Fiery red sandstone formations, ancient petroglyphs, and scenic desert trails offer a dramatic backdrop for hiking, photography, and camping.
General Information
Visitor Center: 8:30am to 4:30pm (closed Christmas)
Day Use (Non-NV Vehicles): $15 per vehicle
Camping: $20 per night + $10 for utility hookups
Annual Pass: $75
How to Get There
From Las Vegas (58 mi): Take I-15 N to Exit 75, then head east on Valley of Fire Highway for 17 miles to the west entrance.
Overview
Valley of Fire State Park is a public recreation and nature preservation area covering nearly 46,000 acres (19,000 ha) located 16 miles (26 km) south of Overton, Nevada. The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays. It is Nevada's oldest state park, as commemorated with Nevada Historical Marker #150. It was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1968.
Valley of Fire is located 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Las Vegas, at an elevation between 1,320-3,009 feet (402-917 m). It abuts the Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the east at the Virgin River confluence. It lies in a 4 by 6 mi (6.4 by 9.7 km) basin.
Geology
Complex uplifting and faulting of the region, followed by extensive erosion, have created the present landscape. The rough floor and jagged walls of the park contain brilliant formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes more than 150 million years old. Other important rock formations include limestones, shales, and conglomerates.
Valley of Fire Road is the main road accessing and traversing through the park. The 10.5-mile (16.9 km) section of the road between the east and west entrances of the park was officially designated as a Nevada Scenic Byway on June 30, 1995.
The park has a visitors center plus facilities for picnicking, camping, and hiking. Petroglyphs are seen throughout the park, with Mouse's Tank and Atlatl Rock two areas in particular with numerous petroglyphs that are relatively easily accessible. The park also preserves three stone cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Valley of Fire State Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
Featured Trails
Valley of Fire - Scenic Drive
Six mile road through colorful formations at the center of the park, passing viewpoints and trailheads; paths lead to petroglyphs, rock formations and narrow canyons
White Domes Trail
1.1 miles loop, 150 feet
Varied loop through colorful mounds and gullies, and a short but pretty section of slot canyon