Guide to the Southwest Via Science Fiction Movies

When you think of movies in the southwest, you may think of Westerns but the dramatic landscapes of the southwest have also provided science fiction films rich landscapes for new and old worlds. For a Sci-Fi and nature lover like me that makes the southwest a great place to visit. I will introduce some of the most unique and interesting landscapes found in the southwest and featured in science fiction movies. These famous movies places spread across New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California can be organized as a tour or visited piece meal as your time and budget allows.

New Mexico

The Carlsbad Caves National Park was used in the filming of The Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959). With more than 100 limestone caves, this is a park to spend some time exploring which is why your entrance ticket of $6 is good for 3 days (children under 15 are free). The interior of these splendid caves are a wonder to see with colorful rock formations of great variety beyond the well known stalactites and stalagmites. Among the most varied and amazing formations to see are in the King's Palace Area which is 830 feet underground and can only be toured with a guide. Large parts of The Journey to the Center of the Earth were filmed here. Tours cost $8 for adults and $4 for children. Tours are at 10am, 11am, noon, 2pm and 3pm from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day Weekend and at 10am and 2pm during the spring, summer and fall. Visit the Carlsbad Caves National Park website for photos and more information.

Arizona

In Contact, the canyon featured near the array of telescopes is Canyon de Chelly (National Monument). This is a wonderful area to explore with its pink and rose sandstone cliff walls, dramatic drops and Anasazi ruins. Except for Christmas Day, the Visitor Center is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Entrance to the National Monument is free but there are fees for hiking and drives down to the canyon. Both activities require a permit and authorized Navajo guide (the park is part of the Navajo tribal lands). For photos and more information, visit the Canyon de Chelly National Monument website.

The seemingly dry and harsh planet in Planet of the Apes (1968) was filmed around the Glen Canyon and Lake Powell area near Page. A vehicle pass costs $15 and is good for up to 7 days. Plan to spend some time here, there are over 1 million acres including Lake Powell to explore. Awesome photo opportunities and hiking trails abound. Lake Powell is like a sparkling blue jewel set among a rainbow of pastel sandstone formations and canyons. Primitive camping along its 2,000 miles of its shore line is free. So bring your own boat or rent one and set off to find the perfect spot. The lake is huge so bring plenty of fuel and a map. Visit the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area website for photos and more information.

Utah

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has been featured in numerous Westerns but it also was filmed as a planet reached via a stargate in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Monument Valley brings to life the expression "painted desert" with its rich pastel rock and sand colors. The eery flat rock piles and stone towers are unbelievable. I had the chance to camp there once in open air under a full moon. I highly recommend the experience. Even it's just for one night, it will be worth it to enjoy the quiet night beauty of the Valley. Camping fees are $10/night plus the admission fee of $5. Children under the age of 9 are free. The Visitor Center is open daily from 6am to 8pm during May to September and from 6am to 7pm during March to April. Scenic drives can be done from 6am to 8:30pm during May to September and 8am to 4:30pm during October to May. Visit the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park website for photos and more information.

Nevada

Valley of Fire State Park with its deep red sandstone and intriguing Mojave Desert landscapes create the planet, Viridian 3 in Star Trek Generations. The park is less than 60 miles from Las Vegas. There is an entrance fee of $6 per vehicle and although there are no hotels in the park, you can camp for $14 night. You can learn more about this unique geological adventure land including where to hike from the people at the Park's Visitor Center open daily 8:30am-4:30pm. Visit the Valley of Fire State Park website for photos and more information.

California

The slanted rock fins of Vasquez Rocks Nature Area were featured in scenes from the original Star Trek TV series and in the movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986),the park was used for scenes of the Vulcan homeland. The unusual rock formations of this part of the San Andreas Fault make this an incredible place to visit and hike. Less than 50 miles from Los Angeles, the Vasquez Rocks Nature Area makes a great day trip. The park is open from 8am to 5pm (November-February) and from 8am to 6pm (March-October). Plan to bring your own drinking water as none is available in the park. Visit the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area & Nature Center website or the Santa Clarita Guide to County Park Vasquez Rocks Natural Area website for photos and more information.

In Star Trek V:The Final Frontier (1989), the planet Nimbus III was created on location at Owens Dry Lake off Highway 395 near Lone Pine in Eastern California. A little over 100 miles to the south, the Trona Pinnacles became the planet Sha Ka Ree in the same film. The remains of Leo's space ship were also filmed in this location in the 2001 remake of The Planet of the Apes(2001). The pinnacles are spires of tufa (calcium carbonate) which shoot out of the ground up to 140 feet. Part of the Mojave desert near Death Valley, summertime extreme temperatures make it wise to visit during fall, winter or spring seasons. Bring drinking water with you as there is none on site. You can stay in nearby (~20miles) Ridgecrest or rough it camping (primitive camping only-there aren't any facilities other than a toilet). Visit the Bureau of Land Management website for photos and more information.

In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), the cave scenes of the Rura Penthe penal colony were filmed at Bronson Caves in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. The Scorpion King(2002) also made use of the caves. Located within Griffith Park, Bronson Canyon provides a wilderness in the heart of Los Angeles. It is open daily from 5am to dusk. You can visit the Seeing Stars: Where the Movies Were Shot - Bronson Caves website to get directions to the hiking trail which leads to the caves. As Bronson Canyon is unstaffed, you will have to call ahead if you have any questions. Visit the LA Parks website for more information on the Bronson Canyon area of the park or visit the Griffith Park website for more information about the park.

If you have an interest in science fiction movies and exploring the natural landscapes of our own planet that can appear to be alien, these film locations in the southwest are a great place for you to start.

Sources:
The World Wide Guide to Movie Locations: "Star Trek: Generations Film Locations". < http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/s/st_gen.html> Accessed on October 29, 2009.
Valley of Fire State Park website. < http://www.parks.nv.gov/vf.htm> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
The World Wide Guide to Movie Locations: "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Film Locations". < http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/s/stiv.html> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
The World Wide Guide to Movie Locations: "Star Trek V: Final Frontiers Film Locations". < http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/s/stv.html> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
Memory Alpha: "Griffith Park Star Trek Locations". < http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Griffith_Park> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
LA Parks: Bronson Canyon. < http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/bronsonCanyonGP.htm> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
Seeing Stars: Where Movies Are Shot: "Bronson Caves". < http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/BronsonCaves.shtml> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
Internet Movie Database: Filming Locations for Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102975/locations> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
Memory Alpha: Filming Locations-Star Trek First Contact. < http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Filming_locations#Star_Trek:_First_Contact> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
The World Wide Guide to Movie Locations: Contact Film Locations. < http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/c/contact.html> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
Internet Movie Database: Filming Locations for Journey to the Center of the Earth. < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052948/locations> Accessed on October 31, 2009.
Carlsbad Caves National Park. < http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm> Accessed on November 1, 2009.
Internet Movie Database: Filming Locations for 2001: A Space Odyssey. < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/locations> Accessed on November 1, 2009.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. < http://navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley.htm> Accessed on November 1, 2009.
The World Wide Guide to Movie Locations: Planet of the Apes (2001) Film Locations. < http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/p/planet_apes_2001> Accessed on November 1, 2009.
The World Wide Guide to Movie Location: Planet of the Apes (1968) Film Locations. < http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/p/planet_apes.html> Accessed on November 1, 2009.
Internet Movie Database: Filming Locations for Scorpion King (2002). < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277296/locations> Accessed on November 1, 2009.