Nevada’s Valley of Fire State
Park has the strangest, reddest landscape this side of mars. Nevada’s
oldest, largest state park is only 6 miles north of Lake Mead,
yet feels like another world. The bizarre red/orange beauty of
the twisted pitted rock and millennia-old Native American Petroglyphs
beneath the blazing Nevada desert sun must be seen, toured, touched
to be believed.
The Visitors Center on hwy 163 has plenty of hiking information
and desert wildlife exhibits. Popular activities in the park include
hiking, camping, picnicking and photography.
There are numerous incredible rock formations in the Valley of
Fire National Park. The White Domes contrasting colors are worth
a snap-shot or three. The 7 Sisters’ eerie red-rock formations
resemble a kind of natural Easter Island. Atlatl Rock’s
3,000 year old Indian rock art connects visitors to a portion
of the park’s ancient past. All of these sites also have
restrooms, picnic areas and trail heads.
Camping is permitted in the Valley of Fire National Park. There
are 2 year-round sites in the park that are 1st come 1st serve
and 3 group camping sites that accommodate up to 45 people. Both
have restrooms, showers, tables and grills, but the group campsites
require reservations ((702) 397-2088).
The Valley of Fire National Park takes its name not only from
the color of the rocks there, but from the way that sunset and
sunrise seem to paint the valley with flames. There are a number of interesting creatures
inhabiting the Valley of Fire National Park in Nevada, including Coyotes,
Kit-Foxes and rare, protected Desert Tortoises.
