With Las Vegas comes mental images of gambling, drinking, and partying up until the late hours of the night amongst glittery lights on the Strip. But just an hour away from the hustle and bustle of Sin City, you’ll find one of the most stunning state parks in the entire United States.
Famous for its glowing red rocks that give it its name, Valley of Fire State Park is one of the best nature getaways from Vegas. It is the oldest and largest state park in Nevada, and the eye candy here is just stunning — and that’s from someone who’s hiked plenty of national parks in the United States, from the Grand Canyon to Arches to Zion. There are plenty of hikes and viewpoints for all ages, and it’s the kind of place that can be covered in one day. I came here only starting in early afternoon and still managed to cover all the hikes that I wanted to, and that included stopping to take a billion photos (as one does). In fact, I even put this beautiful spot on my Most Instagrammable Spots in Las Vegas!
Note that because it is a state park, America the Beautiful annual national park passes will not apply here. The cost to enter is $10 per vehicle, but it’s more than worth it, I promise.
Interested in seeking out this quaint paradise for yourself? Here are some of the best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.
Fire Wave Trail
The Fire Wave is one of the most popular hikes in the Valley of Fire. Coming in at just under a mile long, this trail is extremely easy but also extremely rewarding. It’s similar to the famous Wave in Arizona, but unlike the Wave, which requires fighting hordes of tourists, you can hike the Fire Wave at any time of day. The beautiful swirled rock patterns alternate in red and white and glow in the sun (and make me hungry for ice cream). I came in the late afternoon, around golden hour, and the entire curved rock was lit up pink!
No one likes throngs of people in their photos, so I would be considerate and not sit around on the rock itself for very long. You can get just as lovely views sitting around the Fire Wave! I got pretty frustrated when people would climb up the rock and then sit there while I was trying to capture the lovely scenery.
Mouse’s Tank Road
Mouse’s Tank Road is a long, picturesque road that winds through the main part of the canyon. It’s a lovely drive that you have to take on the way out to the Fire Wave, and it’s also one of those spots where everyone wants to take an Instagram shot. I love climbing up a rock and just looking down the road where you can just see a narrow strip of asphalt surrounded by warm orange rocks for what looks like forever.
There are two main viewpoints that you can capture. One is at the Rainbow Vista trailhead (which I go into more detail on below), and the other one pictured above is at a small makeshift parking space right before you reach the Rainbow Vista parking lot. I would recommend bringing a zoom lens to bring in the background and make the rock valley look huge — we took my shot with a short mm and I wish I had a longer one!
Rainbow Vista
The other best capture point (and the more well-known one) is at the Rainbow Vista trailhead. You can’t miss it — it’s a massive steep rock slope that plenty of people will be climbing. Despite its height, it’s not particularly precarious, and you get a lovely angled view of Mouse’s Tank Road below! I came in the early afternoon, but I would recommend either coming earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon if you don’t want the lighting to be as harsh.
The Rainbow Vista trail is a relatively short out-and-back hike that’ll take you to a small canyon. It can get pretty sandy, and the canyon is hard to capture on camera, but it’s a decently fun hike and easy for everyone. I wouldn’t prioritize it if you have limited time in Valley of Fire, but it’s a great hike if you’re looking to take kids or people who are less athletic.
Elephant Rock
This picturesque rock formation is not located on the same long road as Rainbow Vista and the Fire Wave trails. It’s actually located right inside of the east park entrance, right off the road. Whether you think that it looks like an elephant or not, it’s extremely recognizable and a good quick stop. You’re no longer allowed to climb on the rock itself, and you’ll see signs posted asking to not climb on Elephant Rock to preserve it for future generations.
I came in the late afternoon and the sun was behind Elephant Rock, so it was pretty dark and almost chilly. If you want that light-colored glow, you’ll want to come in the morning instead!
White Domes Trail
White Domes is probably the longest and most diverse trail out of all the ones I’ve listed. It starts out with a bit of a steep set of stairs downwards, and will take you through large round rocks, tall spires, and my personal favorite, a beautiful little slot canyon. Honestly, the white domes in question aren’t very remarkable, or even that white, but I loved this trail for just how much variation there was in the scenery!
The path is pretty well-defined and quite narrow in spots, especially the slot canyon of course, so it can get a bit congested. It’s also extremely sandy in the beginning so you’ll want to watch your footsteps. When we went, there was a large family with young boys who were near us the entire time, so it was hard to get pictures with no one in them, but I would definitely love to go back and shoot in the slot canyon at high noon next time! The light filtering in through the narrow opening at the time would be so beautiful.
Have I convinced you to visit Valley of Fire State Park yet? Next time you’re visiting Vegas or Nevada and want to step away from the crazy lights and music for a bit, make sure to stop by! And if you’re interested in what else to do in Las Vegas that doesn’t require any partying, gambling, or drinking, make sure to check out my featured article in Darling Escapes here!
