Travel

Watch this surreal time-lapse video of California parks at night

Massive trees. A star-filled sky. And … bears? Oh, my. A stunning time-lapse video, “Kings,” showcases Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California.

“It was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, with incredible canyons, mountains, and vistas out of a fantasy novel,” filmmaker Gavin Heffernan told Yahoo Travel.

Images of star trails set off by giant sequoia trees and craggy cliffs were shot over two nights in June during the summer solstice. Bonus: out-of-this-world views of the Milky Way and meteorites.

Other creatures inhabiting the park seemed ready for their close-ups: In the behind-the-scenes video, you can see some brushes with wildlife, including a large brown bear, which Heffernan called his “most exciting nature experience yet.”

That’s excitement we could probably do without. Enjoy the video from the relative safety of your screen. If you decide to hike or camp in these parks, be aware of some fire restrictions in place. (And, obviously, bears.)