| |

15 Instagrammable Valley of Fire Photo Spots in 2023

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Nevada’s first and largest state park lures visitors into its colorful sandstone crests with promises of beautiful views and wildlife sightings. And guess what? It always delivers.

Valley of Fire has some of the best views of the rainbow of sandstone in the state, great hikes, and yes, you will likely even see some big horn sheep. Located just 45 minutes from Las Vegas (where we currently live, so we’ve visited this park multiple times), it’s a great thing to put on your Las Vegas bucket list.

So pack up your camera gear or get your phone ready. You’ve got a lot of Valley of Fire photo spots to hit before leaving the park.

#1 Best Camera for Travelers
We took this photo using our Canon EOS M50!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Canon EOS M50

📷 Mirrorless camera

📷 Compact & easy to travel with

📷 Option to interchange lenses for variety in photos

Best Valley of Fire Photo Spots

Mouse’s Tank Road

Long two lane road leading through a red rock formation.

Mouse’s Tank Road is a view that captures the magic of Valley of Fire all in one shot.

Mouse’s Tank Road snakes through the fiery rock formations glowing in the sun. There are a couple of different ways to maximize the creative potential of this Valley of FIre photo spot.

First, make a quick climb up the boulder at the end of the road. It’s easy to climb and has enough space for you and your photographer. Then snap a few photos with the road winding behind you.

Then, leave your photographer up on the rock and make your way onto the road. Look out for cars, and take a few pictures there as well.

Mouse’s Tank Road is one of my favorite Valley of Fire Instagram spots.

FREE TRAVEL QUIZ

Where should you travel next?

Seven Sisters

Small green bushes leading to big rock formations.

The Seven Sisters are an exceptional backdrop for any photo.

Seven rock formations line either side of the road, making this one of the most accessible Valley of Fire photo spots. You’ll pull into the Seven Sisters parking lot and take the short trail up the monument.

The sun illuminates the Seven Sisters at all times of the day, so you should be able to get some good pictures at any time of the day.

Slot Canyon (White Domes Trail)

A small dirt pathway through a slot canyon.

The slot canyon on the White Domes Trail is one of the most popular Valley of Fire photography locations.

This 45-minute loop is super easy to access. Just pull into the White Domes parking lot and set off on the trail.

Part of the trail passes through the colorfully narrow walls of a slot canyon. The canyon is perfect for exploring your creativity a bit and seeing what kind of cool photos come out.

Since this is one of the favorite Valley of FIre photo spots, I would suggest hitting this trail earlier in the day so you won’t have to share the space with any other visitors.

Fire Wave

Woman standing on a large red rock on a hike overlooking a desert area.

The Fire Wave is another one of Valley of Fire’s most coveted views.

Compared often to “The Wave” in Arizona, the Fire Wave is a river of rock with threads of white and red running through it. The hike to it also includes a lot of other cool views so you’ll have a variety of sights to photograph.

You can climb all over the Fire Wave to get that perfect shot, and it is beautiful at any time of day. The colors of the wave pop most when the sun is out, but sunset or sunrise provides incredible lighting.

Atlatl Rock

Petroglyphs etched into a red rock wall.

Atlatl Rock is home to Valley of Fire’s most famous ancient petroglyphs.

You’ll climb up a short metal staircase to see the well-preserved scene etched into the face of Atlatl rock. Figures, symbols, and animals are depicted and we have yet to decide what the image is trying to get across.

Snap a few photos and come up with your own interpretation of the petroglyph. See if you can discover what professionals have been wondering about for years.

And remember, we are still able to see these images because they have not been touched or tampered with, so stay behind the railing and keep this precious history safe.

Balanced Rock

A large rock formation on a sunny day.

Balanced Rock is a Valley of Fire best photo spot for those in a bit of a hurry.

Located right next to the visitor’s center, Balanced Rock makes for an easy and quick stop at the start of the day. 

You’ll park at the visitor’s center parking lot and Balanced Rock will already be visible from this distance. If you want some close-ups of the sight, then you’ll take the short trail about 10 minutes to get up to the rock.

Remember that climbing on the precariously set rock formation is prohibited, but stay and take as many pictures as you need!

Arch Rock

Arch Rock is a stop you’ll want to be adding to your Valley of Fire photography guide.

This delicate arch has been carefully crafted by erosion over thousands of years, and will not be around forever. This is another formation that visitors are prohibited to climb on.

This Valley of Fire photo stop is also very easy to access. You can pull into the small parking lot on Campground road and take a few minutes to walk up to it, or take the longer 2 mile loop that includes Arch Rock and other formations along the way.

Pink Canyon

A small canyon area filled with red, pink, and white rocks.

Pink Canyon is one of my personal favorite Valley of Fire Instagram spots. The pastel pink and whites of this area stand out against its flame-coded neighbors.

Since the Pink Canyon is not on an officially marked trail, there is generally less traffic through it, leaving you, your photographer, and this valley of pink rock to your creative devices.

To get to this spot, you’ll have to park in the Fire Wave parking lot, then hike from the Fire Wave into the Pink Canyon.

Organize your hiking with our

Notion Hiking Planner!

Elevate your hikes with the Notion Hiking Planner; map your routes, track your hiking expenses, and capture your trail experience all in one hub. Plan, collaborate, and relive your adventures effortlessly with this ultimate tool for organized exploration.

Silica Dome

Large rock-like formations that are white in the first half and red in the second.

For sweeping views of the Valley of Fire landscape, Silica Dome is a must-see photo spot.

The round-trip hike to the top is less than a mile long, but there is an elevation gain of over 200 feet. 

And not only does it have a beautiful view, but Silica Dome is one of the Valley of Fire photo spots to make it to the big screen. That’s right Star Trek fans, Silica Dome can be seen in the franchise’s seventh film, Star Trek Generations.

Even if you’re not a Star Trek fan, I would definitely suggest snapping a few photos here to capture the rugged Nevada landscape.

Fire Cave

To see Valley of Fire’s vibrant colors at their best, you’ll need to visit the Fire Cave.

Found south of the Atlatl campground, the Fire Cave sits just far enough out of the way that it is never too crowded, making it one of Valley of Fire’s best photo spots.

The outside of the cave glows brightly in the sun, but this is a formation that you can climb all over, so head inside and see what the colors are like in there as well.

This is a beautiful sunrise or sunset Valley of Fire photo spot.

The Beehives

Two small rock formations in the desert that look like bee hives.

Valley of Fire’s Beehives are some of the most unique rock formations in the park.

The Beehives are tall and circular with strata cross-bedding and cascading down the rock to form a beehive-like exterior. Luckily, giant bees will not attack you if you get close, so you’re safe to take as many pictures as you like at this Valley of Fire photography location.

You’ll park in the Beehives parking lot and walk about 10 minutes to reach the Beehives.

White Domes Trail Movie Set

The White Domes Trail Movie Set is another spot on your Valley of Fire photography guide that has shown off its desert beauty in the film industry.

The Professionals, filmed in 1965, used the White Domes area as their movie set and have left behind a piece of the set for you to include in your photos.

In fact, the road you drove on to get to the White Domes Trail was constructed because of this movie!

Elephant Rock

A large red rock that is in the shape of an elephant.

Located in the eastern corner of the park, Elephant Rock is one of the best places to catch the sunset before heading out for the day.

Shaped like an immortalized ancient elephant, Elephant Rock stands tall above the other rock formations in mammoth glory.

The views surrounding Elephant Rock are just as astounding as the formation itself, and when the sun sets it causes the valley to radiate color. This is definitely something you’ll want to have your camera out for.

Rainbow Vista

The sun reflecting off the very top of a red rock making it look as if it were glowing.

Another great spot to get panoramic views of the Valley of Fire is Rainbow Vista.

Putting on display the landscape where dinosaurs once walked, Rainbow Vista’s vast landscape of rock formations and plants allows you the ability to imagine that scene.

The hike to this overlook is about ¾ of a mile long and is easily accessible from the parking lot.

Greetings from the Valley of Fire State Park Instagram Sign

The park sign is definitely one of the best Valley of Fire Instagram spots.

Shaped like a Polaroid picture, this is a fun spot to snap a few photos different from all the rock formations you’ve seen. Make a stop here during golden hour to light up the red rock behind you and the sun will cast its sunset glow on your face as well.

📷 Check the price of the Canon EOS M50, our go-to compact travel camera! 📷

Final Thoughts: Valley of Fire Photography Spots

These Valley of Fire photo spots are bound to get you the photos you need to brighten up your feed. I mean, where else can you find color like that?

And remember Las Vegas is only 45 minutes away. You won’t regret taking a day trip out of your stay in Vegas to visit the breathtaking Valley of Fire.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.