![]() The visitor center is located next to the intersection of the Valley of Fire Highway and Mouse’s Tank Road. When we visit the Valley of Fire, we spend most of our time along this road. The drive is gorgeous and the hiking trails that start along this road are short and sweet and tons of fun. Driving this road, and seeing the sights here, is one of the best state park experiences we have had in the United States. Mouse’s Tank Road (the state park brochure calls this road “White Domes Road” and Google has this road labeled as “Mouse’s Tank Road”) heads north into the heart of the park. Sights along the Valley of Fire Highway include Atlatl Rock, the Beehives, Elephant Rock, and Seven Sisters. Both entrances into this park are located on this road (the west entrance and the east entrance). The Valley of Fire Highway runs west to east across the southern part of the park. There are two main roads in the Valley of Fire State Park. Several movies were filmed here, including Total Recall, Viva Las Vegas, The Professionals, and Star Trek Generations.Ī visit to the Valley of Fire can last just an hour or two (if you drive through the park, only stopping at scenic overlooks and hiking one or two short trails) or all day, if you choose to explore every nook and cranny of this place. On a sunny day, these rock formations look like they are on fire, giving the park its name, the Valley of Fire. Its 40,000+ acres are filled with red rock formations made from Aztec sandstone. This park is located 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. Instead, I recommend packing a lunch that you can eat inside the park (just be sure to dispose of your trash properly!).The Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. But driving back there for lunch will cut into the time you have in the park. The closest place to get food is at the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza that's at the exit when you get off I-15. Bring a picnic lunch (or dinner) – There aren't any food services inside Valley of Fire.Be prepared with sunscreen, or at least a hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes. And yes, you can absolutely still get a sunburn in the winter. Pack sun protection – As I mentioned above, the Fire Wave trail offers no shade at all. ![]() (I recommend a refillable water bottle or backpack with water bladder, depending on how much hiking you plan to do.) Make sure you take enough with you and stay hydrated. Fill up on water – You can fill up your water bottle at the visitor center or campsites, but not anywhere else in the park.If you're unsure about these risks, check in at the visitor center before doing any hiking. That might sound silly in the desert, but Valley of Fire has slot canyons and washes and other areas that can flood FAST during a thunderstorm, or even sometimes if there's a big storm miles away. Also keep an eye on flash flood warnings.If you're going to hike in the summer, plan to start as early as possible. Days are usually mild in the winter, but in the summer daytime temperatures can easily soar above 100 degrees F. Check the weather – Valley of Fire is in the middle of the desert, and that means extreme temperatures.Tips for visiting Valley of Fire State ParkĮven if you're just visited for a couple hours on a day trip from Las Vegas, there are still some things you'll want to keep in mind at Valley of Fire: There are also animals like coyote, bobcat, kit fox, and jackrabbit here, though they're mostly nocturnal. You're likely to see big horn sheep all throughout the park, as well as smaller critters like lizards and (maybe) desert tortoises. You should also keep an eye out for desert wildlife in Valley of Fire. Follow it for a couple minutes into a canyon that really is pink! There's a small pullout at Wash 5 (marked with a small “5”), or you can park at Parking Lot 3 and walk down to the wash. ![]()
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