Explore Nevada’s famous Valley of Fire State Park.
Rocks appear as if they are on fire as the sun hits. There is a reason Nevada‘s oldest state park is called the Valley of Fire. There may be another reason as well. If you visit during the summer, the park gets so hot you feel like you are on fire.
I visited in early July. Not the best time to be honest. I didn’t do much hiking, more walking because it was just soooo hot. My first mistake was not getting to the park until the afternoon. My second mistake was trying to walk in sand and not watching where I put my feet. My hip still hurts from that fall. (I’m so glad no one saw that. It was not graceful.)
However, even with my mistakes. I really enjoyed the park, through the pain. Someday I will make it back to explore the park further, in winter, of course.
Valley of Fire is located about 50 miles from the Las Vegas strip, adjacent to Lake Mead National Recreation Area. I really wanted to visit earlier, but I overslept. Stupid, overly comfortable casino beds. Some of the first views don’t amount to much, but I still enjoyed them.
Finally, some fire rocks. Since it was so hot, I headed straight for a trail before it got hotter. Mouse’s Tank Trail is very sandy (I’m not fond of sandy trails.) but there were petroglyphs along the trail, so I tried it.
Many, many symbols and animals were scratched into the desert patina.
Valley of Fire was once home to the Anasazi, a.k.a. Ancestral Puebloans, who were in the area from 300 BCE to about 1150 CE.
The road near Rainbow Vista, which I didn’t make it too because it was too hot (over 100 degrees) and I was hurting a bit from my fall.
I love the colors of the sandstone in this area. So much contrast.
Just so much awesome. I really need to explore this park more.
Been living at the Grand Canyon for 10 months and I have yet to see a Bighorn Sheep. Two hours at Valley of Fire, there they are right across the road from the Visitor Center. I may have stopped to take pictures in the road. I was a bad tourist. At least there was no one behind me.
Even more petroglyphs can be found on Atlatl Rock, which is on the left.
Luckily they have a flight of stairs taking you up to the petroglyphs, which are simply amazing.
Unfortunately, some people felt the need to scratch their names next to these ancient wonders. People are disgusting.
Last but not least, Valley of Fire’s own Arch Rock. Pretty neat.
Valley of Fire State Park is a great day trip from Las Vegas. There are lots of pretty rocks, hiking trails and petroglyphs to check out, just don’t go in the middle of summer. You will bake. Someday I will make it back to hike some of the trails, but this time in winter.
Check out my next update where I take a quick two-day trip to Southern Utah!
