ONE DAY IN VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK, NEVADA
Valley of Fire State Park is a stunning natural area located in the Mojave Desert, approximately 58 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The park is renowned for its vibrant red sandstone formations that have been shaped by geological forces over millions of years. The rocks often appear to be on fire, especially during sunrise and sunset. Also, Valley of Fire is home to numerous petroglyphs, created by the ancient Native American cultures that once inhabited the region. These petroglyphs can be found on various rock surfaces, providing a glimpse into the area’s rich history.
BASIC FACTS VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK
LOCATION: Mojave Desert, Nevada
SIZE: 40,000 acres
FOUNDED:1935
BEST TIME TO VISIT: October through April
HOW LONG: 2 hours to all day
ROAD TRIP SUGGESTION: California & Nevada Deserts Road Trip from Las Vegas to San Diego
NOTE: Reservations might be required to enter the park during peak seasons and you might need additional info about the park in order to have a smooth travel. Please VISIT HERE for latest information about the park.
RORA TRAVELS
THINGS TO DO & SEE
HIKE FIRE WAVE TRAIL. Distance: 1.3 miles out & back | Elevation gain: 150 ft. | Difficulty: Easy
The Fire Wave is a captivating formation with striped patterns and vivid hues, especially in tones of red and orange. The scenery is bizarre and beautiful, evoking images of a flaming, frozen wave.
DRIVE THE PARK’S MAIN ROADS AND ENJOY THE SCENES. There are 2 main roads in this park, Valley of Fire Highway and Mouse’s Tank Road or also called White Domes Road. The drive is spectacular with incredible sights especially on Mouse’s Tank Road.
HIKE PINK CANYON (PASTEL CANYON) TRAIL. Hike the beautiful pink canyon trail. It is pretty short and does not take that long. Combine it with Fire Wave Trail and you will be very happy with your decision.
STOP AT THE BEEHIVES. Stop at the Beehives to take pictures with the cool looking stone and/or climb it to get a better look at the park overall vista.
HIKE WHITE DOMES TRAIL. This is a bit more difficult trail to hike due to its descend and ascend, but it is a fun trail. You can scramble on the rocks and have a chance to walk through a short narrow slot canyon. Kids might like to do this too!
TAKE A PICTURE OF THE FAMOUS INSTAGRAM SHOT FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE MOUSE’S TANK ROAD. If you want to get the infamous picture from the viewpoint of Mouse’s Tank Road you could drive to the Rainbow Vista parking lot (hike the trail if you want to), and from the Rainbow Vista parking lot, you could cross the street and hike up onto the rocks and take a picture of the road. Or from Rainbow Vista parking lot, you can turn around, pull out on the right side of the road just as you head back into the valley and take a picture of the road. Just be careful!
VISIT ELEPHANT ROCK. As the name implies, the rock looks like an elephant. You could either take a short 0.2 miles out and back to it or take the longer loop trail. Your choice!
ATLATL Rock. Ancient petroglyphs are one of the main attractions of Atlatl Rock. These petroglyphs, which are etched into the rock’s surface, were made by the local Native Americans. The term “Atlatl” designates a spear-throwing implement employed by Native Americans. The scenes in the petroglyphs are associated with hunting and everyday life, and they feature individuals wielding atlatls. There is a staircase that leads to a viewing deck, making Atlatl Rock easily accessible. The petroglyphs can be viewed up close thanks to the stairway.
TOP EXPERIENCE
Hike “Fire Wave, White Domes and Seven Wonders Loop Trail”. Hiking this trail will enable you to enjoy the beauty of the 3 top things not to miss at the park; Fire Wave, Pink Canyon (Pastel Canyon) and White Domes. The trail is 3.2 mile long and is considered as a moderate difficulty hike.
DAY TRIP FROM LAS VEGAS ITINERARY + MAP
8:00 AM: Arrive at West Entrance of Valley of Fire State Park
8:15 AM: Visit the Beehives
8:30-10:00AM: Hike “Fire Wave, White Domes and Seven Wonders Loop Trail”. Hiking this trail will enable you to enjoy the beauty of the 3 top things, I have listed not to miss above, at the park; Fire Wave, Pink Canyon (Pastel Canyon) and White Domes. The trail is 3.2 mile long and is considered as a moderate difficulty hike. Or you can hike “Fire Wave and Seven Wonders Loop” which is shoter (1.9miles) and covers Fire Wave and Pink Canyon. Afterwards, you can decide if you want to hike the “White Domes Trail”, which is 1.1 mile.
10:00-12 NOON: Drive back down Mouse’s Tank Road. If you want to get the infamous picture from the viewpoint of Mouse’s Tank Road you could drive to the Rainbow Vista parking lot (hike the trail if you want to), and from the Rainbow Vista parking lot, cross the street and hike up onto the rocks and take a picture of the road. Or from Rainbow Vista parking lot, you can turn around, pull out on the right side of the road just as you head back into the valley and take a picture of the road. After taking the picture, head back on the road and decide whether you want to see the elephant rock and/or ATLATL Rock or just drive back to Las Vegas.
12 NOON-1PM: Drive back to Las Vegas for lunch and other activities
Using This Map: To access the layers (driving routes and places to go), click the tab located in the upper left corner of the map. To reveal or conceal layers, click the checkboxes. You may learn more about each point of interest on the map by clicking on the icons. This map will be added to your Google Maps account if you click the star next to the map’s title. Open Google Maps on your computer or phone, select “Your Places” from the menu, then click Maps. This map will appear on your list.