Valley Of Fire State Park In Las Vegas

The Valley of Fire in Las Vegas is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. Home to the most dramatic landscapes, here’s a guide for visiting.

Table of Contents

How To Get To Valley Of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park is located in the Mojave Desert, 50 miles (80km) north east of Las Vegas and 16 miles (26km) south of the town of Overton, Nevada.

By Car:

This is an easy trip if you are based in Las Vegas. Most people rent a car and drive out to the Valley of Fire State Park, with the journey only taking just over an hour.

There are two main entrances to the park, one on the west and one on the east. The west entrance is the easiest and most popular when travelling from Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas, head north on the 1-15 to the town of Crystal, Nevada. From Crystal take the Valley of Fire highway 11 miles (17km) to the park entrance.

By Tour:

For those short on time, or that prefer everything to be organised for them, there are some awesome tours on Get Your Guide available to book in advance.

For example, From Las Vegas: Valley of Fire State Park Tour is a popular, small group, 7 hour day trip.

Valley Of Fire State Park Entrance Fee

There is a $15 entrance fee per vehicle, per day.

Valley Of Fire State Park Opening Times

Open daily from sunrise to sunset.

The Visitor Centre is open daily from 9am to 4pm.

Best Time To Visit Valley Of Fire State Park + Tips

Probably the best time to visit is between October and April when the temperatures are cooler. Usually the months of May to September get very hot, making even short hikes quite challenging.

If you do visit during the summer months, try and visit early morning or later in the day to avoid some of the heat.

This is a popular tourist attraction, especially for people visiting Las Vegas. Therefore it can get pretty busy with traffic often queueing to get in by mid-morning.

Sunrise and sunset are both apparently beautiful at Valley of Fire State Park, with the valley looking like its actually on fire! You will also avoid the traffic queues at these times.

Facilities can be found at the Visitor Centre which has bathrooms, water fountains, a selection of sandwiches and drinks. As well as a collection of interesting displays and information.

What To Pack

Reusable Water Bottle

Sunscreen

Lightweight Rain Jacket

Valley Of Fire State Park History

Spread over nearly 46000 acres, the bright red aztec sandstone formations are what gave the Valley of Fire its name. Amazingly, these sandstone formations were formed by shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago.

Prehistoric Native American communities (Ancestral Puebloans) are said to have inhabited this area between 300BC and 1150AD. They would have farmed the fertile Moapa Valley close by.

Fascinating examples of rock art (petroglyphs) left by these ancient peoples can be seen at several sites within the park.

Subsequently, the Paiute Native American community were living in this area in 1865 when Mormons settled at nearby St Thomas, at the southern end of the Moapa Valley.

In 1933 the Civilian Conservations Corps started working on the park and following the building of roads, campgrounds, trails and visitor cabins, the park opened to the public in 1934.

This public recreation and nature preservation area is Nevada’s oldest State Park and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968.

What To Expect At Valley Of Fire State Park

The diversity and unusual colours of the dramatic landscape at Valley of Fire State Park are pretty spectacular.

Filled with swirling reds, oranges and pinks, visiting this magical place is a must on the things to do in Las Vegas bucket list..

From canyons and petroglyphs to unique stone formations, there is plenty to see. As well as there being some great hiking opportunities.

The joy of this park is that you can spend a day of hiking in the valley or simply drive through and see most of the top spots quite quickly.

The main highway (NV 169) through the Valley of Fire State Park takes you past plenty of stunning scenery.

Undoubtedly though, White Domes Road ( or Mouse’s Tank Road) definitely offers the most spectacular views.

There are however several different roads you can follow throughout the park. All with some great viewpoints, where all you need to do is get out of your car to get some awesome photos.

In addition, if you love to spot wildlife while out and about you won’t be disappointed here. From antelope squirrels, badgers, coyotes, ring-tailed cats, desert tortoises to lizards and rattlesnakes there’s plenty to look out for on your Las Vegas itinerary.

Fun fact for all movie fans, Valley of Fire, with its unusual landscape, has been used as the backdrop in many movies over the years.

Including Transformers, Total Recall, Star Trek: Generations, Casino and Breathless to name just a few!

Hiking In The Valley Of Fire

The Valley of Fire State Park has 24 different hiking trails. Many of them are quite short and easy to follow and furthermore they all have diverse and dramatic landscapes to enjoy.

If you only have a day, you can easily manage a few of the shorter trails and see some of the spectacular sights.

Although, if you are stopping for longer (there are 2 campsites within the park), you could probably complete all the trails within a couple of days.

The Visitor Centre are happy to offer suggestions for hikes of varying length and terrain. As well as point out the all the top spots.

From Mouse’s Tank Hike, Rainbow Vista and Fire Canyon Overlook Hike to Elephant Rock Hike (yes there is a rock formation that resembles an elephant), you will be spoilt for choice.

For the more adventurous that are looking for a longer hike, the Prospect Trail is a 9 mile trail into the heart of the park. Also, due to it being quieter and more remote, this hike is recommended for seeing wildlife.

If you would prefer a guided tour, the Valley of Fire Guided Hiking Tour from Las Vegas offers easy, moderate or difficult hikes, depending on your level of fitness and experience.

Where To Stay In Las Vegas

Luxury: Bellagio

Set behind the famous Fountains of Bellagio, this luxury Las Vegas Strip hotel and casino offers multiple dining options and elegant rooms with marble en suite bathrooms.

The richly-decorated rooms of the Bellagio come with a flat-screen satellite TV and electronic drapes. Soft bathrobes, a minibar and an iPod docking station are available.

Bellagio guests can enjoy one of 5 beautiful courtyard pools and lush botanical gardens. A wide-range of dining options are available, including Sadelle’s, Prime Steakhouse and the Mayfair Supper Club.

Mid-Budget: Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino

Featuring an outdoor pool, poolside bar and lounge area, this Las Vegas casino and resort provides plush bathrobes in each elegant room.

Offering a separate vanity area off the marble en suite bathroom, each room provides a pillow-top mattress. A 40-inch flat-screen cable TV, white linens and rich wood and leather furnishings are also on offer.

Guests can relax in lounge chairs on the poolside terrace or sauna at Las Vegas Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino. Slots and tables are available in the on-site casino.

Massage services are available in the Spa. Dry cleaning services and concierge services are also available. Nine restaurants and two Starbucks are onsite.

Budget: Downtowner Boutique Hotel

Near the Fremont Street Entertainment District in the heart of exciting central Las Vegas, Nevada, this economy hotel offers convenient amenities such as free parking.

Downtowner Hotel features a refreshing outdoor swimming pool. Guests will also appreciate free local calls and in-room satellite TV.

Visitors at the Hotel Downtowner can enjoy world-class dining, fine shopping and exciting gaming only minutes away.

For more places to stay in Las Vegas, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.