Ultimate Valley Of Fire State Park Day Trip Itinerary
Are you planning a day trip to the Valley of Fire State Park? If so, this article’s for you.
The Valley of Fire is by far the most interesting state park I’ve visited in America. It spans 40,000 acres, with bright red sandstone, and an otherworldly landscape that makes you feel like you’re on another planet.
With it being just under an hour from the strip, it’s definitely something you won’t want to miss while in Las Vegas. This article will cover all of the best things to see and do in a day at this beautiful park.
Ready to plan an epic day trip to the Valley of Fire? Let’s dive in!
Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you book/buy something through one of these, I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you).
How To Get To The Valley of Fire State Park
- Entrance fees: $15/vehicle, or $10 for Nevada residents
- Hours: Sunrise to sunset (Visitor Center: 9am-4pm)
- Distance from Vegas: ~1 hour
The Valley of Fire State Park is just under an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, and straddles the eastern border between Nevada and Utah. There’s a $15/vehicle fee to enter the park, ($10 for residents), and the park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
The park has a visitor center, and a main road (Mouse’s Tank Road), with hiking trails, and campgrounds. All of the hiking trails have pit restrooms, and the campgrounds have covered picnic pavilions, grills, and showers.
It’s a relatively short drive down the main road, so you can easily hike multiple trails within a day.
Where To Stay At The Valley Of Fire State Park
The best place to stay near the Valley of Fire State Park is the North Shore Inn in Moapa Valley, which is just a 15 minute drive from the East Entrance.
There’s limited hotel options in Moapa Valley, but a few more hotels in Mesquite, NV (50 min drive), which straddles the Utah Nevada border. You can also camp overnight in the park with a reservation.
Valley of Fire State Park Itinerary
I spent a half day at the Valley of Fire State Park, and managed to hike all of the popular trails. If you love hiking, you can easily spend a full day exploring the natural attractions in the park.
It has unique red rock formations, slot canyons, sandstone arches, and beautiful desert scenery that looks very similar to Page Arizona.
The hiking trails are mostly flat, and easy, but can be strenuous if you’re hiking in the heat. For the hikes, make sure to bring lots of water, snacks, and sunscreen! Additionally, wear shoes you’re okay with getting dirty, as the sand is bright red orange.
Here’s my suggested itinerary for the day.
- Hike Petroglyph Canyon: Petroglyph carvings on canyon walls and bright red rock formations (30 min)
- Hike to the Fire Wave: Swirling pink and red sandstone wave formation (~1 hour)
- Hike the White Domes: Slot canyon with white sand and large boulders (30-45 min)
- See Elephant Rock, Atlatl Rock, Fire Cave, or the Beehives: Interesting roadside rock formations accessible by short walks
Best Hikes In Valley of Fire State Park
Here’s an overview of the main hiking trails in the park. You can hike all of these within a day if you’re up for an adventure, or looking for a good workout.
For step by step directions, make sure to download the offline maps on Alltrails (free 7 day trial), as there’s no cell service in the park.
1. Fire Wave
- Highlight: Open trail over the desert to a swirling sandstone wave and pinkish red canyon
- Length: 1.3
- Duration: 45 min-1 hour
The Fire Wave is a spectacular swirling sandstone wave formation that’s accessible by a short hike over the open desert.
It takes around 30 minutes of walking to reach the Fire Wave, and it makes for amazing photos. If you only have time for one hike in the park, this is definitely it.
2. Petroglyph Canyon
- Highlight: Short trail to a canyon with petroglyph carvings, and bright red rock formations
- Length: 0.7 miles
- Duration: 30 min
The Petroglyph Canyon is a short trail to a canyon with petroglyph carvings on the walls. It’s the closest trail to the visitor center, and a good first hike to do in the park.
This trail will take you through large red rock formations, and it has bright red sand, and lots of shaded areas. I saw sandstone basins filled with water from rain here, and dozens of lizards racing across the rocks.
3. White Domes
- Highlight: Short trail through large boulders to a hidden slot canyon
- Length: 1.1 miles
- Duration: 45 min-1 hour
The White Domes is another must-see trail to a hidden slot canyon. The trail has powdery white sand, and a few signs that will direct you through the large boulders to reach the slot canyon.
For this hike, I recommend downloading the offline Alltrails maps, as it’s easy to veer off of the trail. The slot canyon was short, but great for photos, and a nice place to cool off in the shade!
4. Rainbow Vista
- Highlight: Short trail through large red rock formations
- Length: 1.0 miles
- Duration: 30-45 min
The Rainbow Vista is a short trail to an overlook (Fire Canyon) of unique red rock formations. This is a nice easy trail, but if you have limited time, I’d skip it, because it’s relatively long and not as scenic as other trails.
However, the trailhead is a great place to take photos of Mouse’s Tank Road, and is where I saw bighorn sheep roaming around!
5. Pink Canyon
- Highlight: Short trail to a pastel pink slot canyon
- Length: 0.6 miles
- Duration: 30-45 min
The Pink Canyon is a hidden pink slot canyon that’s accessible by a short 0.6 mile round trip hike from the trailhead.
There’s no designated parking lot at the trailhead, but there’s a wash-off that can hold 2 cars. If you can’t find parking, you can reach it by hiking the Fire Wave Trail, and it will add around 30 min to the hike.
I recommend downloading the Alltrails map for this trail as well because the slot canyon can be difficult to find.
Best Roadside Stops
If you’re not a fan of hiking, here are a few interesting roadside attractions you can check out as you drive around the park:
- Fire Cave: Red sandstone cave with smooth walls you can climb inside of
- Atlatl Rock: Large red rock with a ladder you can climb up to see petroglyphs
- Beehives: Honeycombed sandstone cave formations
- Elephant Rock: Long elephant trunk shaped rock
Valley of Fire Attractions Map
Best Time To Visit Valley Of Fire State Park
The best time to visit the Valley of Fire is ideally in the spring, fall, or winter, when it’s cool enough to hike.
If you’re visiting in the summer, it can reach up to 120°F, so you’ll definitely want to avoid hiking during the day. Instead, visit in the late evening around sunset, or spend time checking out the roadside attractions.
Summary
The Valley of Fire State Park is a photographer’s paradise, with bright red rock formations, swirling sandstone, slot canyons, wild bighorn sheep, and overall beautiful desert scenery.
It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Vegas, and I even saw newlyweds taking their wedding photos here when I visited!
Valley of Fire State Park FAQs
How much time do you need at the park?
To see all of the park’s highlights, you’ll ideally need half of a day. But if you have limited time, you can hike popular trails like Fire Wave, and drive around the whole park in a few hours.
Are dogs allowed in the park?
Yes, dogs are allowed in the park as long as they’re kept on a leash no greater than 6 feet long. There’s restrooms with trash cans, and water fountains available at the visitor center and campgrounds.
What should you pack for the park?
For a day trip to the Valley of Fire, you’ll want to pack lots of water, snacks, sunscreen, and an extra pair of shoes that you can get dirty on the hikes. I recommend bringing a cooler to keep your drinks cold, and a water bottle sling/backpack you can bring on the hikes.
Is it worth visiting from Vegas?
Yes, the Valley of Fire State Park is definitely worth visiting, whether you love hiking, photography, or simply spending time in nature. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Vegas, and the perfect place to visit outside of the strip during the day.
Related articles you may be interested in: