Mouse's Tank Trail (Petroglyph Canyon)

Mouse's Tank Trail, also called Petroglyph Canyon, is a short sandy walk in Valley of Fire State Park, about 50 miles (one hour) northeast of Las Vegas in Nevada. The trailhead is on Mouse's Tank Road, a short spur off the main park road, within the park at 29450 Valley of Fire Road, Overton. No public transit serves the park, so access is by car only, via I-15 and SR 169. Day use costs $15 per non-Nevada vehicle and $10 per Nevada-plated vehicle, and the west entrance is closed Monday through Thursday through the end of 2026, so visitors on those days should use the east entrance. The hike is about 0.75 mile (1.2 km) round trip with under 50 feet of elevation change, and it normally takes 30 to 45 minutes, making it an easy outing. The surface is soft sand with some rock, so closed shoes are more comfortable than sandals. The route follows a narrow canyon between red sandstone walls, passing dense panels of petroglyphs created by ancestral Puebloan people. The carvings include bighorn sheep, human figures and abstract symbols, and visitors should look but never touch or add to them. The trail ends at a natural rock basin, or tank, that collects rainwater. The tank is named for a Paiute man known as Little Mouse, who in the 1890s was said to have hidden in the canyon after a series of killings. Hikers usually turn around at the tank and return the same way. The canyon offers pockets of shade, but the sand reflects heat, and water or shelter is not available on the trail, so at least 1 liter of water should be carried. A visitor center near the park's center offers maps and information, and the park can be reached at 702-397-2088.