Travel Guide Valley Of Fire State Park

With origins dating back to the 1930s, Valley of Fire is Nevada's first "official" state park. Just 75 km northeast of Las Vegas, on the road to Utah, this site is well worth a half-day stop. Far less touristy than the must-see parks of the American West, it can be enjoyed peacefully, along relatively uncrowded trails and breathtaking vistas. It's also particularly child-friendly, with short, easy hikes and gentle rock-climbing.The entrance itself is incredible: you roll between touches of green and red in countless shades, some rock formations resembling solidified lava. The almost glowing stone is the result of dune sand blown in by the wind. The grey stone is what remains of the seabed that covered this 20,000-hectare area over 300 million years ago. In addition to these geological curiosities, you can spot traces of the mainly nocturnal fauna that inhabits the territory: coyotes, hares, snakes, lizards, squirrels... Also on the program: petroglyphs dating back to Paleo-Indian times.