It’s hard to believe that just outside Las Vegas a place like this could exist. Some people call it out of the world, some call it mars, some even call it ‘nature’s art’. Whatever they name-it does not matter, because everyone has one word to describe this place ‘outstanding’. The first time I visited this place, I drove during the night. The moment I woke up, one word came out from my mouth ‘wow’. I saw the sun rising through this epic red rock formation, it looked like the rocks are on fire. They really named it right ‘Valley of fire’. This 40,000-acre state park is renowned for its bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone. Not only that, this park has ancient petroglyphs, petrified trees which date back more than 2000 years.
How you want to explore the park really depends on your choice. You can spend one or two hours just driving through the park, stopping only at the scenic overlooks and here and there. This could be the easiest way to enjoy the beauty of the landscape. You don’t even need to come out of your car, the drive simply is amazing specially the curvy Mouse’s Tank Road that exhibits the beautiful vistas of the valley of fire state park. But if you want to explore a little bit more than that, you may need a whole day. In our case, we spent the night and then a whole day exploring the state park. We hiked a few of the places, explored a few of the attractions and took stoppage wherever we want.- There are some other attractions such as
- The beehives (located near the group are entrance of the state park)
- Petrified logs (there are two interpretive trails that leads to petrified logs)
- Balanced rock (From the visitor center, a very short hike to the viewpoint)
- Seven sisters (a group of seven tall, red, eroded boulders surrounded by sandy desert)
You can find the details in the state park website. If you are planning to hike, remember this place is wide open providing a little to no shade along the way. So, bring enough water, snacks, sunscreen, hat and whatever you feel necessary. While visiting the park, please be mindful about the structure and the rock formation.
At a glance: Best time to visit: Fall, Winter and Spring. Check the weather before you plan to visit. Hours: open daily from sunrise to sunset. Entrance fee: 10 usd (as of 2020). Camping: two campgrounds with total 72 units, all of them first come first served. RV sites are also available. Group areas: three group areas that can accommodate 45 people, available for overnight camping and picnicking, reservation required.Park website: Valley of Fire State Park | State Parks (nv.gov)