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Explore the amazing Valley of Fire State Park in the Nevada desert

Clark County, Nevada

4.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

1 miles

Elevation Gain

200 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Adrien Patanè

Wander about Nevada's oldest & largest state park amongst breathtaking scenery & colorful geological formations, just 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas - a world away from the shiny lights and extravagance of Sin City.

Why visit?

Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park is a wonder to explore with miles of sinuous hikes in and around towering colorful geological formations.

When to visit

The state park is best visited in the cooler months with Summer temperatures reaching extreme indexes & hiking is actually not recommended at all during the warmest months.  Cooler times of year however reward you with stunning vistas and complex colorful geology reached by hiking meandering paths & basic bouldering.

Hiking opportunities

If you're short on time one of the easiest hikes is to Mouse's Tank just off the primary road in the heart of the park, part of the fun is climbing over these amazing rocks & seeking hidden vistas over the landscape.  Note this is just one of many hikes available in the park all with trail-heads close to the main and only road in the park.

What to see

The White Domes @ the end of the road in the far reaches of the park display a staggering amount of natural beauty against the backdrop of a desert sky if timed right.

One of the most iconic locations not to be missed is the amazing road to infinity with the winding black ribbon of road disappearing into the distance surrounded by gorgeous geology & a never ending horizon.

Links

http://parks.nv.gov/parks/vall...

http://www.valley-of-fire.com/

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Features

Photography
Hiking
Scenic

Explore the amazing Valley of Fire State Park in the Nevada desert Reviews

I visited the Valley of Fire for a couple of days in Mid-December 2016 as a result of seeing posted adventures here on the Outbound. It ended up being more incredible than I imagined. The landscape of the park reminded me of Arches Nat'l Park, Canyonlands, and the Petrified Forest Nat'l Park. I was blown away by the large variety of rock surfaces and formations. A field of dreams for geology buffs. The park had a nice mix of short, easy hikes with high rewards and a couple of backcountry hikes that offered even more. Since it's only an hour from Vegas, I recommend going in the off-season, staying at a nice hotel on the strip for cheap if you aren't interested in camping, and drive out and back. The Valley of Fire has become a new favorite of mine to explore for the coming future.

Some friends and I hiked to a place that was a miniature version of The Wave that's in Arizona. I suggest this hike but do it in cooler temps- we went at the beginning of September and it was very very hot still.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike the Petroglyph Canyon Trail to the Mouse's Tank

Hike to Mouse's Tank in Valley of Fire State Park

Hike the Rainbow Vista Trail

Photographing Rainbow Vista

Hike the Prospect Trail in the Valley of Fire

Five Canyon Overlook