How many of you traveled out to Valley of Fire State Park when you hit Las Vegas? If you haven’t yet, do it the next time you’re in town. it is a stunner and I’ve got some pictures that I think prove my point. Most people have been to Red Rocks Park which is on the western edge of the Las Vegas. That is where we hiked on the 23rd. But we’ve been told by people who have camped there that Valley of Fire is even more colorful and we’ve just got to check it out.
Shirley and Jerry are going with us and we all began at breakfast at one of the local casinos. I had asked around the campground about places to eat and had heard that this casino had the best breakfast buffet and only $4.99 - with a player’s card. Since I had told Jerry and Shirley this and they had already gotten the players card, we sailed right in. And, it sure was a full buffet: scrambled eggs, omletes, quiche, waffles, bacon, ham, a myriad of rolls and danish, potatoes, hash, biscuits and gravy, lots of fresh fruit, you name it, they had it. We rolled out of there.
Now, remember our little jaunt on the 24th/ our friend Jerry likes the off roads. We no sooner had gotten out of town when he spied a dirt road off to the side and, whoosh, we were on it bouncing and jouncing over the rocks. We had no idea where it went but we were enjoying the colorful cliffs around us and just the thrill of the ride. Here we are at one of the smoothest parts of the road wondering where we are.
Then we turned around and headed back to the highway for the road to Valley of Fire. This park is about an hour northeast of Las Vegas via two routes: Interstate 15 and the Lake Mead National Rec. Area Northshore Drive. Interstate 15 is a typical desert drive and a good way to get back to Vegas when you just want to get back. If you want to enjoy the drive, the Northshore drive is the way to go. It gives you some glimpses of Lake Mead but also takes you through some fabulous rock formations. We took the Northshore drove to get to the park and Interstate 15 to get back. However you get there, the scenery you drive through does not prepare you for the stunning colors and formations you’ll see in the park. It’s like an unopened flower. Pretty on the outside but when the flower opens - stunning.
The colors of the rocks are stunning, ranging from mauves to reds to yellows, to oranges and all colors in between. And the shapes of the rocks only add to the beauty. Here is a rock shaped like a sitting elephant. Gary is standing under the trunk of the elephant.
The road through the park is part of the Arrowhead trail which we were on when we were driving into Las Vegas.
To accommodate all those traveling along this road to Los Angeles or just to see this area, the CCC built cabins off to the side for travelers to stay in. Here are 3 of them.
All were the size of a small motel room but look at the view they had out their front window and door. Worth the trip I’d say.
And, here is one of the touring cars visiting the park. Small kids, poor roads, no services, what intrepid travelers these early car buffs were.
We stopped at every turnoff, we took every road and we took loads of pictures. We had a great time. We all enjoyed the rainbow of colors and the myriad of rock shapes throughout the park. It is amazing what nature can do
Obviously the red rock formations are the inspiration for the name Valley of Fire. It began 150 million years ago as sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs. Huge lakes depressed the sand into solid layers which then have undergone uplifting, folding, erosion and faulting. Here’s a good example of how the forces shaped the rock.
Prehistoric people lived in this valley and there are various examples of their rock art throughout the park.
Here are some other formations that we saw in the park. Say, who is that little creature peering over a rock on the left?
Next time you’re in Vegas, take a side trip out side to see the Valley of Fire.
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