Exploring the Valley of Fire

7 Things to see in the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Once you enter the Valley of Fire State Park, there are a variety of different viewpoints and hikes peppered around. Here are a few of the best spots that you can’t afford to miss:

  • Fire Wave

The Fire Wave is a must see and iconic landmark hidden away in the Valley of Fire. You can access the hike from parking lot #3, and while the hike is only a mile and a half long and well marked, the searing heat of the desert can make it quite challenging. It’s a hike best saved for cooler seasons or sunrise/sunset.

  • Mouse’s Tank Road

This has got to be the most iconic part of the Valley of Fire State Park. While the road runs through many of the other sites on this list, the stunning twists and turns of the road itself make it list-worthy. There are a number of viewpoints along the road that have become well known amongst photographers, why not see if you can track a couple of them down!

  • Elephant Rock

This is perhaps the most well-known rock formation in Valley of Fire State Park because its resemblance to an elephant is uncanny. The rock is visible from the road, but if you want to get up close you’ll have to park a little further away and hike the short distance in.

  • Rainbow Vista

This is a short hike with a colourful viewpoint. Throughout Valley of Fire State Park, there are plenty of different rock types. Normally parks tend to a general geological theme running through them, but Valley of Fire is a complete mish-mash of several different types. Rainbow Vista is a viewpoint where many of these different types line up to create a rainbow-like display of multi-coloured rocks.

  • Atlatl Rock

To the untrained eye, Atlatl Rock might just look like any other big red rock in the area, but Atlatl Rock contains something extremely rare; Ancient Petroglyphs.

Indeed, early man moved to Nevada around 11,000 years ago, and these drawings are testament to some of the ancient cultures that lived here.

There is also camping near Atlatl Rock, although we recommend avoiding summer camping when temperatures can soar to higher than 110F.

  • Arch Rock

This is one of the few natural arches in Valley of Fire State Park and is visible right from the road. It’s far smaller than some photos online might suggest, so you might have to hunt around for it!

  • White Dome Trail

The White Dome Trail is another impressive short hike in Valley of Fire. This time, instead of fiery red, the rocks are a more whitish-yellow colour, but still just as striking. The hike will take you through a beautiful slot canyon, as well as several movie set remnants; films like Transformers and Star Trek were filmed here.

Well worth exploring if you have time!

For something so close to Las Vegas, Valley of Fire is still something of a hidden gem that remains relatively undiscovered by the majority of tourists. It makes for a fantastic day trip out from the strip, and will give you a real taste of what life can be like in the desert. Bring plenty of water and watch out for rattlesnakes!

Photos and article by Louise Tee owner and content curator for Elite Jetsetter