Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park is a Nevada state park known for its red sandstone formations and desert scenery, established as Nevada’s oldest state park in 1935. It lies in the Mojave Desert and is a popular day-trip destination from Las Vegas.

The park features vivid red Aztec sandstone formations, layered domes and sculpted fins that produce strong color contrasts, especially in morning and late afternoon light. Notable destinations inside the park include the Fire Wave, the White Domes slot canyon, Atlatl Rock with prehistoric petroglyphs, Elephant Rock and several short interpretive trails; many of these are reached by short hikes or roadside pullouts.

A number of short, maintained trails range from easy boardwalks and viewpoint pullouts to unpaved singletrack that traverses slickrock and narrow canyons.

The sandstone formations are Jurassic-age deposits sculpted by wind and water over millions of years; petroglyphs in the park record hunter-gatherer and Indigenous presence dating back many centuries. The park was set aside and developed for public use in the 20th century and now includes interpretive signage and limited facilities for visitors.

The park sits in southeastern Nevada about 55 miles (roughly 88 kilometers) northeast of Las Vegas, near the small town of Overton and adjacent to the Lake Mead region. The landscape is open Mojave Desert with road access from U.S. highways and short paved park roads.

• Best time to visit: Best visited in spring and autumn when daytime temperatures are mild; summer temperatures routinely exceed 100°F (38°C) and can be hazardous for extended hikes.
• Trail conditions: Petroglyph panels at some roadside stops are on low rock faces and can be seen without long hikes, but most scenic trails are on uneven sandstone where sturdy footwear is recommended.

What to See #

• Fire Wave: A short out-and-back trail to the Fire Wave formation that winds through banded sandstone; the hike is under 1.5 miles round trip on unpaved trail sections and offers the park's most photographed surface patterns.
• White Domes: A slot-canyon and scenic loop with layered sandstone, narrow passages and a short trail network that includes the White Domes loop of about 1.25 miles.
• Atlatl Rock: A roadside rock face covered with pre-Columbian petroglyphs engraved into the sandstone; accessible via a short stairway and viewing platform.
• Elephant Rock: A distinctive sea-animal shaped formation reached from a roadside pullout and short walk, popular for quick photos at sunrise or sunset.
• Mouse's Tank: A short, flat interpretive walk to a dry wash that historically held a small pool used by early visitors; the trail passes rock art and eroded sandstone features.