2/10/2024 0 Comments Pictures of valley of fireOne of the very few structures in the park is the Visitor’s Center. I guess you have to use your imagination a bit to see that it looked like an elephant. Near the East entrance which we used to actualy exit was the short 1/8 mile Arrowhead Trail led us to on of the park’s most popular formations – Elephant Rock. The varied colors were just amazing and we really got to see the diverse scenery and rock formations here. The Fire Canyon/Silica Dome area was one of my favorite spots. We drove to an overlook that provided a beautiful panoramic view of Fire Canyon’s fiery red sandstone rock formations. There were some pull outs and overlooks to enjoy the scenery and to let restless kids climb rocks or walk on short trails. Desert heat in the summer is brutal!Īlong the scenic road was a unique combination of white sandstone, red rocks and the desert landscape. We definitely plan to go back in cooler weather to the park since we didn’t get to hike many of the trails due to the extreme temperature. There was a scenic 1.5 mile trail here for hiking which we didn’t do. This led to the most northern part attraction are two large white stand stones. It was a small arch on top of a group of rocks.ĭon’t miss the White Domes Scenic Drive. If you weren’t really looking for it, you’d probably miss the sign. It’s infuriating how some people just can’t seem to enjoy the outdoors responsibly without leaving their mark.Īrch Rock was nearby and wasn’t very big. Unfortunately, we saw these graffiti as well on some of the rocks elsewhere in the park. I’m glad there was a bit of a separation between the platform and the rocks so visitors can’t touch or destroy them. We had to climb steel stairs to ge to the top to see the numerous petroglyphs. It was named due to depiction of an atlatl, which was a throwing stick, on the petroglyphs. It was fun to try and decipher what the symbols meant. Atlatl Rock had wonderful examples of ancient rock art or petroglyphs made by some of these ancient people. They included the Basket Maker people, the Anasazi Pueblo Farmers from a nearby fertile valley. The varied rock colors were just astounding.ĭespite the rough surroundings, there were actually prehistoric visitors here who hunted, gathered food and performed religious ceremonies. It was a great natural playground for the kids. There were other rock formations near here for visitors to climb. The grooved lines going in different directions showed how the wind or water was moving when it deposited the material. They were examples of what’s called “geologic cross bedding” which were layers that have been deposited over time. These unique sandstone formations really did look like giant beehives. The first rock formations we stopped at were the Beehives. The main road took us to some very interesting rock formations that almost looked like they belonged in an otherworldly landscape. It was such a surprise to see such a spectacular scenery of fiery red rocks rising from the road. I don’t know what we were thinking! We thought we’d be in the car most of the time. It felt like we were walking into an oven as as soon as we stepped off the car so the name was also fitting. We were here last September when the temperature was around 98✯ (36.7º C). Once we entered the park from the west, we clearly saw how the park got its name with the distinctive red rocks looming in the distance. It was an easy, non-descript drive through the desert to get to the Valley of Fire. Erosion and forces of nature have contributed to the formation of the current landscape. These formations were the result of sand dunes shifting 150 million years ago. It was named for the red sandstone formations around the area that looked like they were on fire with the sun shining on them. See what this unique natural wonder has to offer and why we can’t wait to return. We’ve been going to Las Vegas for many years and multiple times a year but finally made it to the aptly named Valley of Fire State Park about 50 miles away recently. But, there comes a time when one needs a break from all the glitz and neon lights. I’m actually very fond of the city since it makes for a fun weekend getaway with or without kids. Las Vegas is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for many reasons.
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