<body><div><p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=09wSQQ_0gTpqE4700" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=09wSQQ_0gTpqE4700" width="1280" height="720" ></p><p> The legendary “Star Wars” films may be set in a galaxy far, far away, but a trip to some iconic filming locations is within reach for California residents and visitors. </p><p> This guide will stick to the first three movies from the late 1970s and early 80s: “A New Hope,” “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” (numbers four, five and six in the story’s chronological order). </p><p> The original trilogy has the best-known Golden State shooting locations. It’s also the only one that matters, if you ask some folks, but we won’t litigate that here. </p><p> Here are some of the places you can visit in California today if you want to walk in Luke, Leia and Han’s footsteps: </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><h2><a href="https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Death Valley </a></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/deathvalleyfinal.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1MsHaT_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MsHaT_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="506" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A crew films droids C-3PO and R2-D2 in California’s Death Valley for a scene in one of the original “Star Wars” films. (Photo: National Park Service) </figcaption></figure><p> This sprawling desert valley, near the Nevada border in central California, reaches some of the highest temperatures on Earth. It’s the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> hottest, driest and lowest national park </a> in the United States. </p><p> Put on your sunscreen, because we’ll be here a while: Quite a few iconic shots from the trilogy were composed here, and the park service is more than happy to help you explore. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> NPS App </a> even has a guided audio tour of the different locations, which helped us put together this guide. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><a class="promo-link__link" href="https://ktla.com/news/california/top-gun-maverick-filming-locations-in-california/" rel="nofollow" target="&quot;_blank&quot;"> ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ filming locations in California </a><p> Fun fact: The Jawas, a species of pesky scavengers who scuttled around in hooded robes with glowing eyes, were played in large part by the children of Death Valley park rangers. </p><p> The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/star-wars-in-death-valley.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> park notes </a> that the movie was shot “a few decades ago, when that type of filming was permitted.” Most of the shoots would no longer be permitted due to prohibitions on commercial filming in wilderness areas. </p><h3><a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/twenty-mule-team-canyon.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Twenty-mule Team Canyon </a></h3><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/twentyfinal.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=40BUTQ_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=40BUTQ_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="506" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Twenty-mule Team Canyon, a scenic dirt road drive through bare yellow hills that was pictured in “A New Hope.” (Photo: National Park Service) </figcaption></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> This canyon is home to the lair of notorious galactic crime lord Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine. In “Return of the Jedi,” R2-D2 and C-3PO made their way through this part of the real-world park on a mission to rescue Han Solo. </p><h3><a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/dantes-view.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Dantes View </a></h3><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/dantesview.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0WuUHA_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0WuUHA_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="506" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dantes View at Death Valley National Park. (Photo: National Park Service) </figcaption></figure><p> Considered one of the best scenic vistas in the park, this birds-eye view of Death Valley was the chosen place for some sage advice between Old Ben Kenobi and a young Luke Skywalker. It appears in “A New Hope” as the two look down on the Tatooine spaceport of Mos Eisley. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><h3><a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/artists-palette.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Artists Palette </a></h3><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/artists-palette.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=34ozSP_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=34ozSP_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="506" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The rainbow hills of Artists Palette at Death Valley National Park. (Photo: National Park Service) </figcaption></figure><p> In “A New Hope,” R2-D2 scoots along alone through a desert canyon before getting captured by the scavenging Jawas. He did so in a wash below the colorful hills of Artists Palette. </p><h3><a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/mesquite-flat-sand-dunes.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes </a></h3><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/mesquite.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2hZiET_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2hZiET_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="506" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sand, wind and the surrounding mountains create a large dune field here — perfect for filming of the desert planet Tatooine. (Photo: National Park Service) </figcaption></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><p> This large dune field appears in “A New Hope,” with R2-D2 and C-3PO getting lost in the swirling sands of Tatooine. It’s a realistic scene: The winds can really howl in this part of the park, and the shifting sand is trapped by mountains to the south. </p><h2> Redwood parks </h2><p> Several state and national parks in Northern California protect groves of ancient, towering coast redwood trees. Redwoods from multiple parks and some private land appear in the original “Star Wars” trilogy. </p><p> The trees are instantly recognizable on Endor, the forest moon featured prominently in “Return of the Jedi.” Adorable Ewoks inhabit the planet’s forests. This species of curious, clever, teddy bear-types remains a fan favorite. </p><p> As the <a href="https://www.starwars.com/news/fully-operational-fandom-visiting-star-wars-filming-locations" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> official Star Wars website sadly notes </a> , several Endor locations no longer exist because of logging. </p><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><h3><a href="https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=421" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park </a></h3><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/redwoodsgrizzly.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3tRz39_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3tRz39_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="506" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park — better known as Endor to Star Wars fans. (Photo: California State Parks) </figcaption></figure><p> This state park in Humboldt County is home to Cheatham Grove, which provides the backdrop for the iconic speeder bike chase in “Return of the Jedi.” </p><h3><a href="https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Redwood National and State Parks </a></h3><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/redwoods.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ZcQyA_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ZcQyA_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="506" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Looking up at some of the coast redwood trees protected by California’s Redwood National and State Parks. (Photo: National Park Service) </figcaption></figure><p> This collection of parks — one from the national system and three from the state — also appears in the movie. It’s about an hour and a half north of Grizzly Creek. A park spokesperson explained by phone that the film’s Ewok village, built high atop the treetops, was filmed in some of these groves. </p><p> “Ewoks are fictional creatures,” the park service wrote in a silly <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=367689465398316&amp;set=a.237311045102826" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> “May the Fourth” Facebook post </a> this year. “If you think you saw an Ewok, we recommend going to see an eye doctor as soon as possible.” </p><h2><a href="https://www.blm.gov/visit/imperial-sand-dunes" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Imperial Sand Dunes </a></h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/Imperial-Sand.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3pbY2G_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3pbY2G_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="506" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Imperial Sand Dunes east of San Diego County are popular with off-roaders — and Star Wars fans. (Getty Images) </figcaption></figure><p> Not far from the U.S.-Mexico border, east of San Diego County, the Imperial Sand Dunes are the largest mass of sand dunes in the state, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Most Californians know the area for Glamis, the designated recreation area that’s popular for riding off-road vehicles. </p><p> These sandy dunes appear toward the beginning of “Return of the Jedi,” when Luke Skywalker battles aboard Jabba the Hutt’s huge ship, almost plummeting to his death within the jaws of the Sarlacc pit. </p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://fox5sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2022/07/imperialsanddunes.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Yfucw_0gTpqE4700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Yfucw_0gTpqE4700" width="900" height="597" ></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Enthusiasts don “Star Wars” costumes at Glamis, a popular off-roading area that appeared in one of the original films. (Bureau of Land Management) </figcaption></figure><p> Not done with your movie tour? Try this guide to <a href="https://ktla.com/news/california/top-gun-maverick-filming-locations-in-california/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> “Top Gun: Maverick” filming locations in California </a> . </p><i> Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. </i><p><a href="https://ktla.com" rel="nofollow"> For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. </a></p></div></body>

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The legendary \"Star Wars\" films may be set in a galaxy far, far away, but a trip to some of the filming locations is in reach.

‘Star Wars’ filming locations that you can visit in California

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The legendary "Star Wars" films may be set in a galaxy far, far away, but a trip to some of the filming locations is in reach.