Valley Of Fire State Park has become one of my favorite state parks in the USA. Located just outside Las Vegas, Nevada, here you’ll get to witness fiery red rock formations, slot canyons, mountains, petroglyphs and more. The best part? You can see it all in one day. Here’s the best Valley Of Fire day trip from Las Vegas to see everything.
Mouse’s Tank Road
First, you’re going to start your Valley Of Fire day trip bright and early at Mouse’s Tank Road for sunrise. This is where you’ll see the iconic Valley Of Fire view that you see all over Instagram and Pinterest, complete with a triangular mountain backdropping a red rock valley. Trust me, the views do not disappoint. There are a couple different roadside pullovers to park here. But, the best place to stop is to drive past the Mouse’s Tank parking lot (assuming your driving northbound toward the road from Las Vegas), and instead park on the other side of the red rocks that make the end of the road curve right. There is a small parking lot here where you can climb the rocks to get a picture-perfect photo like this one. Additionally, I suggest you come here for sunrise because, as you could imagine, this spot gets every busy with heavy car traffic later in the day.
Seven Wonders Loop Trail
Then, you’re going to head straight to the Seven Wonders Loop Trail before the daytime crowds. The Seven Wonders Loop Trail is a moderate 1.8 mile loop trail that features one of the park’s most famous landmarks, the Fire Wave, as well as six other “wonders,” including Pink Canyon. Not only will hiking Seven Wonders early help you avoid the thick crowds and full parking lots, but it will also protect you from the harsh sun. Although this trail is less than two miles, bring plenty of water and sun protection. Also, note that there are trail markers to keep you on track, so keep a sharp eye out for them. We had a hard time following them on the last half mile of the trail because they seemed kind of sporadic, but we eventually found our way. Use the AllTrails map to guide you.
Fire Wave
As mentioned, the legendary Fire Wave is one of the notable stops on the Seven Wonders Loop Trail. This is another one of the most iconic views in Valley Of Fire State Park, as it’s where you’ll see the candy cane wavy rock formations. If you do not want to hike the entire Seven Wonders Loop Trail and only want to see the Fire Wave, you totally can. To just see the Fire Wave, the hike will be 1.5 miles out and back. If driving northbound, park on the right side of the road facing the Rock Of Gibraltar (a massive red rock — it’s hard to miss). Take the trail down past the Rock Of Gibraltar until you start seeing the wavy rock formations. Turn right onto the wavy rock and hike until you find the Fire Wave. Although I definitely recommend hiking the full loop trail, this is a good option for those of you who are short on time or aren’t keen on hiking.
Pink Canyon
If you choose to do the full Seven Wonders Loop Trail, not only will you get to see the legendary Fire Wave, you’ll also get to walk through Pink Canyon. Also known as Pastel Canyon, this canyon is pastel pink colored with naturally watercolored hues of pink, yellow and orange all around you. This portion of the hike is mostly flat and on sand. Although, you will have to hike uphill to complete the hike no matter if you hike back to the parking lot past the Fire Wave or complete the full loop. Hiking back past the Fire Wave will probably be less uphill of the two options — even though the full loop only contains 187 feet of elevation gain anyway.
Beehives
One of my favorite parts of Valley Of Fire State Park is that there are a ton of roadside stops where you can easily park, hop out of your car and explore. Hopping to and from all of these wonderful roadside stops is precisely what you’ll do next on your Valley Of Fire day trip from Las Vegas. This way, you’ll be avoid the midday heat and sun exposure while still covering plenty of park ground in a short amount of time. Don’t worry, we’ll be doing the White Domes Loop Trail later in this Valley Of Fire day trip itinerary.
Backtracking toward the park’s west entrance, your first roadside stop will be the Beehives. As the name suggests, the Beehives are red rock formations that have hollowed-out holes, creating the appearance of a beehive. This is a super fun spot to enjoy some beginner-friendly rock climbing, especially if you have kids. We saw numerous families climbing around these rocks, and it looked like the kids were having a blast.
Atlatl Rock
Your next roadside stop is Atlatl Rock, a massive wall of ancient petroglyphs carved high into the red rock wall. Although you will have to climb a steep set of stairs to see the petroglyphs, the staircase is adjacent to the parking lot, so no additional walking nor hiking is required.
Arch Rock
Next, just around the corner from Atlatl Rock is Arch Rock, yet another quick roadside stop. As you could imagine by the name, this stop features a natural arch built into a big red boulder. While you can see the arch from the parking lot, I recommend walking around to the back of boulder for a better view of the arch.
Lone Rock
Making your way toward the park’s west entrance, your next roadside stop is Lone Rock. Lone Rock is a single boulder, located beside the parking lot, that boasts a different array of ancient petroglyphs. While this wall of petroglyphs isn’t quite as elaborate as Atlatl Rock, it requires zero hiking or stairs. So, if you need a more accessible way to see petroglyphs, this is the stop for you. Personally, I loved Lone Rock even more than Atlatl Rock because Lone Rock features spiral rock formations. As avid watchers of The Secrets Of Skinwalker Ranch, my husband and I were a little starstruck (and spooked) when we saw the spiral petroglyphs, knowing that spirals often mark the location of interdimensional portals for natives.
Elephant Rock
Another popular roadside stop in Valley Of Fire is Elephant Rock. The full Elephant Rock Loop Trail is 1.25 miles long. However, Elephant Rock is only 0.2 miles out-and-back from the parking lot, which is basically a roadside stop. You may see people walking along the road to get to Elephant Rock from the parking lot, but I do not recommend this. There are signs that say, “Do not walk along the road.” It’s not safe and not worth avoiding the quick five minute walk on red rock to get to Elephant Rock.
Valley Of Fire State Park Sign
At the Elephant Rock parking lot, you’ll also see the famous Valley Of Fire State Park sign. Don’t forget to snap a fun photo here to remember your day trip to Valley Of Fire from Las Vegas. Pro photo tip: make sure to stand where the sign isn’t casting a shadow over your face.
Other Roadside Stops
If you have time before your next stop, there are plenty of other roadside stops in the park as well. These stops include the East Petrified Logs (near Lone Rock), West Petrified Logs (near Atlatl Rock) and Balancing Rock. Feel free to make more stops as time allows, but keep your forecasted sunset time in mind because you still have another fun hike to take!
Fire Canyon Overlook
Next, before your last hike of the day, head to Fire Canyon Overlook for one last roadside stop. This stop gives you an impeccable view of Fire Canyon, boasting endless fiery red rock formations galore. There’s a large parking lot here, so hopefully you won’t have any issues finding parking space. Remember when I said this state park has a ton of roadside stops? I wasn’t kidding!
White Domes Loop Trail (Slot Canyon)
Finally, you’ll end your day by hiking the White Domes Loop Trail. The White Domes Loop Trail is a super fun 1.1 mile loop trail with 177 feet of elevation gain through sand and orange canyons. Plus, you’ll get to see the hike’s main feature, an impressive slot canyon. Hopefully after resting during the midday heat, you’ll have rejuvenated energy to complete this quick hike. Similarly, ending your day here will mean that the heat has cooled down and UV index has lowered, making it a much easier and safer trek. But, still be sure to bring plenty of water, especially if you’re visiting in summer. Note: this is a very popular hike, so the parking lot here was completely full even when we visited off-season. Make a few laps around the lot if it’s full, so you can quickly snag a spot once one opens.
Valley Of Fire Day Trip From Las Vegas Tips
Valley Of Fire Day Trip From Las Vegas Price
At the time of publishing, the entrance fee at Valley Of Fire State Park is $10 USD per vehicle for Nevada residents and $15 USD per vehicle for non-residents. Check current entrance fees here. You pay as you enter the park and must present your ticket on your dashboard. For sunrise, if you enter the park before the park opens, a ranger will likely check your dashboard to make sure you still paid the daily entrance fee. This is what happened to us. So, be sure to pick up a daily ticket at the self-pay kiosk upon entry if you enter for sunrise.
How far is Valley Of Fire from the Las Vegas Strip?
Valley Of Fire State Park is about 50 miles, or a 50 minute drive, from the Las Vegas Strip.
Las Vegas To Valley Of Fire Bus
There is currently no public bus that runs from Las Vegas to Valley Of Fire.
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