Valley of Fire State Park
Nevada’s oldest state park joins crimson Jurassic sandstone, pale domes, narrow passages, petrified wood, and ancient petroglyphs in the exposed Mojave Desert.
Artwork inspired by Hans Meyer-Kassel
Wind and water cut roughly 150-million-year-old Aztec sandstone—fossil dunes from the Jurassic—into fins, bowls, arches, and narrow passages set against gray limestone. At Atlatl Rock and Mouse’s Tank, much later petroglyph panels add human histories that cannot be reduced to one easy translation. Observe them without touching, tracing, or chalking.
Start with the visitor center and scenic road, then choose walks for the season. White Domes combines shifting rock color and a short slot; Mouse’s Tank follows a sandy canyon past petroglyphs. Many signature trails close May 15–September 30 because of extreme heat. In summer, a sunrise drive with short stops is safer and often more revealing than forcing a midday hike.
- Established
- 1935
- Landscape
- About 40,000 acres
- Allow
- Half to full day
Quick guide
- Visitor center
- Visitor center, then the White Domes road
- Best light
- Early or late, when cross-bedding appears
A closer field guide to Valley of Fire State Park
- Opening question
- Check geology, weather, and closures at the visitor center.
- Visitor center
- Walk in cool weather; use scenic stops in severe heat.
- Evidence to test
- Read cross-bedding and petroglyphs without touching.
- Conditions check
- Stop at the first sign of heat stress or threatening weather.
Good to know
Many trails close during the hottest part of the year. Road work can independently change entrance access, so check official alerts before choosing a route even when the desired trail is seasonally open.
Notice these
- White Domes
- Petroglyph panels
- Aztec sandstone road