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Photographing Rainbow Vista

Clark County, Nevada

4.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Description

Added by Derrick Lytle

Easy drive. Extremely colorful and scenic. Close to Las Vegas.

Rainbow Vista is located in the heart of Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park and only a short drive, north on I-15 out of Las Vegas.

To get to Rainbow Vista drive the loop road toward the park's visitor center. It's a good idea to stop here if you need water, snacks, or a map. Remember the desert gets hot in the summer.

Take the road, Mouse's Tank Road, up the hill toward Mouse's Tank and follow the signs that say Rainbow Vista for about two miles. Park in the small parking lot on your right. From this parking lot you can follow the sandy trail for a short hike through gorgeous red rocks or you can walk across the road and look across the multi-colored valley.

There's a huge variety of color soaked photo options here. Bring a variety of lenses, play with all the options, and enjoy the amazing sunsets you'll get in Nevada.

At the trail head there's some picnic tables and a restroom but the area is generally pretty empty and you may have it all to yourself. The park encourages exploring so go climb around on the sandstone and find yourself a unique shooting location full of color.

Also, be sure to check out Elephant Rock, Arch Rock, The Fire Wave, and the rest of the parks unique sandstone formations!

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Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Bathrooms
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Groups
Picnic Area
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife
ADA Accessible

Photographing Rainbow Vista Reviews

Grab your camera and multiple lenses. Rainbow Vista is great for landscape, but I felt I got even better results with telephoto zoom to compress the distance and depth of field. I only took shots from the road. Next time in the area my plan is to explore deeper by foot, which will most likely open up a new world for photo opportunities.

So much opportunity here for photographers. Definitely recommend scoping out the area to get some awesome shots!

Leave No Trace

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

Nearby

Hike the Rainbow Vista Trail

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

Hike the Petroglyph Canyon Trail to the Mouse's Tank

Five Canyon Overlook

Hike to Pink Canyon in Valley of Fire State Park

Exploring Nevada's Pastel Canyon