7 Burning Reasons to Visit the Valley of Fire

The Valley of Fire State Park was dedicated in 1935, making it Nevada’s oldest state park, but the area’s history actually stretches back for millenia. Since 300 BCE, the Valley of Fire has been home to numerous prehistoric civilizations, such as the Basket Maker people and the Anasazi Pueblo farmers.

In addition to fossils and archaeological artefacts, inhabitants of the Valley of Fire have left their mark in the form of petroglyphs, which were created by chipping the “desert varnish” off the surface of the Valley’s bright red stones in order to reveal the lighter sandstone underneath. Petroglyphs are abundant throughout the state park, and some are even as old as 3,000 years. The best places to see them are Atlatl Rock and (surprise) Petroglyph Canyon.

The bright red formations of the Valley of Fire formed over the course of 150 million years through a complicated process of geological uplifting, faulting, and erosion. Why are they so red? Their characteristic hue comes from the iron oxide in the area’s sediment.

Not only does the Valley of Fire boast beautiful night skies, but it’s also a popular location for filming movies and television. You may have seen it in:

The Grand Canyon sees about 5 million visitors each year, while the Valley of Fire has about 300,000. That means less competition for photo ops, and a more tranquil atmosphere.

The area plantlife is dominated by desert mainstays like creosote bush, burro bush, and brittlebush, as well as several species of cacti. But it’s the Valley of Fire’s springtime bloom of wildflowers like the desert marigold, indigo bush, and desert mallow that are the most gorgeous, and the sight can’t be missed if you’re visiting Las Vegas in the spring.

The most iconic sights include:

Atlatl Rock is a single large boulder perched atop a sandstone outcrop. It got its name from a prominent petroglyph featuring at atlatl – a throwing stick used to propel a spear or dart before arrows were invented. Metal stairs give you access to the top of Atlatl Rock, but otherwise, climbing is prohibited.

Mouse’s Tank is located at the head of Petroglyph Canyon, Mouse’s Tank was named after a Southern Paiute Indian named “Little Mouse”, who nearly escaped from his pursuers after being accused of killing two prospectors (as well as other crimes) in the 1880s by hiding in the Canyon.

Elephant Rock looks just like – you guessed it – an elephant. It’s located close to the park’s east entrance, about a ⅓ mile hike from the main parking area.