Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada's oldest and largest state park, sits 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas near Overton and encompasses 46,000 acres of brilliantly colored sandstone formations carved by ancient sand dunes compressed over 150 million years ago. The park takes its name from the red Aztec sandstone outcrops that appear to be ablaze when reflecting the sun's rays at sunrise and sunset — an effect that ranks among the most dramatic in the American Southwest. The park entrance fee of $15 per vehicle ($10 for Nevada residents) covers access to all areas. The main park road passes several remarkable formations accessible with minimal hiking: Arch Rock, a natural sandstone arch visible from a paved pullout, and Elephant Rock, which bears an unmistakable resemblance to its namesake. At Atlatl Rock, a short staircase leads up to some of the park's best-preserved petroglyphs carved by the Anasazi people more than 2,000 years ago. Mouse's Tank Trail (0.75 miles round trip) winds through a slot canyon past the densest concentration of petroglyphs in the park. The White Domes area in the northern section of the park offers a striking contrast between white, pink, and red formations and a 1.25-mile loop trail through a narrow sandstone slot. The park visitor center at the intersection of the main road and White Domes Road houses geological exhibits and can provide updated trail and road conditions. Temperatures in summer regularly exceed 115°F in the valley floor, making sunrise visits the only practical option from June through August. From October through April, afternoon and late-day light dramatically enhances the already vivid rock colors, and the park sees its highest attendance during this period. Camping at the park's two campgrounds allows visitors to be in position for golden hour and avoids the need to rush from Las Vegas.