Vasquez Rocks, California

HIKE: 5.8 miles around Vasquez Rocks, near Palmdale, CA
HOPS: Lucky Luke Brewery, Palmdale, CA  

For a longer hike, take the PCT off the main foot trail loop.

We started our journey through "famous" Vasquez Rocks at the far parking lot, going on a clockwise route through the main loop of the park. The moderate trail is well-marked, though there are plenty of offshoots and alternate routes you can take once on the main route. 

We wanted to do a longer route, so at the major, marked intersection, we stayed on the Pacific Coast Trail, which leads through a sandstone canyon to a tunnel that goes under the 14 Freeway.

After the tunnel, the trail scenery transforms into the traditional SoCal scrub brush and you could follow PCT all the way to the border, but we turned around at about 2.3 miles total. We backtracked through the canyon to the fork and continued in a clockwise direction around the main park loop.

There is loose gravel and inclines throughout, so wear shoes with decent treads. No facilities or much shade on the trail, so bring plenty of water and be prepared for temperatures slightly higher than the surrounding valleys. 

HOPS: About twenty minutes from the Vasquez Rock turn off is Lucky Luke Brewery. Tucked in an industrial complex in Palmdale, this brewery is a treat worth seeking out. The large tasting room and patio provides plenty of seating for the crowds. We got there about five minutes after it opened and there were already several people grabbing beers from the bar and by the time we left, the place was hopping with activity. I tried the Cartographer pale ale and the Millwright oatmeal stout while Adam went for the house IPA and Scrivener blonde ale. All beers were a reasonable $5. My favorite was the blonde which had refreshing tropical overtones, perfect for cooling off after a hike.