Valley of Fire State Park was added to a part of my southwest road trip that I completed in March of 2023, when the weather was perfect! Ancient history lies behind the park gates with 2000 year old petroglyphs and trees. It’s truly a wonder driving into this park for the first time!
After reading this blog post you will be able to plan your epic time and make your way back to Las Vegas!
Photographs on this blog are in collaboration with Images on this blog post are in collaboration with Melissa Miller, Emilie Hofferber, and Marylee Burman.
Getting to Valley of Fire State Park
Harry Reid International Airport is the closest airport to fly into. Depending on the road trip or amount of time you have to explore the area the following airports are the best to fly into. Getting into the park is pretty straight forward from Google maps.
Park Rangers are around the park enforcing parking so be mindful of signage. Unfortunately there are a limited number of pull-offs inside the park. The park also has hours with a gate they will close. While it is open 365 days a year, the visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The rest of the park closes at sunset.
- From Las Vegas: 40 minutes
- From Phoenix: 4 hours and 24 minutes
- From Salt Lake City: 6 hours
Camping at Valley of Fire
I didn’t get to camp on my trip there but this would be the best way to see the park with less people. Park rangers here strictly enforce closing the gates between sunrise and sunset. Especially if your a photographer and want ideal conditions, this gives you more time and less people to photoshop out.
There are two campgrounds at Valley of fire with 72 sites. All campsites are first-come-first serve so ideally have a back-up plan. RV sites are available as well. In addition there are group sites you can book by reservation only hosting up to 45 campers! Reservations for group sites Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm by telephone at 702-397-2088.
Best Time to Visit
Valley of Fire is in the heart of the desert so it gets quite hot in the summertime. The best time to visit is fall or spring. Your most likely to have sunny, warm days-but not too hot!
Hiking at Valley of Fire State Park
Hiking through the sand and red rocks is very different than the Oregon hiking trails I’m used to. There are many different hikes, OHV trails, and short walks inside of the State Park, depending on your ability level.
Keep in mind that many of the hiking trails are made of sand, making it a bit more challenging than usual to walk on. Hiking shoes, plenty of water, and a good sense of direction required. It is easy to explore the rocks and get off trail (thats part of the fun!), so be mindful of desert exploration.
Click here for a downloadable PDF of hiking trails at Valley of Fire!
1. Mouse’s Tank
Looking for the iconic photograph you see all over Instagram? Mouses Tank has the infamous hilled road with red and sand colored rocks. Unless your here for sunrise, most likely you’ll be sharing this with many others. Climb higher on the rocks for a more unique photograph and further from the road.
This trail got the name from a Southern Paiute “Little Mouse” who hid here after being wrongly accused of shooting two prospectors in the 1890s.
Elevation Gain: 71 feet
Miles: .07
2. Rainbow Vista
This was one of my favorite parts of the park. Seeing the red rainbow of rocks against the blue sky was truly stunning. It was a sunny day for us inside of the park after quite a bit of rain, so the rocks were even more red.
Elevation Gain: 70 feet
Miles: 1.0
3. Atlatl Rock
Just inside the west entrance to the park is the Atlatl Rock trail where you can see petroglyphs. Some of the petroglyphs inside the park date back 4,000 years! The Anasazi cultures around 2,000 B.C. were here. In addition there was another transition to the Southern Paiute cultures in the 12th and 18th centuries.
Its a short walk from the parking area up stairs to view the petroglyphs.
Elevation Gain: 16 feet
Miles: .01
4. Elephant Rock
This is a beautiful short walk from the parking area, with an elephant looking rock near the road on the trail. Dogs are allowed on a leash. A great walk for the entire family!
Elevation Gain: 52 feet
Miles: .03
5. Crazy Hill
This is an easy route, perfect for the entire family. With beautiful rock formations to view for miles and miles!
Elevation Gain: 75 feet
Miles: .06
6. Top of World Arch Trail
If your looking for a longer hike at Valley of Fire State Park, this is a great one for you! With Joshua Trees, beautiful sweeping landscapes, and a rock playground to roam. This is considered a challenging route! Be sure to pack plenty of water.
Elevation Gain: 882 feet
Miles: 4.4
7. Valley of Fire OHV Loop
If you have the right vehicle, consider taking this OHV trail through the red rocks! Dogs aren’t allowed on this trail if you are hiking. Be mindful that this is shared with hikers, bikers, and vehicles. Out here you’ll find more peace and quiet from the rest of the park.
Elevation Gain: 1,417 feet
Miles: 22.2
8. Fire Wave, White Domes and Seven Wonders Loop
This trail is popular due to the slot canyons, gorgeous red and white colored rock, and beautiful vistas. The fire wave is located on this trail, which resembles rock seen in The Wave, in Arizona. This trail can close to at times, as always, know before you go and check for closures.
Elevation Gain: 380 feet
Miles: 3.2
9. Old Arrowhead Road
If your looking for a longer trail with less people, this is a beautiful trail for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. This trail starts at the beginning of Elephant Rock Trail. This is a point to point hike so keep that in mind if your on foot!
Elevation Gain: 219 feet
Miles: 6.8
10. Balancing Rock Trail
This hike leads to what you can imagine, a balancing rock! This is the perfect trail for the entire family.
Elevation Gain: 3 feet
Miles: .3
Valley of Fire Scenic Drive
If hiking isn’t your thing, driving the entirety of the park is worth it in itself! However, unlike many scenic roads pull-offs are limited. Park rangers do patrol this so keep it in mind. Once you enter the state park it is if your teleported to another planet! The drive is 23 miles long point-to-point.
I hope you enjoy your visit to Valley of Fire! As always, Leave No Trace, abide by closures, and know before you go. Let me know in the comments how your trip was!
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