Valley of Fire State Park is an easy, and fun, day trip from Las Vegas. There’s plenty of hiking opportunities, but honestly, I think it’s worth it even if you only do the scenic drive and visit some view points. Despite having visited national parks in this region (the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Death Valley in California, and all of Utah’s Mighty Five), I couldn’t get over how amazing the scenery was. It felt so different from anything I’d ever seen before.
About Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire is a state park located east of Las Vegas, Nevada and is home to some incredible rock formations. While it’s great for a scenic drive, I think hiking allows visitors to get up close to all of these unique features. Plus, you’ll also find petroglyphs that are more than 2,000 years old.
Best Things to Do at Valley of Fire State Park
This list is divided into three sections: Overlooks and Viewpoints, Hiking, and the Scenic Drive. Within these, I’ve broken out the major sights that you should visit, but keep in mind that this list is not in any particular order. I’ll cover my absolute favorite things to do at Valley of Fire State Park later in this post.
Overlooks and Viewpoints
Let’s start with the viewpoints.
Beehives
If you enter from the west (ie, you’re coming from Las Vegas), the Beehives are the first area you’ll come too. These rocks, unsurprisingly, are shaped like beehives and can make for some great photo ops. While it can be tempting to linger here, make these stops quick because the scenery will just get better as the day goes on.
Atlatl Rock
Atlatl Rock is worth stopping for if you have an interest in petroglyphs. From the parking lot, it’s a very short walk to a set of stairs that will take you right up to the petroglyphs.
Admittedly, I’m not super into petroglyphs so for me, I found the view of the surrounding area more impressive. That said, I did think it was cool that there is a set of stairs that allows you to get up close to the petroglyphs. So often, you have to view the petroglyphs from a distance and it becomes very difficult to make them out. But if you’ve ever wanted to see petroglyphs close up, stop here.
Arch Rock
Just up the road from Atlatl Rock, you’ll find Arch Rock. Yes, it’s kind of cool, but honestly I think there are much better rock formations at Valley of Fire.
Fire Cave/Windstone Arch
For some reason I can’t seem to find any photos of Fire Cave and Windstone Arch which makes me question if I completely missed it on my trip. It’s definitely possible, but regardless, you’ll find another overlook here.
Balancing Rock
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, every park seems to have their own balancing/balanced rock. Valley of Fire State Park is no exception and its balancing rock is located right near the visitor center. By all means stop and see it, but personally, I’m kind of over balanced rocks.
Fire Canyon/Silica Dome Overlook
This overlook is pretty spectacular and it’s one of the best things to do at Valley of Fire State Park, in my opinion. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk to a sweeping overlook of Valley of Fire State Park, including the Fire Canyon and Silica Dome.
And if you’re a Star Trek fan, you’ll be incredibly close to Captain Kirk’s grave.
Elephant Rock
Located at the far eastern area of the park, is Elephant Rock. Unsurprisingly, it’s a rock shaped like an elephant. While I guess it’s a cool rock formation, I did think it was a bit overrated. That said, this was the very last thing I saw before leaving Valley of Fire State Park, so it’s definitely possible that I was just ready to be done by this point.
If you’re exiting to the east, I think Elephant Rock is worth a quick stop. But, if you are heading back to Las Vegas (and therefore will likely be exiting to the west), I don’t think it’s worth the detour.
Hiking
After all those viewpoints, get out and hike on one of the many trails at Valley of Fire State Park.
Fire Wave/Pink Canyon
This hike is a favorite and therefore one of the best things to do at Valley of Fire State Park because of the scenery you encounter on the trail. First there’s the magnificent Fire Wave, a rock with multi colored layers that gives the illusion of fire. If you continue hiking, you’ll reach the Pink Canyon, a slot canyon lined with pink colored rock.
For me the highlight of this trail was the variety of the scenery. It was hard to believe that over the course of about two miles, you could see so much variety.
My Stats: I logged 2.17 miles and 223 feet of elevation gain over 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Mouse’s Tank
Mouse’s Tank is a natural basin where rain water can collect. Plus, you’ll also find some prehistoric petroglyphs on the trail.
This is one hike I didn’t do on my trip. Firstly, I ran out of time, and secondly, based on my research, this was the least impressive of the hikes at Valley of Fire State Park. That said, there were still many cars at this trailhead and based on pictures, it does look cool. But, I would strongly recommend the other three hikes on this list. All three were fantastic.
Stats: The trail is 0.9 miles and has about 100 feet of elevation gain.
Rainbow Vista Trail
This trail doesn’t have as much spectacular scenery on the hike (although it still is beautiful), but your reward is a sweeping view of the park. For that view alone, this short hike is worth it and definitely makes it into my favorite things to do at Valley of Fire State Park.
That all said, I do have to give a warning for this trail. I visited on a very windy day, with wind speeds averaging 20 miles per hour. On this trail, there’s a decent amount of sand and with the strong winds, you can end up with face fulls of sand. It’s not pleasant. That said, the view was worth the beating that my face took.
My Stats: I logged 1 mile and 108 feet of elevation gain over 30 minutes.
White Domes Trail
Lastly, I want to mention the White Domes Trail. This trail is short, but offers a great slot canyon and some more great views. The biggest thing to note is the starting point of this trail. Since this trail is a loop, you can go in either direction.
I hiked clockwise and that meant that I had a steep decent along rocks at the very start of my hike. It’s doable and there are generally steps so you don’t have to rock scramble. However, this was the only sketchy section of the hike. Once through here, the hike was a piece of cake, even as you steadily climb back up to your starting point.
My Stats: I logged 1.1 miles and 171 feet of elevation gain over 30 minutes.
Scenic Drive
I have to add a special mention for the scenic drive on this list. If you plan to hike or visit some of the viewpoints, you’ll end up on this scenic drive regardless. Don’t get me wrong, some of the hikes were great, but this scenic drive gets my vote for the best thing to do at Valley of Fire State Park.
The road is narrow and the rocks on either side are tall. I’ve driven so many scenic drives through national and state parks, but I’ve never driven through anything quite like this. My best advice is to have a passenger who’s ready with their camera. You’ll want to take as many photos as you can. For those traveling solo, you’ll find a handful of places to pull over for photos.
As amazing as the scenery is, don’t forget to drive carefully.
The Best of Valley of Fire State Park
While it varies from person to person, here’s my thoughts on the best things to do at Valley of Fire State Park.
The scenic drive is incredible and one of my favorites from any state park (and it even beats out some scenic drives at national parks). If you only do one thing at Valley of Fire State Park, make it this.
For hikes, I think the best is the Fire Wave and Pink Canyon Loop. The hike takes you to such unique features and it’s incredible. My second favorite hike was the Rainbow Vista Trail.
As far as overlooks, I’d pick the Fire Cave/Silica Valley Overlook. While I don’t think you could go wrong with any of the overlooks, this had the best views.
How Long Do You Need at Valley of Fire State Park
One day is sufficient. It will be a busy day, but you can accomplish all of the best things to do at Valley of Fire State Park with just one day.
If you have more than one day, I’d recommend looking at one of the other awesome areas nearby. Red Rock Canyon is west of Las Vegas and makes another easy day trip from Las Vegas. If you’re heading east, you’re only two hours away from Zion National Park.
Where to Stay at Valley of Fire State Park
While you can camp within the park, I’m going to focus more on where to stay outside of the park. For many visitors, Valley of Fire State Park is a day trip from Las Vegas, where you’ll find more hotel options than you can count. For most travelers, Las Vegas will be your best option.
When to Visit Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park is open all year round, but there are some caveats. In summer, some of the popular hiking trails (including the Fire Wave) will close simply because it is too hot. These high temperatures and the lack of available water make it dangerous to hike. While the scenic drive is still open, you won’t get the opportunity to hike the Fire Wave, Pink Canyon, or White Domes Trail. If you are a hiker, make sure to visit outside of the summer months.
I visited in very early March and had mostly good weather. The temperature was pleasant and ideal for hiking. My only complaint was the nearly 20 mile per hour wind.
It is important to note though, that in spring, there may be standing water in some of the slot canyons. Notably, the Pink Canyon had standing water. While you could absolutely walk through it, it was easy enough to rock scramble up and over the canyon.
My Visit to Valley of Fire State Park
I visited Valley of Fire State Park as part of a long weekend trip to southern Utah. I flew into Las Vegas and spent the night at an airport hotel. The next day, I picked up my rental car and headed to Valley of Fire State Park where I spent a few hours touring the highlights. From there, I continued driving east to Hurricane, Utah where I based myself for the next few days while I explored Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
Valley of Fire was amazing. On a prior trip, I had visited Red Rock Canyon which I thought was awesome. While I still think Red Rock Canyon was really cool, Valley of Fire has much more dramatic scenery. Driving through the park is amazing and when you get out and hike, it becomes even cooler.
While it is true that I enjoyed my visit to Valley of Fire State Park, the only change I wish I could change was the weather. Yes, the temperatures were nice and the sun was shining, but I had some killer winds.
The problem with the wind is a lot of the trails are covered in sand so when a powerful wind gust comes through, you sometimes have to stop and turn your head to avoid being pelted by a blast of sand. The Rainbow Vista Trail, while beautiful, is not ideal when it’s super windy.
How to Get to Valley of Fire State Park
You have two options when it comes to visiting Valley of Fire State Park. The first is my more recommended option and that’s to have your own vehicle. Whether you visit Valley of Fire State Park as part of a larger road trip or just as a day trip from Las Vegas, I think having your own vehicle gives you so much more freedom. There is so much to see at this park and so many hikes to do that I think it’s worth having your own vehicle so you can travel at your own pace.
For those taking a day trip from Las Vegas, but who don’t want to drive, you can hire a tour company to take you to Valley of Fire State Park. They’ll take care of all of the driving and will make sure that you get to see the highlights of the park. The only downside is that you are on their schedule instead of your own.
Entrance Fees
It costs $15 per vehicle to enter Valley of Fire State Park ($10 for Nevada residents).
Note that your America the Beautiful Pass (or any other similar national park passes) are not accepted. This is such a common problem that you’ll find several signs stating this as you pull in to Valley of Fire.
Final Thoughts
Valley of Fire State Park was so much better than I envisioned. Based on pictures, I knew I’d enjoy it, but I don’t think I expected to be as amazed as I was. For those who love scenic views and some fun, but not too strenuous hiking (not in summer), add Valley of Fire State Park to your travel list.
Continue Your Adventure
More Near Las Vegas: Visit Red Rock Canyon National Monument for more amazing red rock views, hikes, and a great scenic drive. Venture east to Hoover Dam to see an engineering marvel.
Itineraries: Loop in Snow Canyon State Park plus Zion and Bryce Canyon in a long weekend itinerary.
Road Trips From Las Vegas: In this 10 Day Itinerary, take a road trip through the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks. In this 7 Day Itinerary, start in Las Vegas and visit Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks.