaked Xyrillian ship traveling in its wake, Commander Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer) travels to the vessel to help with repairs. Once there, he works with the Xyrillian engineer Ah'Len (Julianne Christie), and the two grow close, eventually playing a telepathic game. Ah'Len takes Tucker to the holodeck to show him her home world, which is made up of shots of Vasquez Rocks combined with CGI.

When Tucker returns to the Enterprise, he notices a strange growth on his wrist, and Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) informs the engineer that he is pregnant. Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) orders his crew to locate the Xyrillian ship, and Tucker returns to inform Ah'Len about what happened. She apologizes, not realizing that pregnancy is possible with a different species, and transfers the embryo to a Xyrillian host.

2 Star Trek: Picard Season 1, Episode 2 - "Maps & Legends"

Vasquez Rocks, Earth

Star Trek: Picard season 1 marks the first time Vasquez Rocks appears in Star Trek as the actual location on Earth rather than as a stand-in for an alien planet. As Jean-Luc Picard sets out to look for Soji Asha (Isa Briones), the android "daughter" of the late Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), he visits Starfleet Headquarters to request a ship and crew.

Related 10 Good Things In Star Trek: Picard Season 1 Star Trek: Picard season 1 had its flaws, but there were many good things about how it updated the story of Patrick Stewart's TNG character.

After Starfleet refuses Picard's request for a ship, he seeks out his former colleague, Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd). Raffi had served with Picard during the evacuation of Romulus but had since left Starfleet. Now living in a small home situated in Vasquez Rocks, Raffi reluctantly agrees to meet with Picard.

1 Star Trek: Picard Season 1, Episode 3 - "The End is the Beginning"

Vasquez Rocks, Earth

Star Trek: Picard's "The End is the Beginning" picks up right where the previous episode left off, as Jean-Luc works to convince Raffi to join him on his search for Soji, with Vasquez Rocks looming behind them. As revealed in a flashback, Raffi was kicked out of Starfleet after Picard resigned in protest after the synth attack on Mars. Raffi has come to resent Picard, especially since he did not help her during the intervening years.

Raffi refuses to accompany Picard, but she does offer to connect him to a pilot named Cristóbal Rios (Santiago Cabrera). However, after hearing what Picard had to say, Raffi begins doing her own research into the location of Dr. Bruce Maddox (John Ales), who created Soji and her twin sister Dahj. In the end, Raffi leaves her home at Vasquez Rocks and joins Picard and his makeshift crew for a new Star Trek adventure.

All of the Star Trek series mentioned above are available to stream on Paramount+