This submit might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. We might obtain a small fee, for free of charge to you, when you make a purchase order. Learn Disclosure.
Desirous about visiting the Valley of Hearth State Park from Las Vegas? This isn’t a foul thought in any respect! There are various issues to do in Valley of Hearth State Park which is why it’s considered one of our prime suggestions for a day journey.
We had an incredible day trip exploring this distinctive and various panorama. Whether or not you’re driving or climbing by means of this unimaginable park, the great thing about it’s unmatched.
Down beneath are our tips about one of the best Valley of Hearth issues to do!
Is Valley of Hearth Price Visiting?
How does traipsing round waves of pink, orange, and pink rock sound? As soon as once more, Mom Nature has offered us with an beautiful colourful playground to discover.
This marvel referred to as the Valley of Hearth in Nevada is the right day journey from Las Vegas, and one of the best of the State Parks close to LV!
If you happen to spend any period of time among the many craziness of Sin Metropolis, you’ll be in search of respite. At solely an hour away from the Strip, Valley of Hearth State Park Nevada is the final word escape from the flashing lights and debauchery.
What makes Valley of Hearth price visiting is it’s very doable to discover the park in someday! To not point out its Nevada’s oldest state park.
The place is Valley of Hearth State Park?
The Valley of Hearth State Park NV is positioned within the Mojave Desert and covers an space of roughly 35,000 acres.
It’s the oldest of the Nevada State Parks and was devoted in 1935. It’s managed by The Bureau of Land Administration, and you will see that the Valley of Fires Recreation space close to the city of Carrizozo, which is about 4 miles away from the park.
Instructions to Valley of Hearth State Park
The Valley of Hearth State Park from the Las Vegas strip is 49 miles northeast. You may get there by driving alongside the I-15.
There are two principal entrances to the park: the west entrance and the east entrance.
Or, in case you are staying at Lake Mead Leisure Space, you may drive alongside the North Street to succeed in the east aspect of the park.
I even advocate you enter this fashion from Las Vegas. Will probably be an additional half-hour however the drive alongside Northshore Drive is spectacular (see picture above)!! It made our listing of prime USA scenic drives.
It’s price leaving a bit of earlier to expertise it.
Automotive Rental Las Vegas
We extremely advocate you lease a automobile to go to Valley of Hearth NV (that’s when you don’t have already got your personal). It’s not far-off, nevertheless it’s fairly distant, so getting there by public transport will not be actually potential.
You may as well verify RVShare, must you wish to lease a novel campervan or RV and discover additional afield.
It’s a implausible thought to go a bit of additional west into the St George area in Utah! Put together to be wowed.
Issues to Do in Valley of Hearth State Park
Now you already know a bit of bit about the way to get there and the way to plan your journey, it’s time to introduce you to what to do in Hearth State Park.
From scenic drives, to climbing trails, picnic areas, viewpoints, and Junior Ranger packages, there’s a lot to fill out your day at Valley of Hearth Nevada.
Here’s what we advocate based mostly on what we have been in a position to do in someday.
1. Take A Scenic Drive by means of Valley of Hearth
Telephones down, conversations and sing songs on pause, look out the window, there’s lots to gawk at alongside the Valley of Hearth highway Nevada.
You could by no means see such lovely colours and rock formations in a single place once more.
There are two principal roads going by means of the Valley of Hearth Park. We drove the primary paved scenic highway (The Valley of Hearth Freeway NV 169) working north and south by means of the park. That is often known as Mouse Tank Street or White Domes Street.
There are a number of quick Valley of Hearth State Park trails to cease off at alongside the best way. There are additionally slim canyons, petroglyphs, desert viewpoints, and a great deal of colourful rocks in hues transferring past the pink that the park is called for.
You’ll want to look out for essentially the most well-known sandstone formations within the park; Atlatl Rock, the Seven Sisters, the Beehives, and Elephant Rock.
This can be a Rainbow World you’re driving by means of!
Go sluggish and pull over when you may for some fairly views and images.
Proper firstly while you climb up the highway banked by excessive pink cliffs is spectacular, particularly while you come again down it. You get an excellent view of balanced rock from right here.
You could possibly simply drive by means of the Valley of Hearth Vegas and be happy. However we advocate the next Valley of Hearth climbing trails to cease at alongside the best way.
2. Hit The Mountain climbing Trails in Valley of Hearth State Park
Mountain climbing is among the prime issues to do in Valley of Hearth State Park, so make sure to pack loads of water and a few sturdy footwear.
Under are the unimaginable Valley of Hearth State Park hikes we did and advocate you do too!
Balanced Rock (0.5 miles)
After stopping in on the Valley of Hearth Customer Middle for maps (you probably have children decide up their Junior Rangers books) you may then take the very quick nature path to balanced rock.
It’s merely a big rock balancing on prime of the opposite. It’s fairly cool to see. Plus some superior rock formations the youngsters can crawl inside.
If you happen to suppose you’ll be quick on time, maybe do it on the finish of the day while you return to the Customer Middle you decide up your Junior Ranger badge, OR you may see it from the scenic drive.
You may even see bighorn sheep on this space as nicely. Look as much as the pink cliffs above, they like to hang around there and we noticed a big gathering of them.
Mouse Tanks Path (0.7 miles return)
Mouse Tanks is among the best Valley of Hearth trails that goes previous a rock face lined in petroglyphs and ends at a bit of pool of water.
The tank is a pure cavity within the rocks the place rainwater collects.
That is the place an outlaw, who the path is called after, is claimed to have hid.
The tank was used as a water supply by a Paiute Indian fugitive (“Little Mouse”) within the Eighteen Nineties. He was captured and killed after a number of months in hiding.
It’s a straightforward, sandy path and the youngsters will love the numerous alternatives to scramble over rocks and discover small slot canyons and caves.
The petroglyphs are cool, I particularly like how there was an info board firstly of the path that outlined what among the petroglyphs meant.
The youngsters have been higher in a position to hook up with the tales instructed on the black rock face.
Rainbow Vista Path (1.8 mile loop)
I beloved the quiet grandeur of the Rainbow Vista Path.
It’s extra of an open path the place you’re strolling amongst the expanse of the vista – an assortment of rocks in virtually each colour conceivable.
You’ll come to what appears like the top of the path however when you flip proper it loops round and takes you to a Hearth Canyon Wash, a maze of jagged reddish-brown rocks.
There’s a big rock there, you can climb up it for epic views, like Craig did, or stroll down the underside by means of the valley, like I did.
The Rainbow Vista space can be an ideal spot for a picnic. You get magnificent views of the valley!
You’ll want to pop over the highway from the picnic space to get a photograph of the rainbow waves stretched in entrance of you.
Hearth Wave & Seven Wonders Path (1.5 miles return)
The Hearth Wave Path might be the most well-liked of the Valley of Hearth State Park hikes and the place you will discover the well-known coloured rock waves.
I can think about this path can be baking scorching in the summertime time so make sure to go to early with satisfactory water.
It’s the longest of the paths at 1.5 miles, however it’s actually one of the spectacular hikes in Nevada!
The path begins by heading in the direction of an extended steep ridge of pink sandstone.
You then drop by means of some small boulders to a extra compact filth path. A path alongside the slick rock will then take you over the crest to the fireplace wave!
From right here you may discover the bowl lined in orange, pink, and white stripes and stroll across the wave to expertise the fullness of its striped, curved magnificence.
Hearth Wave Valley of Hearth is a pleasant place to take a seat and ponder whereas and let the youngsters run and play.
Don’t move over the part throughout from the start of the trailhead simply off the car parking zone. This space can be fairly full of fascinating rock formations and colours.
The youngsters will love exploring right here as nicely.
White Domes Path (1.2 miles loop)
I beloved the White Domes Valley of Hearth path because it was very totally different from the others.
On this path, you will stroll by means of a world of yellow and white. It begins strolling up by means of a sandy hole between two ridges then down onto the ground of a dry drainage, Kaolin Wash.
You’ll move by the outdated film set used for The Professionals in 1966 which supplies it a Mexican really feel.
Sure, Hollywood likes the Valley of Hearth State Park Nevada too!
The path then goes by means of a slim slot canyon which makes it an fascinating hike. This was my favourite a part of the path.
It’s solely 150 toes however the fantastically coloured rocks supply a cool passageway, good for these scorching days spent visiting Valley of Hearth State Park.
It then comes out to extra of an open part the place you get views out over the park on one aspect and so far as the Muddy Mountains within the north and orange cliff aces on the opposite.
Petrified Wooden Path (0.3 Mile Loop)
One other fascinating phenomenon within the state park is the gathering of petrified wooden.
Petrified wooden occurs when a tree has been fossilized and turned to stone. The path is brief and simple and is nicely marked.
It has just a few info pannels that inform you in regards to the means of fossilization and the way these logs became their present state.
Pastel Canyon (0.4 Miles)
Pastel Canyon, often known as Pink Canyon, is among the most lovely elements of the park and is so named as a result of the rock floor is a shocking pastel pink hue.
Sadly we missed this on our go to as a result of we have been unable to search out the path. We now have since realized that the trailhead is positioned on Mouse’s Tank Rd from right here.
We did try to search out the Pink Canyon Path, however we have to be unhealthy at following instructions after which on the best way again, we have been able to get dwelling as a result of the youngsters have been in that whining temper that occurs after a day of climbing.
That is one thing we’ll add to our listing of hikes to do on our return go to.
3. Do the Junior Rangers Program
If you happen to’ve been following our USA highway journey, then you already know we LOVE the Junior Ranger Program.
They’re well-known for USA Nationwide Parks, however most state parks could have them as nicely.
This was a reasonably simple one and the ladies completed their actions shortly. Depart time to cease into the customer heart on the finish of the day to say the Junior Ranger pledge and decide up their badges.
4. Go Tenting in Valley of Hearth State Park
If you happen to love tenting, there are just a few Valley of Hearth State Park tenting choices to select from. Simply bear in mind, tenting in Nevada will be scorching, or cool.
There are 2 campgrounds in Valley of Hearth (Arch Rock and Atlatl Rock) contained in the park. These campgrounds are nicely outfitted with shaded picnic tables, grills, and water stations and restrooms. There’s additionally a dump station and showers.
There are additionally three ground-use campsites which can be separate from these websites. You could reserve considered one of these spots as there’s solely sufficient area for 45 folks. To take action, name 702-397-2088, then press “3” for group-use information, after which “1” to make a reservation.
They’re all positioned simply contained in the West entrance. There may be additionally free tenting on BLM land outdoors the park.
Websites price $25 per night time (together with the park entrance payment) and car tenting prices $20-$25 per car. Valley of Hearth State Park tenting operates on a first-come, first serve foundation.
5. Go to the Hearth Canyon/Silica Dome Viewpoint
Earlier than you allow, take one final have a look at the attractive aztec sandstone that surrounds this park from the Hearth Canyon and Silica Dome viewpoint.
Because the title suggests, the point of view provides vistas of the Hearth Canyon and Silica Dome.
This viewpoint is nice as a result of it requires no climbing to get there, you may merely pull over your automobile and take all of it in.
You may get there by driving from the Customer Middle after which following the instructions. It’s not too far-off from the middle, and you’ll all the time ask them for instructions when you’re not sure.
Suggestions for Visiting Valley of Hearth State Park
- Valley of Hearth entrance payment is $10 to the park
- Oct – April will see cooler temperatures and stands out as the higher time to go to Valley of Hearth State Park Las Vegas
- Valley of Hearth park is pet pleasant (leashes required)
- Open every day from dawn to sundown
- Customer Middle Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. There are reveals right here to study extra in regards to the park. (and funky rocks outdoors for the youngsters to climb)
- Go to their web site for extra info (though to be trustworthy there’s not lots of info on there)
Excursions from Las Vegas
If you happen to can’t get your self to the Valley of Hearth in your personal car you may go to on a Valley of Hearth day tour from Las Vegas. Listed below are some excursions we advocate…
The place to Keep in Las Vegas
You’ve got limitless choices for lodging in Las Vegas, which may make selecting a spot to remain a bit overwhelming. Under are our prime suggestions for inns on the Strip. We even have a submit right here sharing lodging in Las Vegas for households.
These are all in the midst of the Strip, which I feel is one of the best place to remain in Las Vegas.
Earlier than You Go
Valley of Hearth is like nowhere else on the planet. The rock formations, the swirls of colours, the distinctive fossils and petroglyphs, and the quite a few climbing trails, make it among the best locations to go to in Nevada.
I hope this information helped you resolve on what issues to do in Valley of Hearth so as to add to your itinerary.
Earlier than you go, bear in mind to pack loads of water and sunscreen, because the Nevada warmth isn’t any joke!
Valley of Hearth Nevada Video
To get impressed in your journey, right here is our video from our journey to Valley of Hearth…
Extra Las Vegas and Nevada Journey Suggestions
If you happen to’re planning to go to different elements of Las Vegas and Nevada, then the beneath guides could also be helpful to you…
Extra Inspiration For Adventures in America Southwest
Are you planning to go to different elements of the American Southwest? Then you might discover the next sources useful…
Pin To Save On Pinterest:
Supply: Breaking Travel News