A Complete Guide to the Valley of Fire Hikes in Las Vegas

ByCandice Steele Updated On

RESEARCHING THE BEST VALLEY OF FIRE HIKES?

You’ve come to the right place. Our family has been visiting Las Vegas since 2011 and we have spent a lot of time there. We have camped in the Valley of Fire and visited on many different occasions, so we know the ins and outs of the hiking trails there.

We love to explore the striking landscape outside the city in Valley of Fire Las Vegas. We always enjoy our time in the park because of the great Valley of Fire hikes and opportunities to see wildlife.

We’ll fill you in on all the need-to-know details and tips about visiting Valley of Fire so when you’re ready for a break from the shows, buffets, and casinos, you’ll be prepared for a perfect day of fresh air and the outdoors at Valley of Fire Las Vegas.

Best Valley of Fire Hikes

Fire Wave Trail

Fire Wave Trail in Valley of Fire Las Vegas
  • Length: 1.5 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 236 feet
  • Route Type: Out & Back
  • Difficulty: Easy

The Fire Wave Hike is our favorite thing to do in the Valley of Fire Las Vegas. The Fire Wave Valley of Fire is well worth the easy hike. At the end of the hike, there is a beautiful sandstone formation that resembles an ocean wave composed of swirling red, white, and pink sandstone.

The Fire Wave trailhead is across the street from parking lot #3 on the north side of White Dome Road. The trail is well-marked with tall sandstone formations to admire along the way.

Note: The best time to take pictures of the Fire Wave is in the late afternoon to early evening.

You can easily combine the Fire Wave Trail with a couple of other nearby hikes if you would like to see some other places in the park.

Fire Wave and Seven Wonders Loop

  • Length: 1.8 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 193 feet
  • Route Type: Loop
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Instead of turning back once you reach the Fire Wave, you continue through the slot canyon as it goes north. The trail is not as well marked after the Fire Wave, so it is a good idea to download the map before heading out.

By following the property trail, you will make sure to not miss the tight canyons. The Pastel Canyon, also called the Pink Canyon, is another photo-worthy part of the Valley of Fire Las Vegas. It is a small little canyon with a beautiful light pink color.

White Domes Trail

White Domes Trail - Valley of Fire hikes
  • Length: 1.1 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 173 feet
  • Route Type: Loop
  • Difficulty: Easy

The White Domes Trail is another fun hike in Valley Fire State Park Nevada. It is about a one-mile hike but there are some mild changes in elevation. To walk down the steep part of the hike, start the hike by going clockwise.

There is a narrow slot canyon that is fun to walk through and at the beginning, you can climb to the top of the domes for some beautiful views of the park, especially at sunset.

Pinnacles Loop

  • Length: 4.8 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 429 feet
  • Route Type: Loop

This is one of the longer Valley of Fire hikes with beautiful sandstone formations. It also is not a commonly hiked trail, so chances are, you’ll have the trail to yourself.

At the beginning of the hike, it seems like you’re walking away from the red rocks but give it some time. Behind the hill there are beautiful pinnacles and red rock. Keep an eye for the markers along the trail and know that it is a sandy trail so it may be a more difficult hike.

As always, be sure to bring plenty of water.

Mouse’s Tank Trail

Mouse Tanks Trail - Valley of Fire Hikes

  • Length: 0.8 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 55 feet
  • Route Type: Out & Back
  • Difficulty: Easy

We do this hike every time we visit Valley of Fire State Park because it is a great hike if you are visiting the Valley of Fire with little kids. It is a short .75-mile round trip hike with no real incline.

Mouse’s Tank is a fun hike to play in the sand and see some petroglyphs. You also walk through a beautiful canyon. The hike ends at a natural rock basin that is filled with rainfall. It is one of our favorite Valley of Fire hikes.

Petrified Logs Loop

  • Length: 0.3 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 26 feet
  • Route Type: Loop
  • Difficulty: Easy

This is a well-marked and easy 10-minute Valley of Fire hiking trail that will take you by the petrified logs in the area. There are more petrified trees at the west trail than the east.

Overall, this is one of the quick easy Valley of Fire hikes that is worth a stop if you haven’t seen petrified logs before.

Rainbow Vista Trail

Rainbow Vista Trail is one of the prettiest Valley of Fire hikes
  • Length: 1.1 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 95 feet
  • Route Type: Out & Back
  • Difficulty: Easy

Rainbow Vista is another short Valley Fire State Park hiking trail that is about 1-mile roundtrip. The Rainbow Vista Valley of Fire ends at the top of a large hill that has a great view of the park.

Our kids loved climbing on the rocks as we walked along the Valley of Fire trails. There were lots of places to stop along the trail and enjoy the beautiful views. The trail is fine red sand which may make it a bit harder to walk through.

Keep an eye out for the trail’s directional markers to make sure you stay on the path.

Rainbow Vista and Fire Canyon Overlook Trail

If you want to extend the Rainbow Vista Trail, you can tack on the Fire Canyon Overlook hike. This makes the overall trail about 1.75 miles roundtrip. At the end of the Rainbow Vista trail, there is a sign pointing the way to the Fire Canyon Overlook and the way back to the parking area.

At the end of this Valley of Fire hiking trail, there is a beautiful overlook of the canyon and a small arch.

Elephant Rock Trail

Elephant Rock Trail is one of the shorter Valley of Fire hikes
  • Length: 0.3 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 52 feet
  • Route Type: Out & Back
  • Difficulty: Easy

It seems like this is one of the Valley of Fire trails, my kids always want to stop at. Elephant Rock is a quick and easy walk to an arch rock formation that looks like an elephant. It is just inside the east entrance of the Valley of Fire Park.

The Elephant in Rock Valley of Fire is located next to the east entrance. This arch rock formation looks like an elephant. It is also a great place to let your kids explore and climb on the rocks.

Fire Cave

  • Length: 0.02 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 0 feet
  • Route Type: Out & Back
  • Difficulty: Easy

The Fire Cave is on the Scenic Loop Road and is also called the Windstone Arch. The cave is less than three feet tall but is beautiful.

It can be hard to find the cave but keep exploring the area until you find the cave. Photographers waiting for a turn to take pictures of the cave is a sign you’re in the right place.

Fire Cave Directions: After passing the Arch Rock campground, drive 0.1 miles. Where this road makes the first bend to the right and starts to dip, pull off to the right side, and stop.

The arch can be found about 150 feet off of the road.

Atlatl Rock

  • Length: 0.1 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 16 feet
  • Route Type: Out & Back
  • Difficulty: Easy

Although I consider this more of a walk across the parking lot, it is still worth a stop. Atlatl Rock has the best petroglyphs in the Valley of Fire Nevada. There is a short walk from the parking lot to a set of stairs that will take you to the petroglyphs.

Prospect Trail

  • Length: 8.8 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 800 feet
  • Route Type: Out & Back
  • Difficulty: Moderate

If you are looking for a longer and more challenging Valley of Fire hiking trail, consider the Prospect Trail. There are great views of the valley with little up and down change in elevation. The trail is a sandy, rocky wash.

You can also add the White Dome Trail to complete the loop. The trailhead for the white dome loop is not clearly marked so it is a good idea to keep track of where you are on the map. Adding the White Dome Loop makes the trail about 11 miles.

Please keep in mind this is a longer trail so be sure to bring plenty of water. The Valley of Fire weather is hot and dry.

Tip: If you’re going to be in Las Vegas as a family, be sure to check out all of the fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids. Flyover Las Vegas is an exciting attraction that the whole family will love!

The Beehives

This stop is just off the side of the road. You can look at them as you drive by or you can get out for pictures. You can climb to the top of the highest beehive for great views of Valley Fire State Park.

Seven Sisters in Valley of Fie

Seven Sisters

These seven sandstone rock formations are found on the side of the Valley of Fire Highway. It was enough for us to notice this as we drove by.

Charlie’s Spring Loop

  • Length: 6.9 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 456 feet
  • Route Type: Loop
  • Difficulty: Moderate

Charlie’s Spring hike will take you to a spring that has water year-round. In the spring, there are a bunch of cattails, tamarisk, and a small stream. Before getting to the stream, there is a beautiful red rock canyon the trail winds through.

Valley of Fire Hiking Tour From Las Vegas

If you aren’t quite comfortable making your way to Valley of Fire by yourself, don’t have a rental car, or want some hiking buddies on the trail, I would recommend this highly rated Valley of Fire Hiking Tour.

Pickup and dropoff from your hotel are included which is very nice, especially if you don’t have a car. You get to relax on the drive over and then pick if you want to go on an easy, moderate, or difficult guided hike.

There are many different Las Vegas bus tours and helicopter tours in Las Vegas that offer amazing views of Valley of Fire as well!

Book Your Valley of Fire Hiking Tour Here!

Map of Hikes in Valley of Fire

How to Use This Map: Click on the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.

If you click the star next to the title of the map, this will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps. Then click on the menu button, go to “Your Place” and click on Maps. You will see this map added to your list.

What is the Valley of Fire?

The Valley of Fire is a brilliant state park about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The park is 40,000 acres filled with scenic views, petroglyphs, wildlife, Valley of Fire trails, and beautiful red and pink rock formations. The park was formed more than 150 million years ago and is a rare place where the dull desert colors take on hundreds of shades of red.

When the Valley of Fire first opened as a state park there were about 9,000 visitors each year. Today, about 250,000 people visit the Valley of Fire State Park.

How did Valley of Fire get its name?

When the sun hits the pink and red sandstone formations, they look like they are on fire. Hence, the park’s name – The Valley of Fire. The red sandstone formations were formed from shifting sand dunes about 150 million years ago.

Visiting Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada

Is Valley of Fire worth seeing?

YES YES YES! Every time we visit Las Vegas, Valley of Fire Park (along with Seven Magic Mountains) is one of the fun things in Las Vegas we make time for.

Many visitors to Las Vegas take a day trip to visit the Hoover Dam, but we think Valley of Fire is just as spectacular!

Whether you spend a few hours driving through the park, spend a whole day, or make a Valley of Fire camping trip out of it, your time in the park will be well spent.

The Valley of Fire State Park hikes are a lot of fun and the views are hard to beat.

About Valley of Fire

Park Entrance Fee: The entrance cost for the Valley of Fire Las Vegas is $10 per vehicle.

Valley of Fire Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Visitors Center Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Do you need reservations for Valley of Fire?

Reservations for entering the park are not required. Reservations are required for the group camping area and all regular campsites are first-come, first-served.

Where is the Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire is located 58 miles northeast of Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert. The elevation there varies between 1,320 – 3,009 feet. The Valley of Fire Nevada borders nearby Lake Mead as well as the nearby Virgin River.

How far is Valley of Fire from Las Vegas?

The Valley of Fire State Park Nevada is about an hour north of Las Vegas, making it a perfect day trip from Las Vegas. Interstate 15 will take you most of the way. Take Exit 75 to merge onto the Valley of Fire Highway, a two-lane, windy road through the desert. This road will take you to the entrance of the park.

Las Vegas to Valley of Fire Map

Hiking in Valley of Fire

If you are wondering if you can hike at Valley of Fire State Park the answer is yes! The Valley of Fire State Park Nevada is home to extraordinary hiking trails with beautiful views as well as a variety of different hiking difficulties. No matter what kind of trail you are looking for, you will find it hiking in the Valley of Fire State Park.

What to See and Do in Valley of Fire in Half a Day

Fire Wave is one of the popular Valley of Fire hikes

If you are coming from Las Vegas to the Valley of Fire and have only a short time in the park, you have enough time to see the highlights and hopefully see some of the wildlife along the way.

On your way into the park, stop at the Beehives and Atlatl Rock.

Next, head to the Valley of Fire Visitors Center. At the Visitors Center, you can get a trail map and learn more about the area’s geology, ecology, and history.

From there I would recommend picking two different hikes. My recommendations would be the Fire Wave Trail and White Dome Trail.

Valley of Fire Park Facilities & Amenities

There are shaded picnicking areas as well as restrooms at Atlatl Rock, White Domes, Seven Sisters, the Cabins, and near Mouse’s Tank trailhead as well as the Visitor’s Center.

Valley of Fire Weather

We visited in mid-January and had great weather. It was in the high 60’s.

In the summer months, temperatures range from 100F to 115F. If you are visiting Valley of Fire State Park during the summer, get there in the early morning to beat the heat. Winter temperatures range from 54F to 75F and overnight lows in the mid-30Fs to mid-40Fs.

October in Las Vegas is when the temperatures really start to cool off. Fall would be a great time to take this hike. January is also a beautiful time to explore and enjoy the cooler winter temperatures.

Where to Stay Near Valley of Fire State Park

RV camping near the Valley of Fire hikes

Chances are you will be coming from Las Vegas to the Valley of Fire. Since it is only an hour’s drive, unless you are planning on spending multiple days in the Valley of Fire, the easiest place would be to get lodging in Las Vegas.

If you are spending multiple days in Valley of Fire Las Vegas and want to avoid the daily drive, the hotels in Overton, Nevada will be the closest. There are a couple of hotels there.

If you opt to stay in Vegas remember there are other options beyond the strip. Las Vegas airport hotels and Fremont Street hotels also offer some amazing comforts.

If you’re interested in spending multiple days in the park you could also consider staying in the Valley of Fire Campground.

Valley of Fire Camping

Valley of Fire Camping was such an enjoyable experience. The park has two well-maintained campgrounds. There are two campgrounds and each spot has shaded tables, grills, water, and bathrooms.

All the Valley of Fire campsites are first-come, first-served. We visited in mid-January and both campgrounds were pretty full. There is an RV dump there as well.

Valley of Fire campsites are $20 per night. Sites with electricity and water have an additional charge of $10. There is free camping just outside the park’s east entrance.

Staying so close to the park makes it easy to enjoy the Valley of Fire hikes.

Valley of Fire Wildlife

Wildlife along the Valley of Fire Hikes

There are several herds of Bighorn Sheep that roam the park and we were lucky enough to see them multiple times during our last weekend in Valley of Fire State Park. We also saw large herds of mountain goats.

The park is also home to badgers, coyotes, squirrels, rattlesnakes, lizards, and desert tortoises.

Which is better – Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire?

­­Both Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire are beautiful hiking destinations close to Las Vegas. Red Rock Canyon is a bit closer to Las Vegas so if you are short on time that might be a better option. There are also some fun Red Rock Canyon tours that offer a great way to explore the area.

However, we like Valley of Fire better. It is more scenic and has shorter hikes that work well with our kids.

We have outlined the differences between Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire to help you make the best decision on where to go.

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Fire Wave in Valley of Fire
 

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Candice Steele is the owner of CS Ginger, a blog that helps travelers explore the United States in their RVs. Since 2017, she and her family have been providing valuable insider tips about travel experiences suitable for families. They love exploring the country in their RV and offer helpful insights to make RVing easy and family-friendly.