Valley of Fire

After our brief look at this vibrant State Park during the week that we were in Las Vegas, we decided to take a couple of days to explore it further. It was 10 hours of driving to get there from Fresno, California, along major highways and through several cities, including Las Vegas. We got to the main gate before the closing time of 5pm, but were much too late to get any electrical sites. That’s okay, we wanted to try “dry camping” anyway, especially because hubby had purchased a new generator just for this type of event, and was dying to try it out. It was one of the toys, um, tools he had picked up last fall.

There was a circular road in the campground with sites side by side, and at the far end was a branching road that wound through the rocks. We couldn’t see where that other road ended up and didn’t want to attempt it in case there was no easy way out of it. So we choose one of the sites in the circle. These sites were not made for big RVs and our longer trailer would not have fit. Good thing we brought the shorter one. We could just squeeze the truck in sideways in front of it.

My first impression once we settled was one of peace. Far from the generator noise I had anticipated, and the electronic hum of electric sites, there was beautiful silence. Stunning red rocks encircled the camping area. Even though most of the sites in our area were occupied, everything was quiet. Later in the evening, while campfires burned, subdued voices and laughter echoed off the surrounding rocks, but were not intrusive. 

The next morning we were up early and decided to walk along the road that branched off of the campground. It was then that we realized our error of not following it the night before. The sites along this road were more spacious and longer and also much more private from their neighbors. The road itself curved around and came back out on the access road we drove in on. While very long rigs would have had a hard time negotiating the narrow, rocky turns, our outfit would have been perfect. Maybe next time. 

After our breakfast we dashed off to do some hikes in this beautiful area. The trails are usually easy to follow, being a mixture of sand and rocks. We descended one rockfall and walked through a narrow canyon to come out the other side. 

It was incredible, the kaleidoscope of colours around us. White and red streaks in the rocks were the dominant shades, but there were also pinks, yellows, and gorgeous lavender stones as well.

All this was in a valley that is surrounded by grey mountains, known as the Muddy Mountains. What a great hiding place!  

A favourite walk for many is the Fire Wave. It is one big platform of rock, in swirling shapes and colours.  As you walk over and around the area, you see different views. All of them amazing.

 

  One section looked like someone had spilled paint on the top and it ran down the sides. 

In others the streaks were right underfoot.  

We also saw petroglyphs etched into rocks. These were very high off the ground and it made you wonder how the ancients had managed to put them there. 

But you understood why they had wanted to come there. Valley of Fire is a lovely state park.  

And then we met her big sister, Zion National Park.

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