ADVENTURE IN COLOR: THE MAGNIFICENT VALLEY OF FIRE

You are now looking across 150 million years of time.

This great maze of canyons is carved from sand deposited during the time when dinosaurs walked the earth.

What is the Valley of Fire?

This wild, virtually untouched wilderness is an “Adventure in Color” with endless exploration. Featuring many different hikes, campsites, shaded tables, grills, water, and restrooms, this park was established in 1935 and is the oldest and largest State Park in Nevada.

On this ideawist Valley of Fire Travel Guide, we will share our favorite spots and tips to make your journey unforgettable.

Where is the Valley of Fire?

The Valley of Fire State Park is open year-round from dawn to sunset, and it contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. Located a little over an hour away from Las Vegas, this is a great one-day road trip idea for everyone.

The moon was still out when we started our journey, and we watched the desert sunrise move slowly over the mountains from the driver’s seat. We were soon greeted by the vibrant red rock formations.

Intro Info

The Valley of Fire is magnificent any time of the day, but there’s something about the soft morning light that leaves you speechless. Our first stop, Silica Dome was even more magical at this time of the day.

Most of the parking lots are right at the trailhead, making it easy to explore. In addtion, from the top of the trail, we could spot many bighorn sheep, which Lallie translated to “Ovelha xifruda” in Portuguese.

If you are planning on visiting the park, we kindly ask for you to watch your speed, as many animals cross the roads.

Mouse Tank Road

Mouse Tank Road easily is one of the most amazing roads we have ever driven through. For instance, one of the most instagrammable places in the Valley of Fire.

Drones are not allowed in the park, but you might be able to play with perspective and create the impression of an aerial view. When we were shooting some of these photos, a car scared some of the bighorn sheep and they came rushing our way. Once again, and in other words, be careful while driving, respect the animals, and be responsible when taking photos in the middle of the road.

Valley of Fire Weather

These spiral rock formations make you feel like you are in a firey rock cyclone. Calling this the Valley of Fire is a more than appropriate name. Nonetheless, be ready for extreme weather conditions. Sunscreen / sunglasses / hats should be part of packing list for the Valley of Fire.

We visited in September, and by noon, it was so warm we couldn’t brave another hike. We still enjoyed the views and made lunch on our Camper Van.

The Fire Wave

Up next, we visited the Fire Wave. It is said the best time to visit the Fire Wave is late afternoon or early evening, but we did not have this luxury. With our tight scheduled, we ended up there around noon. It was warm and packed, and instead of complaining, we did what we did best: We explored!

We found this beautiful place, not as popular, where it was just the two of us. I couldn’t believe all the beautiful colors we could see, and it was like observing a painting.

Photography Tip

Not really into hiking or climbing rocks? Here’s an idea for you:

Capture this beautiful place, with rocks from both sides and behind you by lowering your tripod as low as you can and placing it between the road lines. Once again, make sure to watch for cars and animals.

VALLEY OF FIRE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES / HIGHLIGHTS

Elephant Rock:

This arch rock formation resembles an elephant, located next to the east entrance of the park

The Beehives:

These are hard to miss, as these strange formations can be seen a few minutes after entering the park. Climb up to the top to get a beautiful view of the mountain range.

Mouse’s Tank:

This road is easily the most beautiful in the park, with swirling firely rocks surrounding you from all directions. With the section less than a mile long, take your time here to get photos facing north and south. And if you get there early, you could have the whole road to yourself.. well you’ll have to share it with some cute sheep and critters too.

Rainbow Vista:

This is a 1-mile roundtrip hike that ends with a gorgeous view of the shades of red rock mountains jetting off in every direction.

Pink Canyon:

It is easy to miss, as it is unmarked but a real treat. Pastel pink colors swirl around the rocks.

The Fire Wave:

White and zebra print sandstone is seen winding around the rocks. It is quite a sight

INFORMATION - VALLEY OF FIRE

General Info:

Valley of Fire State Park is located about 50 miles outside of Las Vagas on the way to Utah. Its name comes from the vibrant red rock formations. The rocks were created from shifting sand dunes forming millions of years ago.

How Much Does it Cost to enter the Park?

There is a dropbox where you pay the $10 entrance fee and hang the receipt on the dash of your car.

Best time to visit:

The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. We arrived at the end of September, which was insanely hot! We got to the park as soon as the sun was rising. The weather was perfect when we arrived, but as the sun rose, the temperature heated up and by 11am, it was too hot to stay outside for more than 20 minutes. We wanted to hike and explore more, but it was just too hot for us. We would suggest going more toward November, where the temperatures are a bit cooler.

FAQ - VALLEY OF FIRE

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER THE VALLEY OF FIRE?

Once you arrive, there is a dropbox where you pay the $10 entrance fee and hang the receipt on the dash of your car.

TIPS FOR DRIVING THROUGH THE PARK

We drove through the park in our camper van and the roads were wonderfully paved. From I-10 to the park it is a little drive, so make sure you fill up your car before entering so you don’t have to worry when driving to all the locations.

In addition, we loved being able to stop and make some sandwiches for lunch in our van.

ARE DRONES ALLOWED IN THE VALLEY OF FIRE?

We did a lot of research because this is such a beautiful place to get those amazing aerial shots. This state park has a NO FLY rule. No drones are allowed in the state park and park rangers are close by monitoring the area.

WHAT TO WEAR IN THE VALLEY OF FIRE?

From June to September the weather is super hot, reaching temperatures over 100 degrees F. During those times summer outfits are necessary. Your goal is to keep cool since there is no shade. And times like December to March, it can get down to the teens at nighttime. So dress warm if going during the winter.

Don’t forget the sunscreen!