New Mexico has a Valley of Fires Recreation Area, containing a large expanse of black, twisted lava deposits set amongst barren land in the centre of the state. The similarly named park near Overton, 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas in Nevada offers a stark contrast - here, red is the dominant colour, of an undulating landscape with petrified dunes, strangely-shaped rocks and sandstone cliffs set amongst an empty, very scenic region near the north end of Lake Mead; the drive to the area from the south (state road SSR 167) passes buckled, layered cliffs and desert plains, often quite colorful, and with the blue waters of Lake Mead often visible to the east, but the valley is the most unusual place. It is one of the most colorful locations in the Southwest, especially at sunset when the rocks glow deep red and do indeed seem to be ablaze when seen from a distance. The landscape is made more striking by the surrounding black hills of sombre appearance.
Approach: All through traffic along the Valley of Fire Road has to pay a fee ($6 in 2006). The highway can become quite busy in summer, park of a scenic diversion between Las Vegas and I-15 to the north - it is an extra 55 miles, but more interesting than the interstate, which passes rather barren land between Las Vegas and the Arizona border. The park boundaries enclose the most interesting formations, along 10 miles of the road and extending over 30 miles to the north, to include a large area of mostly trackless land almost as far as Glendale, at exit 90 of the interstate.
Viewpoints: Driving to the park from east or west is equally scenic. There is a good visitor center near the west entrance, although it seems rather excessive for this relatively small park, with a few interesting cacti outside. Various viewpoints and named features along the road, including several short foot paths. Notable places include:
- Petrified Logs - several colorful fossilised tree trunks, safely fenced off to deter souvenir hunters.
- The Beehives - weathered, layered sandstone mounds, originally sand dunes in an ancient desert, now preserved in stone.
- Mouse's Tank - a natural cavity in the rocks where rainwater collects - used by a water source by a Paiute Indian fugitive in the 1890s. This was not of lasting value to him, as he was captured and killed after several months in hiding. The trail that leads to the Tank passes various petroglyphs dating from before 1200 AD.
- The White Domes - a separate region with varied desert vegetation and more rocks of contrasting color, reached by a 7 mile scenic drive or a hiking trail.
Hotels: The nearest towns with hotels close to Valley of Fire State Park are Mesquite (50 miles), North Las Vegas (43 miles) and Overton (10 miles).
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Valley of Fire - Nearby Places
Lake Mead (10 miles) - vast desert lake with many inlets and beaches |
Valley of Fire - Similar Places
Arches National Park, Utah - famous red-rock scenery
Sedona, Arizona - deep red canyons and sandy desert | |
