We finished our two-day, three-night visit at Valley of Fire with a second drive on Fire Canyon Road.
If you only had a couple hours to visit Valley of Fire just driving the roads would provide an awesome show of twisted, stripped, and colorful rock formations all vying for attention. The park’s brochure encourages several short and easy hikes that provide more intimacy with the rock.
It’s a toss up which trail is my favorite. White Domes was the longest and a pleasant loop with teasing side canyons winding through dry washes and climbing only a few rocky steps. I was a little disappointed in Fire Wave, maybe because of the hype, but the landscape surrounding it screams for more exploration. The highlight was seeing so many petroglyphs both at Atlatl Rock and along Mouse’s Tank trail. There’s sure to be a whole lot more out there.
There are no advertised trails along Fire Canyon Road yet several pull offs along the way offered far views plus lots of tempting land to walk into.
Near one pull off a car was parked on the road and a gal was skate boarding while a guy took video. Is this what parks are for? Then look at me taking a picture of them.
I prefer to immerse myself in the landscape, visually, physically, emotionally and spiritually. There is never enough time to really get it, be one with, understand and absorb a place.
Sometimes the sharp contrast and bands of colors don’t seem real. OK, I know the red is iron from the high silica sandstone but really, those distinct lines just blow me away.
At the end of the road we walked a short ways along an abandoned and closed road, eaten away by the power of water. There are very few people around.
A young(er) couple took off to climb the rock challenge. I’m OK with watching them and not drawn to follow. Many animal/human trails weave across the land hopefully avoiding the fragile cryptobiotic soils.
What more can I say about Valley of Fire State Park. It’s incredible! I want to go back. Don’t limit yourself to just the park’s recommended trails. Being only an hour’s drive from Las Vegas it has pros and cons making the park busy yet providing a natural area to escape the concrete jungle.
You have sure put this place on my radar. Your pictures are brilliant,literally. They make it come alive. Your description of immersing yourself in the landscape, visually, physically, emotionally and spiritually echoes my feelings about the natural world. We are kindred spirits. SO nice to read posts of a kindred spirit. Thank you!
Thank you Sherry, you make me blush. I figured for a long time that we’re kindred spirits.
I always enjoy your tours. I’d love to check this place out.
Thanks Yogi. I think your family would love this place.
Thanks for taking us along hope to explore there someday.
Great photos.
You’re welcome. It’s worth it. Thank you.
You are making me so hungry for red rocks! I love hiking with the saguaro and having them surround me on every drive, but I love the beautiful red, gold, green, purple, and pink rocks just as much. Makes it much easier to leave the saguaro knowing I will be hiking in the red rock next day:) Hiking off the beaten path is so much fun in Valley of Fire. It is very difficult at times to find ways around the cryptobiotic soils. Some areas are covered. But it didn’t look like too many people explored away from the main trails. The park ranger did encourage us to enjoy the whole park, so we did:)
I’d like to think the majority of visitors here stick to the trails and am glad to hear when off trail the soils are respected. I love saguaros too, but the red rock has captured my heart.
Stunning pics. We always try to take time on our day trips to just Be in the beauty of a place. The striking difference in color and terrain is here, and I too love the sharp contrast of layers along the upheavals. We’re hoping to get there in late April if it isn’t too hot already.
Thanks Jodee. It takes time to get to really know a place and I never feel like I have enough time. Could be hot in April. Heck, it’s already in the 80s there right now.
We’ve been to Vegas numerous times and each time say we really should get out there and explore. Now I am convinced we must do it the next time we head south for any length of time. Beautiful shots, Gaelyn.
Thanks Jackie. I highly recommend this as an escape from Vegas.
What an amazing place Gaelyn – and stunning photos.
Thanks Sue.
I find this an amazing place and I have asked our friends if we can plan a trip there. I hope it all works out as planned. Stunning photographs. Hope you get your Nikon sorted out very soon. What a pain it won’t focus. Take care Diane
Thanks Diane. I do hope you can at least drive through it. The Nikon won’t auto-focus so I’ll be practicing with the manual focus which does work.
Thanks for the “teaching moment.” I had to look-up cryptobiotic soils/crusts. I was amazed to read that stepping off the trail may require a five to seven year recovery period.
Thanks for the in-depth posts of Valley of Fire. I’m definitely hoping to make a trip there with Pongo in the near future.