Valley of Fire State Park is a region within the Mojave Desert about 30 miles north-east of Las Vegas. The park got its name thanks to the wide-ranging vibrant red sandstone formations which make up the landscape.
There are two paved roads which take you to the trail heads, Valley of Fire Road is the main one connecting the east and west entrance and White Domes Road turns off of the main one, going north to the Visitor Center, Fire Wave trailhead and the White Domes.
While you’ll get a tiny taste of the park by driving through, I recommend having at least half a day or even better a full day set aside for your visit. There are restrooms and snacks at the Visitor Center but if you are going hiking for a full day or even half a day make sure to pack plenty of water and food. Also keep in mind temperatures in the summer get dangerously hot here.
I like taking the eastern route around Lake Mead when driving there because of the exceptionally beautiful landscape, but if you are in a hurry the I-15 is shorter, a lot faster and takes you to the western entrance. If you are going through Lake Mead take note it is part of the National Park System so you will have to pay a separate fee or have the annual pass.
If you enter from the east, you’ll encounter several unique rock formations almost right away. Stop and explore a bit on foot or else you’ll miss out on some pretty sights.
My two favorite hikes within the Valley of Fire are Mouse’s Tank and the Fire Wave. The first one is a short, less than 1 mile roundtrip hike through vibrant red rocks with beautifully preserved petroglyphs carved in many of the rocks, ending in a small natural basin.
The trail for the Fire Wave is off of White Domes Road and I’d recommend at least one hour for the hike, double that if you are going to take photos and chill for a while before turning around. The area at the end of this trail is often compared to The Wave from Arizona.
