Wow, this place ranks up there with Utah and it is only about an hour north of Las Vegas. Don’t wait 20 years thinking I’ll get to it – that’s what I did and I was blown away, and this time it wasn’t by the wind.
It is a Nevada State Park so off the National Park list, but it is incredibly remote and beautiful. It’s near Lake Powell, another one of those one day get to places. But I decided to head here when John was off to Philly for his annual Eagles Sibling Game and I needed to get headed to California from the Balloon Fiesta to do some resorting with my girlfriends and for Thanksgiving.
From the east entrance, I headed down the mile long loop to Elephant Rock that was right near the east end of the entrance Kiosk and was pretty wowed by this.
I had decided not to do the loop because part of it went along the road and I liked the hidden remoteness on the other side, so I hiked back and with the sun a bit lower colors were different.
But the next day just driving out to the Fire wave Hike was so incredible.
Depending on how the sun hits
Perfect spot to breakfast before my Firewave Hike.
These areas are closed from June 1 to September 30th because of extreme heat, so it had only been open a few weeks.
So many textures in the rock.
So many colors.
It was truly amazing to hike through.
But there’s more even flowers
White Dome Loop hike at the end of the road was my final hike.
I hung out at the top of the dome for a bit to watch the dark clouds brewing. I was not about to get stuck in a flash flood in a canyon.
But the clouds veered off and down I hiked.
There was a really cool slot canyon.
The colors popped out of the landscape on my drive back.
I kept pulling over in awe.
Camp Scanner got me two cancellations at the campgrounds and I was all set. We were hoping for no earthquakes at Atlatl Rock CG.
Here I had my very own Red Rocks Amphitheater right at my campsite. It was so flintstones-like and beautiful with all the red rock, but the night sunset did not produce the fire for which I was hoping. That just meant I had better be up at sunrise to see this phenomenon.
The second night I stayed at the Arch Rock Campground and got a site which had electric, so nice to run the heater in the morning. Also there is no cell service anywhere in the park and at any of the campgrounds, but Arch Rock had a two hour buy some Wifi time and I was close enough to the bathroom facilities to do some catching up with my peeps, and arrange for the next night to visit the Nellie Girls before having to pick up John in Las Vegas.
A Horse With No Name to walk through through the Valley of Fire (4 min movie)
Travels with Vinny VanGo 