15 Best Things to do in Valley of Fire State Park

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Looking for the best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park? You’re in luck!

Flaming red hills, orange and white striped canyons, unearthly rock formations. You may think I’m talking about Mars, but nope! You can find all this and more in the beautiful Valley of Fire State Park in Southern Nevada.

This park has endless adventures to embark on. It is more than worth setting aside a day if you’re visiting Las Vegas to explore.

To make it easy for you, we compiled this list of things to do in Valley of Fire State Park.

Find petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock

Ever wanted to catch a glimpse of the old west, but the west way older than cowboys and sundown duels? Atlatl Rock should be near the top of your list of things to do in Valley of Fire State Park.

These petroglyphs are predicted to be around 4,000 years old, dating back to 2,000 BC. We can only guess what they symbolize, but give it a shot! Maybe you’ll uncover something archaeologists have been missing for years.

The Atlatl Rock petroglyphs are easily accessible, located near the west side entrance of the park near Arch Rock. There is a staircase up to the petroglyphs.

Spot bighorn sheep

Yep, you read that right. Valley of Fire is home to Desert Bighorn sheep, Nevada’s state animal.

Keep your eyes open, and you probably won’t just see one or two but a whole pack!

These magnificent animals can be spotted by the impressive, C-curved horns and are most likely to be caught by the human eyes during sunrise or sunset hours. 

These creatures are among the best things to see in Valley of Fire.

Snap a photo on Mouse’s Tank Road

Mouse’s Tank Road is one of the most picturesque spots in Valley of Fire. Flanked by impressive red rock hedges that seem to go on forever.

Snapping a picture here should be on your Valley of Fire itinerary.

Then if you’re feeling adventurous, find the trailhead to Mouse’s Tank. This trail leads to where a Southern Paiute Indian (Little Mouse) hid out in the 1890s after committing a few dangerous crimes.

You may be able to spot a few more petroglyphs along this route as well.

Hike through Pink Canyon

Pink Canyon is a true hidden gem among the ferociously red canyon and rock formations in the rest of the park.

To get to this unofficial trail, you’ll take Mouse’s Tank Road all the way to the end of the park. About 0.7 miles from the parking lot, you’ll see a trail that leads into a canyon. Pink Canyon will open up with its soft, pastel walls.

There are a few other ways to get to the canyon, but this is the fastest route.

Picnic near the Seven Sisters

Looking for a place to stop for lunch? Pull out the blankets and your picnic baskets and set up shop near Valley of Fire’s Seven Sisters.

These seven rock formations sit on their own, surrounded by the Nevada desert, as if placed there deliberately like a natural art installation. In reality, these sisters used to be part of larger formations but have been eroded down throughout the years.

Natural forces are predicted to take even more of a toll on this spot in the future, so seeing the Seven Sisters is one of these things to do in Valley of Fire State Park that won’t be around forever.

Spot Arch Rock

Arch rock is a fascinating natural arch that juts above its base and provides visitors with a great photo spot.

This arch is very fragile, and another one of those things to do in Valley of Fire State Park that may be eventually defeated by erosion. So this is a look, but not touch part of the park.

Luckily, pictures are more than allowed, and what’s better than seeing it with your own eyes? You can take a 2-mile loop that gives you a great view of Arch Rock as well as other significant spots like Piano Rock.

Learn at the Visitor Center

The Valley of Fire Visitor Center should be one of the first stops on your Valley of Fire itinerary.

They have everything you need to prepare for a long day in the park, like a drinking fountain, bathrooms, and information on the park.

On top of that, it is the best place to learn more about the things you’ll see in the park. The exhibits feature geology, ecology, prehistory, and more recent history of the park. You’ll get to see how the park has evolved over thousands of years.

Look out at the Fire Canyon

To see why Valley of Fire received its name, you’ll need to have Fire Canyon on your list of things to do in Valley of Fire State Park.

This canyon has intensely red walls, and vibrant sand covers the ground. In Fire Canyon, you can see every kind of formation Valley of Fire offers. There are balancing rocks, arches, and caverns at every turn.

You can reach this canyon by continuing past the Rainbow Vista overlook at the end of its trail, or you can park in the Fire Canyon/Silica Dome parking area and continue from there.

Look for Elephant Rock

You can find Elephant Rock near the east entrance of Valley of Fire. This unbelievable natural arch seems to be held together by magic.

Its slanted position and long, trunk-like support leads some onlookers to think it’s not magic but, in fact, a red rock-bound trunk of an elephant’s ancient relative.

Check it out for yourself, and let us know what your consensus is. The arch can be reached by a 0.3-mile hike that starts right by the parking area.

This is one of my favorite things to do at Valley of Fire.

Stop by the Beehives

The Beehives are just another geological wonder Valley of Fire has for you to explore.

Located right across from the road from Atlatl Rock, these rock formations are covered in strange layers that look a lot like massive bee hives. But don’t worry; we’re pretty sure they aren’t home to equally massive bees.

The stratified layers were created by a geological process called cross-bedding. This occurs when wind or water moves the layers while they are forming.

If you’re looking for more info on that, I would suggest checking out the visitor’s center because that’s the extent of my knowledge.

See Rainbow Vista

Rainbow Vista hike is one of the crucial things to do in Valley of Fire State Park.

I mentioned earlier that this hike could take you to Fire Canyon. It also provides you with the best view over the canyon’s electric colors and mesmerizing formations.

You’ll follow Mouse’s Tank Road for signs of the hike and a parking lot near the trailhead. This is an excellent hike for all ages, short, with amazing views.

Stargaze

Now when most people come to Nevada, they’re generally looking for the bright lights and signs of Las Vegas, not the natural sparkle of thousands of stars.

But who’s to say you can’t have both? Valley of Fire is about an hour from Las Vegas, and its stars paint the night sky like art.

Spend the day picking out a spot you’d like to return to. Then pull out a blanket and relax in the cool evening temperatures while the stars perform their nightly show.

Hike to the Fire Wave (seasonal)

The Fire Wave is a newer trail added to Valley of Fire’s maps but has quickly become one of the most popular.

Often compared to The Wave in Arizona (which you need a permit to access), the Fire Wave is a rock formation that seems to have a river of red and white stripes flowing through it. If nothing else, this hike is a perfect example of the contrasts you can find in nature.

This hike is 1.5 miles long and takes about 45 minutes to complete. Check the Nevada State Parks website before seeing the Fire Wave. Sometimes extreme heat can cause the hike to close.

Camp overnight

Valley of Fire has two campgrounds for visitors’ use. There are a total of 72 campsites between the two campgrounds. 

Each campsite has shaded picnic tables, grills, water, and restrooms. These include a dump station and showers. There is no need to book these campsites beforehand; they are first-come, first-serve.

There are also 3 group sites. These must be reserved beforehand, so check to make sure they’re available before you bring everyone out for a family reunion!

Bonus: Trek the Seven Wonders Loop

The Seven Wonders Loop is a bit of an adventurer’s secret. This unofficial trail has been blazed by hikers combining many of the smaller trails into this 2.5-mile loop.

Along the route, you’ll be able to see many of the sights I mentioned above without ever having to leave the trail!

The Seven Wonders Loop starts at the Fire Wave parking lot, which will be where you end up as well, making the Fire Wave the last stop on the loop.

This is one of the best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park if you’re looking for a little longer hike.

Valley of Fire is a treasure trove of colors, arches, and rock formations. You will not regret taking a day trip to explore Nevada’s oldest and largest state park.

And now that you know the best things to do in Valley of Fire State Park, I don’t know what you’re waiting for! Start planning!