5 Famous Movie & TV Locations You Can Hike To
Have you ever watched one of your favorite movies or show and wished you could visit the spot it was filmed? While some locations were created with CGI and green screen, there are actually quite a few you can visit right now and get a little closer to the experience shown on the big screen.
From jurassic jungles to memorable sitcoms, here are 5 famous movie and television filming locations you can visit and explore for yourself! Just remember to take along your hiking essentials.
**ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS**
1. Malibu Creek State Park, California, “M*A*S*H”
One of TV sitcoms most memorable “camp spots,” the 4077th site from the hit 1972-1983 series ‘M*A*S*H’ is a great location for every fan of the show to visit. The park is a former location ranch once owned by 20th Century Fox studios from 1946 to 1974. When the show ended the site fell into disrepair until a restoration project in 2007 breathed new life into the old set.
Malibu Creek contains over 8,000 acres of land and many places for hiking. In addition to the trail to the M*A*S*H set, there are several other trails around the park to explore ranging from easy to strenuous. There are also many places to bike, rock climb, kayak, and camp around the park.
2. Hanapepe Valley, Kauai, Hawaii, “Jurassic Park”
Making its big screen debut in 1993, Hanapepe Valley is featured during the helicopter scene carrying the main characters to Isla Nublar. It contains the 367-foot-high Manawaiopuna Falls, now known affectionately as “Jurassic Falls.” The waterfall also reappears in the 2015 sequel, “Jurassic World.”
Since the area is on private land, the best way to see this is just like in the movie, on a helicopter ride. You can book an excursion with one of several companies that also offer tours of other “Jurassic Park” series locations. After your helicopter ride, you can hike the many trails around the valley and explore its beautiful and scenic lookout.
3. Point Dume, Malibu, California, “Planet of the Apes”
Another spot in Malibu, Point Dume beach is featured in the iconic 1968 film, “Planet of the Apes” starring Charlton Heston. It’s the spot of the climatic final scene showing Heston’s anguished character George Taylor kneeling in the surf in front of a destroyed Statue of Liberty.
For just 3-6 dollars, you can park and explore both sides of Point Dume State Beach. If you’re really lucky, you can spot California gray whales or pods of dolphins from the cliffs and shoreline. The location is also a popular spot for swimming, surfing, and scuba diving.
4. Yuma Desert, Arizona, “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”
You don’t have to go back a long time ago in a galaxy far away to experience a little “Star Wars” movie magic! This section of the Yuma Desert just off of Interstate 8, starred in the 1983 classic, “Return of the Jedi” where character Luke Skywalker rescued Princess Leia and Hans Solo after being captured by Jabba the Hutt.
Very little of the original set remains but dedicated fans can still experience seeing the famous dune. After you’ve visited the dunes, you can explore Yuma’s many activities and recreations including hiking or paddling down the Colorado River and stopping at one of the many museums located in town.
5. Dead Horse Point State Park, Moab, Utah, “Thelma & Louise”
In the iconic final scene of this 1991 classic, Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) escape police capture by driving their 1966 Ford Thunderbird over the cliff to their deaths in the canyon below. For those adventurous enough the visit this spot, driving the Shafer Trail is the only way to gain access (though recreating the scene is not advised).
You will need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle with a low range gear to travel this iconic road that descends 1,500 feet through the sandstone cliffs. The road was used in the past by Native Americans and sheep herders. Traveling the path creates a once in a lifetime experience that not only mimics the iconic movie scene but represents thousands of years of early human history.
Conclusion
With these locations, you’ll be able to get closer to the movie action then ever before! Experience the sights and sounds of your favorite fictional characters in the real world and enjoy the adventure.
