Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Valley of Fire State Park is a surprise of a gem tucked away in the desert 50+ miles from Las Vegas, Nevada.  Here you will find a variety of natural wonders including petroglyphs, petrified logs, Rainbow Vista, Seven Sisters, White Domes, Arch Rock, Atlatl Rock, and the Beehives.  Valley of Fire was named for its vivid red sandstone uplifted 150 million years ago.  Temperatures are usually mild, but can go from freezing in winter usually without snow, up to 120 degrees in the summer.

The first inhabitants were the Basket Maker Indians beginning 300 B.C. followed by the Anasazi Indians who farmed the area to 1150 A.D.  These ancient occupants loved to draw and left behind stunning petroglyphs sprinkled all over the red sandstone walls which are amazing to see today.  Don, Dani, Josh and I, enjoyed a long walk through the canyon and climbed the walls for exercise and found petroglyphs and watering holes.

If you are not into hiking up canyons, there are other fine features in the park such as Atlatl Rock that you can drive right up to and it has its own campground.  Near there is a two mile loop drive that goes to to Arch Rock and Piano Rock along with impressive valley views.  The Beehives are unusual formations carved by wind, water and time.

There are also petrified logs survived from an ancient forest and located in two places in the park.  If you like grand views you will want to see Rainbow Vista named for the colored sandstone view.  The ultimate in red rock formations can easily be seen at Seven Sisters, while White Domes offer an impressive bright contrast in sandstone.

Walking through Valley of Fire is like hitting the jackpot in geological terms, and you didn’t even have to go to Vegas to find it.

Fee:  $6 Entry, $14 Entry/Camping

Let’s go!