Just beyond the shimmering lights of the entertainment mecca of Las Vegas, lies a beautiful geological dreamland full of other-worldly sights. From bright red Aztec sandstone formations, sherbet colored vistas, to desert plant-life, the Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest and largest state park and is a breathtaking must see when you are in the area. It is sure to be an amazing day full of adventure, but if you have time, there are lots to do to fill a few days here! Read along as I share with you our perfect little day trip to the Valley of Fire, which was part of our spring break road trip.
In this post, you'll find:
Where is it Located
The Valley of Fire State Park is located in Overton, Nevada, just about 1 hour away from the Las Vegas strip. There are two entrances; the West entrance which is off Interstate 15 and where you will most likely enter from if coming from the Las Vegas strip; and the East entrance is accessed via State Route 169. You can go from end to end, which was what we did! There is a fee to enter and they do not take the America the Beautiful Pass (learn more here).
Best Time to Visit
The desert climate warrants some caution, so the best time to visit is November through March when the daytime highs are in the 70s. We visited in the middle of March and the weather was just perfect, allowing us to really enjoy the landscape without the heat beating on us. We were also blessed with a nice breeze and some cloud covering too. If you must visit in the summer months, which can reach 100 degrees easily, plan your activities for earlier in the day before it gets too hot. Also, make sure you have a full tank of gas before entering the park because there is no gas stations inside. There is one located by the West entrance when you turn right off Interstate 15. Also, there are no shops available within the park, although the Visitor Center has a small selection of drinks, snacks, and sandwiches, which is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, so it is wise to bring your own water and snacks.
Where to Stay
The Las Vegas strip has lots of accommodations for every budget available. We actually stayed off the strip, in north Las Vegas that proved to be super convenient for us to reach the Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, Spring Mountain Road (where lots of off strip dining is located), and the strip itself. You may also camp at one of the two available campsites within the park and there are also RV hookups as well.
What to Do
There is so much to do here to satisfy just about every adventure level. Since we were visiting with my little boys and my mom (60+ years old but really looks 40), I choose hikes that were easy, short and sweet, and some attractions you can see from your car (or closer if you choose to get out). Let's get to it!
Mouse's Tank
This wasn't our planned first stop, but we saw a herd of big horn sheep on the rocks when we drove past the visitor center and wanted to stretch our legs, so it ended up being just perfect. The boys couldn't wait to climb up the rocks and explore and although we didn't do the hike to get to Mouse's Tank, which is just 0.7 miles out and back, the area at the beginning of the trailhead was super fun to explore. If you do continue on the hike, there are lots of petroglyphs in this area to search for.
Fire Wave
Probably the most iconic image of this state park is the Fire Wave, a stunning rock formation with layers of red and white, whipped to a point like an ice cream swirl. The hike to see it is 1.5 miles, out and back, and relatively easy. My boys handled it just fine and there was so much to see along the way. We arrived to this area around 11am on a weekday with just a few other families there. We stuck around just to enjoy it and eventually had it to ourselves. People are super polite about giving you space to photograph the wave, so be patient, you'll get your chance! It looks high, but really only takes a mere 30 seconds or so to reach the top. I also didn't know this, but when viewing the wave, you're actually looking back into the road from which you arrived. It doesn't really matter where you look to be honest, the 360 views are gorgeous!
White Domes
After the hike to the Fire Wave, my mom, husband, and littlest decided to take a little break in the car while they waited for me, my oldest, and my sister to explore White Domes. Located at the end of the road is the parking lot for this trail and there are restrooms here so it was a good stop for bathroom breaks. White Domes is a 1.1 mile loop with incredible scenery and a small slot canyon. The trail is very sandy, making it even more challenging, so when we got a view down below (also knowing the rest of our family was waiting for us), we decided to climb up the left side to explore a little bit before turning back. I regret not doing the entire trail to see the beautiful slot canyon but this view was so picturesque.
Visitor Center
Finally, we headed back to the Visitor Center, the central point of the park. We love hitting up the visitor centers because they are usually very informative, giving you history of the park and learning points about the geology, ecology, and life in the area. The best part is, this visitor center was backed by beautiful red rocks and a cute little area where you can host your own wedding! There's a decent gift shop inside and a few hands on things for the kids to check out. Before you leave, make sure you sign the visitor guest book! And finally, just outside to the right of the visitor center as you leave, is Balanced Rock, which is walking distance away.
Elephant Rock
Our last stop of the day was to check out Elephant Rock, a rock formation in the shape of an elephant! This attraction is closest to the East Entrance. The drive down to this end of the park was very scenic, passing by the Seven Sisters and Natural Arch. Once you get to the parking lot, take a moment to enjoy the landscape here. There's a cute little photo-op that we had fun with before taking a walk up to see Elephant Rock. What's interesting about this rock formation is that it is naturally occurring, shaped over time. Because of that, we'll never know how long it will stick around since it can weaken over time and collapse, which is another reason you have to see these sights before they're gone! Also, to protect Elephant Rock, there is no longer climbing around the rock allowed. On our drive back through the park, we even saw a herd of big horn sheep just grazing along the highway. We had to stop to watch them, so beautiful and majestic!
Other Things to Do
Atlatl Rock - A boulder with a staircase leading up to view Native American petroglyphs. Also a great area for a picnic.
Beehives - A collection of rock formations that look like beehives. They're super cute and can be seen from the main road. But for a up close look, just pull over and explore!
Fire Cave - A beautiful rock arch inside a cave that showcases how wind and the elements shape and cut into the sandstone rock over time. There are lots of little caves like this throughout the park, although this is one of the larger ones.
Rainbow Vista - A 1.1 mile out and back trail that gets its name from the spectrum of colors of rock formations you will see along the way.
Surrounding Area
Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, the Las Vegas strip, and Red Rock Canyon are all very close to the Valley of Fire, making a trip to this are totally worthwhile!
So there you have it, The Valley of Fire State Park is truly amazing. Have I convinced you to make a visit yet? I hope you do, so happy planning!
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