Valley of Fire State Park, NV
03.21.2022
This colorful state park has many amazing viewpoints and short hikes that can all easily be done in a single day. It was basically right on my way as I was driving from Zion National Park to Las Vegas, but I highly recommend making it a day trip from Las Vegas in case you’re not already on a road trip. Located less than an hour northeast of sin city, this gem in the desert is worth getting some dust on your shoes to explore.
Here are the viewpoints and hikes I prioritized during my day visit to the park: Rainbow Vista Trail, Fire Wave Trail, Seven Wonders Loop, White Domes Loop, and Fire Canyon/Silica Dome Overlook. None of these hikes are over 1.5 miles long, so you don’t have to be an avid hiker to enjoy your time here.
Rainbow Vista Trail
One of the most popular stops in Valley of Fire State Park is Rainbow Vista trailhead. From here you can take the 1 mile out and back hike to Rainbow Vista, capture your iconic clifftop photo of Mouse’s Road cutting right through the Valley of Fire, and wander around the trailhead parking area, taking in all the colorful layers of desert rock, sand and vegetation.
From the parking lot trailhead, I took Rainbow Vista trail and scrambled over a few rocks to get an aerial views of the marvelous desert rainbow. Seeing the sand turn from yellow to red blew my mind. If you cross the road from the trailhead, you can hike down the red rock cliffs to get your iconic pictures of Mouse’s Road. On the way back to the parking lot, take in all the extraordinary color-changing rocks and formations all around you. And get excited to explore the rest of the park!
Fire Wave Trail
Fire Wave trailhead has a fairly large parking area on both sides of White Dome Road and is very popular. Once you land a parking spot, I recommend heading right down to the Fire Wave rock formation which is a 1.5 miles out and back hike. The start of this trail is a bit slick with loose rocks on a decline, but once it levels out, the trail becomes one long sheet of rock with stacked cairns defining the trail. The Fire Wave is located at the end of the sheet of rock you have been walking across. It’s a gorgeous striped sandstone bowl that’s fun to explore!
After you’re ready to move on from the Fire Wave, you can head back to the parking lot the same way you came, but I recommend making this hike into a loop by continuing on the Seven Wonders Loop trail, which is only .3 miles longer.
Note: Both the Fire Wave Trail and Seven Wonders Loop close due to high temperatures from June 1 – September 30.
The Seven Wonders Loop
Easily my favorite hike in the park, the Seven Wonders Loop trail is 1.8 miles (including the Fire Wave trail) and allows you to hike right though Pink/Pastel Canyon. While the reason for its name is obvious, what intricate trail view awaits around each bend is not. It’s a wonderfully colorful hike that allows you to enjoy a variety of up close and distant views of the many hues of sandstone. The trail will bring you right back to the Fire Wave trailhead parking lot.
White Dome Loop
Best known for its slot canyon, this easy hike is just 1.1 miles long and beautiful. To visit the slot canyon first, hike the loop clockwise by heading over the sand hill at the trailhead. You will descend down steps to the awaiting cool canyon below. This slot canyon was definitely a highlight and made me less upset about not being able to get on a tour of Antelope Canyon in Arizona.
After you travel through the slot, you will steadily climb up a gully between two sandstone walls. Remember to look behind you as you to take in the view of the White Domes and desert landscape!
Fire Canyon Road
Driving any road in Valley of Fire State Park will leave you breathless, but there really are very few places to pull off to take photos. So, soak in those views through your windshield and drive down every road in the park, including Fire Canyon Road.
This road leads you to a great overview of the Fire Canyon, and better yet, it’s one more chance that you may get to see wild rams. This is the location I happened to be able to see a herd of 7 safely from my car. They were walking right down the road, browsing on the bushes.
A Nevada State Park pass is required and costs is $10 per vehicle per day or $15 for non Nevada plates. Here is the official website for Valley of Fire State Park and their very useful brochure map.
