If you are traveling to Las Vegas or maybe visiting some of the National Parks in the area, like Grand Canyon and Zion Park, you would probably want to stop by in the Valley of Fire State Park. It is a public recreation and nature preservation area located 80 km northeast of Las Vegas. This is just 1-hour driving. The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago. These features often appear to be on fire because of reflecting the sun’s rays.
It is definitely a great experience to see this park, whether you go hiking or just passing through it. It is also the oldest and largest state park in Nevada.

→When to go

The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Entrance fee is 10$ per vehicle.
This is a State Park, not a National park, so the annual pass America the Beautiful doesn’t count here.
The Valley of Fire State Park has a dry and warm climate typical of the Mojave Desert in which it lies. Winters are mild with daytime temperatures from 12 to 24 °C and overnight lows around 3-8°C. Storms moving east from the Pacific Ocean occasionally bring rain during winter months. Daily summer highs usually range from 38 °C to 46 °C and on occasion may reach near 49 °C. Thunderstorms from the Southwestern Monsoon can produce heavy showers during summer.

In late spring and early summer can get really too hot to hike around especially the long and strenuous hikes. But you can still drive through the park and visit the nearest points of interest.
So the best time to hike is from fall to early spring. To see the most famous spots one day is enough, but to explore more it’s best to stay in one of the two park’s campgrounds, or somewhere around the park.

→What to see

Atlatl Rock

This is an easily reachable sight, there is a parking right below the rock, and you can climb the stairs. An atlatl is a device used for launching a spear. The ancient Indians used these weapons and they are depicted in the petroglyphs (rock carvings) located at Atlatl Rock. This area has outstanding petroglyphs that should not be missed. Sadly some of the petroglyphs here have been ruined by vandals, and I really don’t understand what is going on in the head of those people, it makes me really sad.

Fire wave

This is an iconic spot of Valley of fire, similar to the Wave in Page, AZ, but much more easy to reach. The swirl of color on the surface resembles a sea wave. It’s a relatively flat and easy hike, around an hour round trip. But in summer still might get too hot to hike. Bring plenty of water.

Beehives

The Beehives are sandstone formations that resemble a structure bees make to keep their honey in. They are caused by wind erosion when sand is removed by wind and transported across the desert to form sand dunes. The results are sculpted rocks with unusual shapes. This is also an easily accessible site with parking on the spot.

What else is there

If you have more time, maybe spending a night or two, and the temperatures are pleasable, you might not want to miss some other sights.
An Elephant Rock is an arch in the shape of, of course, an elephant. The rock is right next to the road. But as parking is limited it is best to park in the nearby parking lot and take the trail to reach the formation. The Fire Cave is really a small cave, a rock formation where erosion removed the rock base. Very photogenic, but you might want to use a tripod for taking photos. Arch Rock is a must see and a great photo opportunity. The sandstone formations that are so prominent in the Valley of Fire are made of sand grains that are almost pure silica. Silica Dome is the finest example in the area of such a deposit. The Visitor’s Center is opened from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM daily. There you can find information, books, souvenirs, and exhibits on Valley of Fire and the surrounding area.