A Quick Guide to Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada
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At Valley of Fire State Park, you will find stunning beauty and geological wonders throughout that will captivate nature enthusiast and photographers alike. Join our journey through towering red rock formations as we explore the vibrant landscapes and history of this State Park.
At each state park we visit there are certain areas or hikes that are on my must-see list. At Valley of Fire State Park, I expected to hike the Fire Wave Trail. Unfortunately, since it was summer, and the heat was so intense they closed the Fire Wave (insert sad face). I was sad to have missed it, but we were still able to enjoy this beautiful park, even if it was brief due to the heat. There is no way to see the Fire Wave from the road so we enjoyed some of the other trails instead.
Valley of Fire State Park
Location: 29450 Valley of Fire Road, Overton, Nevada.
Fee: $10 for Nevada residents and $15 for non-Nevada residents. During our time at this park, we paid the fee at the self-pay station. You will insert cash in the provided envelope and put in cash box located at the Greetings From sign below at the Elephant Rock trailhead.
Hours: Daily from sunrise to sunset 365 days a year
Pets are welcome except in the Visitor Center.
Visitor Center: Open 9 am to 4 pm daily. This is a smaller visitor center that offers a history of the park along with books, jewelry, post cards and other souvenirs. Restrooms available at the Visitor Center.
Cell signal: limited, Verizon
Closed trails: Fire Wave Trail, Seven Wonders Loop, White Domes Loop, Pastel Canyon, Pink Canyon, Pinnacles Loop, Prospect Trail, Arrowhead Trail, Natural Arch Trail (excludes Arch Rock), and Charlie’s Spring, are closed from May to October due to heat.
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What’s Nearby: time depends on weather and traffic conditions
1 hour to 1 -1/2 hours from Las Vegas
2 hour 22 minutes from Zion National Park
1 hour 25 minutes to Seven Magic Mountains
4 hour 33 minutes to Joshua Tree National Park
Greetings From sign
Upon entering the east entrance to the park, you can take your picture with this “Greetings from” sign shown below and pay your entrance fees here. At this location is also the trail head to Elephant Rock, details below.
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Picnic areas and restrooms
There are shaded picnic table areas and restrooms located throughout the park for your convenience. Check out the map for details of those locations.
Valley of Fire State Park map
Elephant Rock trail
Elephant Rock is seen below. Can you see the elephant? This is an easy 0.2 mile out-and-back trail, or you can extend it to 1.25 miles over loose rocks and sand. You can take the below picture without walking the entire trail but beware as it is close to a road, and you don’t want to be standing in the road to take the picture.
Trails at Valley of Fire State Park
There are multiple trails to hike within this park. Most trails are through sand/soil and range from 0.1 miles (Balancing Rock) to 6.8-mile hike (Old Arrowhead Road).
Mouse’s Tank - an easy 0.75-mile hike where petroglyphs line the walls.
Rainbow Vista - a 1-mile hike, perfect for photography
Fire Wave/Seven Wonders - 1.5-miles to Fire Wave out and back or extend to Seven Wonders for a 1.8-mile loop strenuous hike
White Domes - 1.1-mile loop to a slot canyon and old movie set
Atlati Rock - petroglyphs featuring tools used before the bow and arrow
Arch Rock - large rock viewable from the road
Beehives - geologic cross-bedding
Petrified Logs - 0.2-mile loop with evidence of the area’s forested past
Cabins - built in 1935
Fire Canyon/Silicia Dome - beautiful overlooks
Balancing Rock - 0.1-mile loop
Dogs are allowed on trails if on a leash.
Rock climbing is available and limited within the park. Check the visitor center for details.
Visitor Center & Mountain Goats
The rocks above are located at the Visitor Center and provide a great place to climb for the little ones. The holes are small which gives the perfect opportunity to play without getting lost.
You can also see Mountain goats in the distance from this area. (see below)
Beauty and history of the Rock formations
The picture below shows the amazing rocks and the different colors of red sandstone, gray limestone and tan limestone combined to make this beautiful colorful display for all to enjoy. These red rocks were once sand dunes that were around 150 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and the limestone were from when the land was covered by sea.
The beauty of the rocks is so impressive!
Below you will find another display of the magnificent colorful rocks of red/orange/tan.
Camping at Valley of Fire State Park
This park has 2 campgrounds that have a combined 72 sites. Campsites are available for reservations, and some are first come, first served, and are limited to 14 days in a 30-day period. Some RV sites do have electric and water hookups for an additional fee.
Atlatl Rock Campground - 44 Tent and RV sites, utilities and non-utility sites
Arch Rock Campground - 29 RV and tent sites, no utilities
Group Camping Areas - 3 spots for $25 each
Amenities: water, shade trees, water, grill, restrooms, dump station and showers
Cost: $20 per car for Nevada residents and $25 for non residents. There is also a $10 fee per night for water and electric hookup.
Campsites are open 24 hours for your convenience.
Prefer to stay in a hotel in or near Las Vegas? Check out these links for an easy way to book accommodations. Booking.com or VRBO.com.
This park has some beautiful different color rock formations for you to enjoy. It is extremely hot in the summer months so be prepared with the items listed below or choose to come during a different time of year when it is cooler. We didn’t spend a lot of time in this area due to the heat but would love to go back in the cooler months so we can hike the Fire Wave. Check out this blog post from Two Roaming Souls for more details on the hikes at Valley of Fire State Park.
Recommended items for hiking
Water and Hydrapeak water bottle
US Atlas Map -not all areas have cell signal and we have had to use this before when we lost cell service
Good hiking shoes and Teva sandals for walking in water
Cash for fee at self-pay station
This will be an unforgettable journey of history where every rock will seem to tell a story of years past as you enjoy the masterpiece of each step throughout Valley of Fire State Park. It is a beautiful state park with an awe-inspiring desert landscape and is a must visit when in the area.
Enjoy your journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US.
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