Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park – 15 September 2025
Discovering Valley of Fire
Only an hour out of Nevada we entered Valley of Fire State Park—perhaps Nevada’s most underrated gem. It felt like stepping onto another planet. Towering red sandstone formations, ancient petroglyphs, and glowing landscapes stretched as far as we could see.
Daytime temperatures soared to 35°C, so our hiking plans shifted to the early mornings. Many of the longer trails were closed until October for visitor safety, but even the shorter walks gave us plenty to marvel at.
Our campsite, Atlatl Rock, was tucked right among those tall, fiery red formations. With hookups, we stayed cool in the RV while others around us somehow toughed it out without air conditioning. In the evening, we strolled to see the petroglyphs carved into the rock face—mysterious messages from people who lived here thousands of years ago. We saw several small White tailed Antelope ground squirrels running around. These squirrels practice “heat dumping” by spreading out on their belly in a shady spot. This action helps cool the squirrels body temperature during a hot summer’s day.
Training Miles & Scenic Drives
Derek needed to keep up his Pacer training for the Moab 240, so the next morning we were up at sunrise. From our campsite, we set out along the Scenic Loop road. Jax and I walked about 9 km to the Visitor Centre before turning back, while Derek pushed on for an additional loop of 14 km. Later, with legs happily tired, we hopped in the car to drive the full Scenic Loop—each turn revealing another jaw-dropping view.
The following day we repeated part of the route, this time with Jax in tow. Parking at the Visitor Centre, we walked further down the canyon road Derek had run the day before. To our delight, we spotted a herd of desert bighorn sheepgrazing right along the roadside. On the way back, we drove toward Lake Mead only to find the road closed for repairs. The disappointment didn’t last long, though—we were rewarded instead with the sight of a group of wild donkeys, a reminder that the desert always keeps a few surprises in store.
