![]() Red and white striated formations stretch into the distance and become the trail. Once the trail swings around the hill, the fire part comes into view. The hike starts as an unassuming white sand trail leading toward a rocky hill. My conclusion after visiting? The Fire Wave is incredible! It was easily my favorite of the day. I’ve seen a lot of beautiful desert landscapes, and I wasn’t convinced that I would be as awed as tourists coming to the southwest for the first time. Take your time, and if all else fails, stop and look where other people are looking.Ĭontrast of red stone and sage on the Rainbow Vista Trail.ĭescribing the park’s highlights, the ranger at the entrance station told us that the Fire Wave Trail (1.5 mile r/t) was the favorite of European visitors. Look for the dark wind-blasted “desert varnish” layer on red sandstone (this formed the natural canvas). The petroglyphs are very well preserved and visible, but we ran into some folks in the parking lot who somehow hadn’t seen them on their hike. They date back to approximately 3,000 years and the Basket Maker people and Ancient Pueblo farmers. The real star here, though, are the extensive petroglyph panels etched into both sides of the canyon. This spot was named for an outlaw who used it as a hideout in the 1890s. Tinajas are natural rock basins that naturally capture and store rainwater. This 1-mile round strip stroll follows a sandy picturesque canyon to end at a tinaja. Heading north from the visitor center on the White Domes Road, Mouse’s Tank (Petroglyph Canyon) is the first hike. We were there on a busy spring weekend, and starting on the early side kept us one step ahead of the critical mass of visitors and even gave us a few moments of solitude in the gorgeous morning light. We got started around 8am, hit the visitor center, and then began our series of drives and hikes. ![]() Valley of Fire’s spectacular landscape is concentrated in a relatively small area (as wide open desert spaces go), and the trails are designed to give visitors a taste of the region’s geologic bounty but protect its fragile resources. Two paved roads and a loop road cover 18 scenic park miles and give access to the five main hikes. There are a few unmaintained trails in the park, but the best introduction to Valley of Fire is the handful of short, easy and highly rewarding trails maintained by the park service. Slot canyon on the White Domes loop trail.
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