Valley of Fire is a desert masterpiece only a short drive from Las Vegas
An amazing photo op along Mouse Tank Road. See location.
Where is Valley of Fire State Park?
If you’re in the mood for wide open desert landscapes and beautiful red rock formations, look no further than Valley of Fire State Park. Less than an hour away from Las Vegas, take I-15 north and exit Valley of Fire Highway. See location.
As soon as you enter the park, the scenery will shift into striking hues of red, pink and orange. If you have time, visit the park during sunrise or sunset to watch the colors really come alive.
Can you drive through Valley of Fire?
Short answer, yes. The park is fairly compact and many of the most popular sights are actually visible right from the highway. You can do the drive in roughly 30 minutes.
Some of the best sights along the road include the Beehives, the Seven Sisters, and Elephant Rock.
With picnic areas and short hiking trails all over the place you’ll most likely want to stop and explore a bit.
Vibrant red hues and spectacular rock formations dot the landscape all throughout Nevada’s Valley of Fire state park.
When is the best time to visit Valley of Fire?
Mid-October to April is best — simply to avoid the extreme summer heat. There’s very little shade throughout the park, and temperatures can easily rise above 100ºF.
If you do plan on going in the summer, just be cautious. Arrive in the morning when it’s cool. Pack lots of water and then pack some more. The desert heat will surprise you.
The Fire Wave — a spectacular rock formation at the end of Fire Wave trail.
What to see at Valley of Fire
As you travel through the park, it’s hard to choose where to stop for a photo because you’re surrounded by so many unique views. Below are the places we visited:
The Fire Wave – amazing rock formation on Fire Wave Trail
White Domes – hiking area with a slot canyon
Pastel Canyon – hiking trail through beautiful pink rocks
Seven Sisters – picnic area beneath 7 huge boulders
Mouse Tank Road – popular scenic drive through the canyon
The White Domes hiking trail where you can explore a slot canyon.
Valley of Fire Park Information:
Park Entrance Fee: $10 per vehicle
Valley of Fire Park Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Visitors Center Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Do you need reservations for Valley of Fire?
You don’t need reservations for visiting but you’ll need reservations for the group camping area. The regular campsites are first-come, first-served.
Rock formations near the Fire Wave trail form an interesting Mars-like landscape
Is Valley of Fire worth visiting?
Definitely. Navigating the park is super easy and the desert vistas are exactly what you’d expect from a location in the Southwest. The otherworldly rock formations will make you feel like you’ve landed on the surface of Mars.
And because so many of the sights are within minutes of each other it doesn’t take much time to visit multiple locations, making it a perfect day trip option from Las Vegas.
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About Us
We’re Rob and Lauren — a designer & photographer duo passionate about travel. We hope you find some travel inspiration here and the courage to go book that dream vacation.
With so many beautiful places, we can’t help but feel that somewhere is always waiting to be discovered.
