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Valley of Fire is a gorgeous state park in Nevada with a colorful desert landscape. It’s a short drive from Las Vegas. If you’re looking to escape the crowds of the Strip, this is a great option for a day trip.
Introduction to Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park, which is Nevada’s oldest state park, preserves roughly 46,000 acres of the Mojave Desert. Its name derives from the red sandstone formations that appear to be on fire when reflecting the rays of the sun. The formations were created by shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago.
The park opened to the public in 1934 although it wasn’t officially established until the following year. The Civilian Conservation Corps built trails, campgrounds, roads, and cabins. Work started in 1933 and continued into the early 1940s. Valley of Fire was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968.
Valley of Fire State Park features excellent trails and facilities. Along the two scenic drives, Valley of Fire Highway and White Domes Road, there are shaded picnic areas and restrooms. Check the official website for more info.
Entrance Fees to Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The entrance fee is US$10 per carload for cars with Nevada plates and US$15 for non-Nevada vehicles (as of December 2024), paid at the east or west entrance stations. As this is a state park, no interagency passes are accepted.
On my first visit, I entered from the east. There was no attendant on duty and payment was via cash in an envelope. On my second visit, I entered from the west and paid an attendant in a booth.
Camping at Valley of Fire State Park
There are two campgrounds near the west entrance with a total of 72 spots. Atlatl Rock and Arch Rock Campgrounds both have access to water and restrooms as well as shaded tables. They cost US$10 per night (as of December 2024). There’s also a group campground at US$20 per night for Nevada residents and US$25 per night for non-Nevada residents (as of December 2024). All campsites are available by reservation.
Valley of Fire State Park Visitor Center
The visitor center is located at the beginning of White Domes Road. Outside, there’s a historical marker indicating the park was Nevada’s first state park. Inside, you can learn about the geology, history, and wildlife found at the park. There’s a water bottle fill station as well.
Valley of Fire Highway
Valley of Fire Highway runs for 10 ½ miles (16.9 kilometers) linking the east and west entrances of the park. Along this stretch of road, there are several points of interest as well as campgrounds.
Beehives
Starting at the west entrance and driving east, the first point of entrance is Beehives. Wind and water have eroded sandstone over millions of years to create these strange formations.
Atlatl Rock
On the road to the campgrounds is Atlatl Rock, which features ancient Native American petroglyphs. A stairway takes you up to get a closer look at the petroglyphs.
Nobody knows what the etchings mean, but they’re both impressive and haunting at the same time. They date back to around 2000 BC. The views from the rock are spectacular as well.
Arch Rock
Arch Rock is just past Atlatl Rock. It’s one of the most interesting rock formations in the park.
Petrified Logs West
There are two places to see petrified logs at Valley of Fire State Park – Petrified Logs West and Petrified Logs East. We stopped at Petrified Logs West, which is near the campgrounds. A short ¼ mile loop takes you to see 225 million year old logs from an ancient forest. You’ll also be treated to amazing scenery.
Lone Rock
Lone Rock is a huge boulder that looks as if it can tip over at any moment. A picnic table has been placed right under it, making it a scenic place to have lunch. The views across Valley of Fire Highway are also great from the picnic area.
Elephant Rock Trail
Finally, on the north side of the road near the east entrance is the Elephant Rock Trail. It’s a 1.2 mile loop leading to an arch that resembles an elephant. If you’re just going to the arch, it’s only 0.2 miles out and back. We didn’t hike it. Restrooms and park information are also located there.
White Domes Road
White Domes Road starts at the visitor center and runs north to the White Domes Trail. It’s 5.5 miles one-way. Along the road are picnic areas and trailheads.
Balanced Rock
First, at the visitor center you can take a short hike up to Balanced Rock. It’s 0.4 miles round-trip. This is an interesting rock formation that looks like a rock balanced on a spire of stone.
Mouse’s Tank Trail
Next is the Mouse’s Tank Trail, which was named for an outlaw that used the area as a hideout in the 1890s. The first part of the sandy ¾ mile round-trip trail takes you past Native American petroglyphs.
At the end is Mouse’s Tank, a natural tank that collects rainwater. The water sometimes remains for months. You can climb a rock to get a better view. Enjoy the rock formations at the end of the trail.
Rainbow Vista
The next trail is Rainbow Vista, which is a 1 mile round-trip hike. The first part of the trail takes you through an open area with red sand, scattered with desert plants.
Colorful sandstone formations await you at the end. This is the point where you’ll realize why the trail was named Rainbow Vista.
Fire Canyon Road
After Rainbow Vista, a spur road splits off to the right. This is Fire Canyon Road. It leads to a parking lot where you can get a look at two interesting geological features – Silica Dome and Fire Canyon. Silica Dome is a sandstone formation made of almost pure silica. It’s the best example of its kind in the area. The adjacent Fire Canyon represents a change in quantities of iron, producing a rust-like color.
Fire Wave Trail
The Fire Wave Trail is a 1 ½ mile round-trip trail over sand, gravel, and slickrock. At the end, you can admire a wave formation.
White Domes Trail
At the end of White Domes Road is the White Domes Trail, which is my favorite trail at Valley of Fire State Park. It combines incredible desert scenery, history, and great viewpoints. The 1 ¼ mile loop trail starts on a sandy path and quickly moves to a steep decline. On the path, you can veer to the left and climb the rocks for a panoramic look at the park.
Back on the path, at the bottom are the remains of a movie set built in 1965 for The Professionals. Valley of Fire State Park has also been used in several other films, including Star Trek: Generations, The Good Son, and Steven King’s The Stand.
Next, the trail continues through the Narrows, a wash that passes through a narrow canyon. This is a shady and cooler part of the trail.
The second half of the trail starts after the Narrows. It leads past several interesting rock formations.
Finally, before the trail turns back toward the parking lot, there are spectacular views of the desert. It then passes between two large sandstone domes.
