You’ve probably seen photos of Valley of Fire State Park on Instagram — the iconic shot of massive, red rocks on both sides of a windy, two-lane road in the background. We happened to be driving nearby for VanFest USA, and decided that we HAD to stop and see what all of the fuss was about.
Spoiler Alert: Valley of Fire State Park is even better IRL than what you see online!
About Valley of Fire State Park
Only 50 miles from the Las Vegas strip, Valley of Fire State Park is a world-renowned destination for good reason. This other-worldly location is home to 46,000 acres of bright red sandstone surrounded by tan and grey limestone, rivaling something you might see on another planet like Mars. Valley of Fire gets its name from the red Aztec sandstone, which formed from shifting sand dunes over 150 million years ago! Besides the red rock formations, there are many other cool features within this Nevada state park — like hundreds of bighorn sheep and petroglyphs from the Ancestral Puebloans (also known as the Anasazi), who were farmers from the nearby fruitful Moapa Valley. Total Recall, The Professionals and Star Trek Generations were all filmed here as well.
The Valley of Fire State Park lies within the Mojave Desert, so you can expect a dry and warm climate. While the winters are mild (daytime temperatures range from 54°F to 75°F and overnight lows in the mid-30°F’s to low 50°F’s), it gets HOT here during the summer months. Daily temps are usually 100°F to 115°F, and there have been instances where it gets up to 120°F! ? If you have the luxury of picking the time of year to visit, stick to November through February.
There is a day-use entrance fee of $10 per vehicle for Nevada residents, or $15 per vehicle for those coming outside of Nevada. If you plan on exploring more of Nevada’s state parks (including Lake Tahoe!), you can purchase an annual park pass for $100, or $250 if you want to include camping.
As with every state or national park, we recommend stopping by the Visitor’s Center first. Here you can speak with a ranger, get a lay of the land and identify which hikes are best for you. Afterwards, we drove along the Valley of Fire Road, which is where you can find most of the cool geological features and hikes that this state park has to offer.
Best Hikes in Valley of Fire
One thing we really loved about Valley of Fire is that there are a lot of awesome, short and family-friendly hikes here. And dogs are allowed on the trails, as long as they’re leashed! ? You can easily spend a few days exploring, or if you’re like us, a half-day seeing the best of Valley of Fire State Park. Here are some of our favorite hikes, as well as a few other popular trails to consider. As with any hike in the desert, be sure to plan ahead, pack a lot of water and snacks, and if you can, head out early in the morning when it’s still relatively cool.
Fire Wave and Pink Canyon Trail
Distance: 0.8 mile (out and back) | Elevation Change: 49 feet
Wanna go to Mars? Then you’ll want to check out the Fire Wave and Pink Canyon Trail! This one-mile, kid-friendly hike takes you through a pink sandstone slot canyon, to an area of the slickrock with interchanging streaks of beige and red-orange colored sandstone. It’s out of this world! ? Our boys LOVED this trail because it’s super easy and offers plenty of rocks to scramble and play on.
If you want a bit more of a challenge, try hiking the Fire Wave Trail instead — it’s 1.5 miles and 236 feet of elevation change. Just don’t forget to keep going to the Pink Canyon Trail! you can also hike the Fire Wave, Pink Canyon and White Domes and Seven Wonders in one, 3.3-mile hike.
Elephant Rock Trail
Distance: 0.3 mile (out and back) | Elevation Change: 52 feet
This hike is pretty self-explanatory — there’s a rock formation near the main road near the East Entrance that is shaped like an elephant. There are actually two trails that you can take to see the Elephant Rock; this is the shorter of the two. (I mean, why hike longer in the heat than you have to?) Based on our research, you can easily climb to a vantage point above the rock to take the best pictures. Just do Mother Nature a favor and don’t climb on Elephant Rock!
White Domes Trail
Distance: 1.1 miles (loop) | Elevation Change: 173 feet
This is another do-not-miss hike. This kid- and dog-friendly 1.1 mile hike crosses stunning landscapes, including a short slot canyon. Along the trail, you’ll see a wide variety of colors, shapes, and even animals in the surrounding rock formations. While it’s a quick hike, it’s worth taking your time to scramble the sandstone and enjoy in this impressive view!
Atlatl Rock
Distance: 0.1 mile (out and back) | Elevation Change: 16 feet
This is a very short walk from the parking lot to two flights of stairs that takes you to cool petroglyphs. At the top of the stairs, you’ll also get a great view of Valley of Fire as well. It’s also a nice spot for family photos with a beautiful red rock formation in the background! Again, please do not vandalize the petroglyphs. It’s important for everyone to have the opportunity to see these historic wonders.
Fire Canyon Overlook
Distance: 0.1 mile (out and back) | Elevation Change: 3 feet
We love when you don’t have to hike far for a good payoff. At Valley of Fire State Park, Fire Canyon Overlook offers incredible, out-of-this-world views within 0.1-mile! The highlight is straight ahead — the distinctive red and white sandstone formations of Fire Canyon and Silica Dome. That color contrast! ?
Petroglyph Canyon via Mouse’s Tank Trail
Distance: 0.8 mile (out and back) | Elevation Change: 55 feet
This short, easy but sandy trail takes you through a canyon filled with prehistoric Native American petroglyphs. Mouse’s Tank is named for a Southern Paiute Native American renegade (“Little Mouse”) who used Valley of Fire as a hideout in the 1890s after he was accused of killing two prospectors. As with any natural place, please do not touch the petroglyphs as they are easily damaged and cannot be repaired, or replaced.
Rainbow Vista Trail
Distance: 1.1 mile (out and back) | Elevation Change: 95 feet
For an alternative view of Fire Canyon Overlook, this is a slightly longer trail that offers an equally breathtaking view. This 1.1-mile out and back trails takes you to an amazing view of the rock formations and canyon down below. The entire trail is very fine red sand, so keep that in mind before you set off for this hike.
Balancing Rock Trail
Distance: 0.3 mile (out and back) | Elevation Change: 3 feet
While you’re at the Visitor’s Center, take a quick moment to hop on this trail. This is one of the famous Valley of Fire formations! If you’re short on time, no worries — you can see the Balancing Rock from the road as you head deeper into the park.
Arch Rock
Distance: 0.1 mile (out and back) | Elevation Change: 6 feet
This is a quick and easy hike that features a small arch. I should note that Arch Rock is also visible from the road and parking areas. For those who are a bit more ambitious, there are small rocks you can walk up to get better views and pics of the arch and surrounding vistas.
Where to Camp
There is lots of dispersed camping outside of Valley of Fire — just check Sēkr or iOverlander for exact locations. Personally, we opted for camping inside of the state park. Hiking in the heat requires a shower afterwards!
There are two campgrounds within this state park: Atlatl Rock Campground and Arch Rock Campground. Both are located on the west side of the park and offer clean, established campsites surrounded by red sandstone. These rock formations offer shade in the morning and evenings, and also help block any light pollution coming from Las Vegas — meaning it’s a perfect spot to gaze at the stars above!
Most of the campsites are equipped with shaded tables, grills, water and restrooms. There is also a dump station and showers are available, as well as RV sites with power and water hookups if needed. All campsites are first-come, first-served. The sites are $20/night, but since you pay an entrance fee to get into Valley of Fire, that cost can be applied to your camping as well.
Finally, another bonus for camping within the park? The bighorn sheep! We encountered several of these big guys during our one-night stay. As with all wildlife, be careful and keep your distance.
Final Thoughts on Valley of Fire State Park
Overall, we LOVED Valley of Fire. It’s one of those places that will leave you in awe and wonder, saying “Wow!” along every turn and trail. And while it’s out in the middle of nowhere, you’re still not far from Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park. Who’s down for a road trip?!
