go 4 the globe

If you’re taking a trip to Las Vegas, the Valley of Fire State Park should be on your list! Just under an hour from the strip, the Valley of Fire is perfect for a day trip or it makes a great start or end to a road trip based out of Las Vegas. It was the last stop of my four-day southwestern solo road trip through southern Utah and northern Arizona that originated and ended in Las Vegas.

How to get there

The Valley of Fire State Park is just over 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas in Overton, Nevada. It is located in the Mojave Desert. You can take a more direct route on Interstate 15 to reach the park in just under an hour or add a half hour onto your travel time by taking a scenic route through Lake Mead recreational area.

Mitsubishi hooked me up with their new 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL S-SWC. It was the perfect road trip vehicle with assisted cruise control (the car practically drove itself). The keyless push to start feature was super convenient for the frequent stops I made to explore the park and pull over to take photos. By keeping the key in my pocket the duration of my time in the park, I was able to hop in and out of the car with ease.

I was also able to take in more sights with the dual pane panoramic sunroof. And doesn’t the red diamond look gorgeous among the Valley of Fire’s red rocks?!

If you don’t have your own vehicle or rent a car, you can also take a day tour. Although I highly recommend the convenience of having your own set of wheels to explore at your own pace.

Valley of the Fire logistics

The Valley of Fire costs $10 per vehicle to enter.

When you pay to enter, you’ll be given a small paper map of the park that you can use as a guide. I found that I had little to no cell service in the park so the old school paper map came in handy.

The state park is open from sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you are camping, you are granted 24 hour access to the park, which starts at $20 a campsite.

The visitor center is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Brief History

The Valley of Fire is Nevada’s first state park, which first opened in 1934 and was officially established as a state park in 1935. The park’s name comes from the red sandstone formations (called Aztec Sandstone) which are nestled in tan and gray limestone mountains. The Valley of Fire spans nearly 46,000 acres. The park is also home to petroglyphs (more on that later).

What to do in the Valley of Fire

Drive through the Valley of Fire and make frequent stops to enjoy the scenery! Get out and explore your surroundings, there are many attractions to see and can’t miss spots are highlighted below. Take marked trails to go on walks and hikes. And of course, take lots of photos! The park is extremely photogenic.

Keep an eye out for wildlife on the road and on your hikes. Big horn sheep are a common sight in the park. I was driving through the park and saw many cars pulled over what seemed to be randomly, but I quickly realized what the commotion was about and pulled over to get a closer look at the big horned sheep. I originally thought they were mountain goats but the park’s website informed me otherwise.

Fire Wave

If you have time for just one hike in the Valley of Fire, make sure it is to the Fire Wave! It is a relatively short walk covering 1.5 miles roundtrip, on red sand and over sliprock. The hike is accessible from Parking Lot 3.

Petroglyphs

You can view Native American petroglyphs (ancient drawings carved into rocks) at a few spots throughout the park.

The best viewpoint for petroglyphs and views in general is Atlatl Rock. Park at the Atlatl Rock picnic area and climb to the top of the staircase, which provides a great view alongside petroglyphs.

Other attractions

I found a heart shaped rock that isn’t publicized as one of the “rocks shaped like things” (such as Elephant Rock and Arch Rock) but it was right across from “the Cabins” and I think it looks like a heart. Does anyone else see it or is it just me? Pretty soon it will be on the official park map as the “Heart shaped rock” discovered by Krista. 😉

The Seven Sisters is a publicized attraction with a parking lot. There are also picnic tables at the Seven Sisters, it is a great place to stop and have a snack or meal (I ate my leftover pizza there haha).

Other popular hikes in the park are the trail to the White Domes and the hike to Rainbow Vista. There are also several petrified logs to visit. I had limited time in the park before sunset so I did not visit these attractions.

What to bring to the Valley of Fire

• Vehicle – the easiest way to get around is to drive
• Water bottle
• Walking shoes
• Camera
• Snacks or meal – depending on your length of stay, you might need lunch or dinner, or maybe just a snack. There are several scenic areas with picnic tables and garbage cans.
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Portable charger
• Backpack
• Jacket (depending on time of year) – make sure to check the weather forecast before you depart, it can be scorching hot in the summer or you can be hit with sporadic rain

Valley of Fire Summary

• Just over 50 miles from Las Vegas – less than 1 hour on Interstate 15 or 1.5 hours through Lake Mead recreational area
• $10 entrance fee per vehicle
• Hours: Sunrise – Sunset, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
• Visitor center hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm
• Don’t miss the Fire wave & petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock!

*In full transparency to my readers, I partnered with Mitsubishi for this blog post. I only collaborate with companies I love and hope you’ll love too!