The Best Valley of Fire Hikes: Guide to Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park is a really unique place, with red rock formations, striped sandstone, and beautiful landscapes in every direction. Its proximity from Las Vegas makes it a great place for day trips, and the scenery is truly one of a kind! In this guide, I’ll talk about some of the best Valley of Fire hikes, along with everything you need to know to visit the park.
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Table of Contents
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How to Get to Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park is pretty close to Vegas – just under an hour of driving.
If you’re flying in to Nevada to explore the park, the closest airport is the Harry Reid International Airport, in Vegas.
Expedia is a good way to find flights and rental cars, I also super recommend signing up for Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) – they send you amazing deals, so you can find cheap flights to Las Vegas, and to destinations all over the world. The free account is great and totally worth the few minutes it takes to sign up, and I do recommend the premium account too!
Driving to Valley of Fire State Park
Driving is the easiest way to explore Valley of Fire State Park, giving you more freedom to do what you want.
You’ll need a vehicle to get around Nevada during your trip. If you fly into Vegas, you can rent a car through Discover Cars or Rental Cars. But, a great alternative to a rental car is a tiny home on wheels! With a camper van, you get a vehicle and a place to sleep, all in one! This is my favorite way to travel, and you can rent a fully decked out van with Escape Campervans. Another option for vans is to use Outdoorsy, which is more like Airbnb for campers – you can rent a van, RV, or trailer from a person in the area.
To get to Valley of Fire State Park, you can either take I-15 north from Vegas, or Highway 47 east.
On I-15, you’ll keep going until you turn right onto the Valley of Fire Highway, and take that all the way into the park.
On 47 (East Lake Mead Blvd), you’ll take that until it turns into Highway 167 (Northshore Rd), then keep going until you turn left onto the Valley of Fire Highway.
Tours of Valley of Fire State Park
If you don’t want to drive, or you want someone to show you all the best things to see in Valley of Fire State Park, a tour is a great option! There are lots of tours that leave from Vegas, giving you the opportunity to explore the park and get out of the city.
Check out these options for tours:
The Best Time to Visit Valley of Fire State Park
Each season brings something a little different to Valley of Fire State Park, and the best time to visit is usually spring or fall.
Summers are very hot, as the park is located in the desert of Nevada – temperatures get up to the 100s sometimes! Some hikes even close due to high temperatures, so I wouldn’t recommend hiking here from June 1st to September 30th.
Fall and spring temperatures are much nicer. It’s still very warm during the day, but you’ll want to bring some layers as it can get chilly once the sun starts going down.
Winters are pretty mild, with temperatures in the 50s during the day and high 30s at night, so this can be a great time to explore as well, and the park is usually less crowded than the spring and fall.
Leave No Trace at Valley of Fire State Park
Anytime you’re outdoors, whether you’re a beginner hiker or an experienced adventurer, it’s essential that you practice Leave No Trace (LNT). LNT is a set of seven principles that help us understand our impact on the outdoors – because while we usually have good intentions, the environment is more fragile than we think, and one snap-second decision can cause damage to the environment that will take the earth years, even decades to repair.
Leave No Trace means enjoying the outdoors without disrupting nature, as much as it’s possible to do so. Here are the 7 principles of LNT, and how they apply when you visit Valley of Fire State Park!
- Plan ahead and prepare – read this guide, make sure you know have the right gear, and be prepared for hot weather.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces – stay on the trail to avoid trampling grasses and plants.
- Dispose of waste properly – don’t leave trash, or anything else, behind. Pack it out!
- Leave what you find – I know it can be tempting to take a cool rock or leaf, but leave these things where they belong! Animals often use these, and if everyone takes one, the trail won’t be as pretty.
- Minimize campfire impacts – campfires are only allowed in fire rings at the campground.
- Respect wildlife – don’t approach wild animals, and never feed them.
- Be considerate of other visitors – yield to other hikers, and be respectful – no speakers or loud music.
How Much Does it Cost to Go to Valley of Fire State Park?
If you’re from Nevada (if you have Nevada license plates), the cost to enter Valley of Fire State Park is $10. For everyone else, it’s $15.
There’s a booth at the entrance where someone will take your payment, and a self-pay machine for when there isn’t someone on duty. Make sure to take your receipt and put it on your dash!
What to Bring to Valley of Fire State Park
When you visit Valley of Fire State Park, here’s what you’ll need to bring.
- Hiking Shoes – I prefer hiking in sandals and wore my Chacos, but if you want more ankle support, wear boots. I love my Danner boots – and they come in men’s and women’s.
- Layers – the desert gets surprisingly cold as the sun goes down, so a lightweight windbreaker or a fleece is a good idea. It can also get really windy!
- Backpack – you’ll need a backpack for water and snacks. I use an Osprey Hikelite 26L.
- Water – water is a must, always. Bring a water bottle for any hikes!
- Tent – if you want to camp, you’ll need somewhere to sleep! I love my super light Big Agnes Tiger Wall tent, and I also use a footprint to keep the bottom safe & dry.
- Sleeping Bag – make sure you have something warm enough, as nights can get surprisingly chilly in the desert! I use this ALPS Mountaineering sleeping bag.
- Sleeping Pad – an essential for a comfy night of sleep! I have this Sea to Summit pad, but am planning to upgrade to a thicker one, like this Therm-a-Rest pad soon!
The Best Valley of Fire hikes
Here are a few of the best Valley of Fire Hikes to check out while you’re here.
Fire Wave Trail
This is the most popular Valley of Fire hike, because it takes you to a really cool rock formation. The striped formation looks like a wave, with unique patterns made of pink, red, and white sandstone! This is one of the best Valley of Fire hikes, and I especially recommend going at sunrise or sunset.
Length: 1.3 miles (2.1 km) out and back
Elevation Gain: 150 feet (45.7 meters)
Difficulty: Easy
White Domes Trail
This short loop descends down into the valley, showcasing white sandstone that contrasts with the red rocks that Valley of Fire State Park is famous for. There’s also a slot canyon that you walk through, with towering rock walls around you!
Length: 1.1 miles (1.8 km) loop
Elevation Gain: 177 feet (53.9 meters)
Difficulty: Easy
Pink Canyon
You can extend the Fire Wave Trail to get here! One thing to note is that some people park on White Domes Road to make this hike shorter, but this is actually not allowed, and you might get a ticket. Park in the parking lot for the Fire Wave Trail!
Length: 2 miles (3.2 km) out and back
Elevation Gain: 140 feet (42.7 meters)
Difficulty: Easy
Fire Wave, White Domes, and Seven Wonders Loop
This is a really great way to see a lot of Valley of Fire State Park in one hike! This loop combines several trails, taking you through the White Domes slot canyon, to the Fire Wave, the Pink Canyon, and more along the way. This is one of the best Valley of Fire hikes if you’re just going to do one.
Length: 3.2 miles (5.1 km) loop
Elevation Gain: 380 feet (115.8 meters)
Difficulty: Moderate
Where to Stay Near Valley of Fire State Park
If you want a little getaway, there are lots of options for places to stay near Valley of Fire State Park!
Glamping, Cabins, & Yurts
For a unique place to stay during your trip, check out Hipcamp! It’s like Airbnb for campsites – and you can find yurts, cabins, glamping sites, and more.
You can even get $10 off your first booking here!
A Camper van
With a camper van, you get a vehicle and a place to sleep, all in one! This is my favorite way to travel, and you can rent a fully decked out van with Escape Campervans. Another option is to use Outdoorsy, which is more like Airbnb – you can rent vans, RVs, and trailers from people who live nearby!
Find a Campsite
Whether you car camp, tent camp, or rent a tiny home on wheels, The Dyrt is the best way to find campsites! You can stay right in the park in their campground, or there are other options nearby. There’s also BLM land just outside the park where you can camp for free!
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Hotels & Lodges
There are a few lodging options close to the park, but most of the best ones will be in Las Vegas, which is under an hour of driving from the park. Booking.com is a great resource for finding a place to stay!
For more options, check out this map of places to stay. Make sure to change the dates, and zoom out to see all of your options!
Booking.comMore Adventures Near Valley of Fire State Park
Once you’ve explored these Valley of Fire hikes, Cathedral Gorge State Park is another park to check out in Nevada. You can also see some of the best hot springs in Nevada and make a road trip out of it!
For more desert adventures, here are some other posts:
If you’ve been to this park and have any tips, or if you’re planning a trip and have any questions, leave them in a comment below!
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