Valley of Fire Guide 2026: Trails, Fees, Summer Closures and Day Trip Tips

Valley of Fire State Park, about an hour northeast of Las Vegas, is Nevada's oldest state park, established in 1935. Its bright red Aztec sandstone, formed from ancient sand dunes, is carved into domes, arches and waves, and its rock walls carry petroglyphs left by people who lived here long before Las Vegas existed. Unlike Red Rock Canyon, where you mostly look up at cliffs, here you walk in among the formations.

Two things have changed recently that older guides miss. Several of the most popular trails, including the Fire Wave and White Domes, close every summer from May 15 to September 30 because of the heat. And in 2026 the west entrance is closed Monday to Thursday for construction. Facts here were checked against Nevada State Parks in September 2026.

Valley of Fire at a Glance

Fees, Hours and Rules

• Day use: $10 per vehicle with Nevada plates, $15 for out-of-state vehicles, per Nevada State Parks.
• Passes: Nevada State Parks sells annual permits; see its fees page. Valley of Fire is a state park, so federal passes such as America the Beautiful are not valid here.
• Hours: the park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and has exhibits, restrooms and trail information.
• Pets: welcome on a leash no longer than six feet, but not in the visitor center. On hot days, rock and sand get hot enough to burn paws.
• Drones: not allowed. The park bans drones and all remote-controlled aircraft.
• Fire restrictions: in September 2026 Nevada State Parks had fire restrictions in place across all its parks; check before planning a campfire.
• Leave it as you found it: collecting rocks, plants or artifacts is prohibited, and petroglyphs must never be touched.

Summer trail closures (May 15 – September 30)

Nevada State Parks closes these trails every year from May 15 to September 30:

• White Domes Loop
• Fire Wave, Seven Wonders Loop, Pastel Canyon and Pink Canyon
• Pinnacles Loop
• Prospect Trail
• Arrowhead Trail
• Natural Arch Trail (Arch Rock itself stays open)
• Charlie's Spring

In practice this means a summer visit is a scenic drive with short walks to viewpoints, petroglyphs and roadside formations. If the Fire Wave is the reason you're going, plan your trip between October 1 and May 14.

Getting There from Las Vegas

West entrance (usual route)

Take I-15 north from Las Vegas to the Valley of Fire Highway exit (exit 75), then follow State Route 169 east to the west entrance. Allow about an hour from the Strip.

2026 closure: from August 3, 2026 through the end of 2026, the west entrance is closed Monday to Thursday while a new entrance lane and fee booth are built. It stays open Friday to Sunday. On weekdays, use the east entrance.

East entrance

Nevada State Parks says the east entrance can be reached via State Route 169, through the towns of Logandale and Overton, or via State Route 167, the Northshore Road through Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The Northshore route is scenic but slower, and passes through the national recreation area, which charges its own entrance fee.

Before you go

• Fuel and food: there are no gas stations or restaurants in the park. Fill up in Las Vegas, or in Overton if you come in from the east.
• Maps: cell service is limited; download offline maps before leaving.
• No car? Guided tours run from Las Vegas. Compare what's included (entry, water, stops) before booking, and remember the summer trail closures apply to tours too.

Must-See Sights

Fire Wave

The park's signature sight is a slope of sandstone banded in swirling red, pink and white stripes, reached by a short hike (roughly 1.5 miles round trip) from White Domes Road. The stripes come from layers of sand with more or less iron oxide. It is exposed and sandy, with no shade. Closed May 15 to September 30.

White Domes Loop

A short loop (around 1 mile) at the end of White Domes Road that passes cream-colored sandstone and through a narrow slot canyon, with some uneven steps and sand. It has been used as a film location. Closed May 15 to September 30.

Atlatl Rock

A tall rock face with some of the park's best-known petroglyphs, including a depiction of an atlatl, the spear-throwing tool used before the bow and arrow. A metal staircase climbs to a viewing platform. The Atlatl Rock campground is nearby.

Arch Rock

A small natural arch close to the scenic loop road, one of the easiest sights to reach. Arch Rock stays open in summer even though the longer Natural Arch Trail closes.

Mouse's Tank Road and Petroglyph Canyon

The paved road north from the visitor center leads to the Petroglyph Canyon trail, a short, sandy walk (under a mile round trip) past rock art to Mouse's Tank, a natural basin that collects rainwater. Along the road are pullouts for formations such as the Beehives and Rainbow Vista.

Elephant Rock and the Seven Sisters

Elephant Rock, near the east entrance, looks like an elephant's head and trunk and is a short walk from the road. The Seven Sisters are a row of red rock towers beside the main road, with picnic areas.

Best Hikes

Distances are approximate round trips. Many trails are sandy routes rather than smooth paths, so allow extra time, and pick up a park map at the entrance or visitor center.

• Families: Petroglyph Canyon, Elephant Rock and Atlatl Rock.
• First visit in the cool season: Fire Wave and White Domes, back to back from White Domes Road.
• More time and experience: the Seven Wonders Loop links the Fire Wave with several other formations; ask at the visitor center for current conditions.

Photography

• Late afternoon: low sun deepens the reds; the Fire Wave and White Domes glow. Leave time to exit by sunset.
• Early morning: fewer people, cool air and soft light on the formations along the main road.
• Midday: flat light on open rock; better for slot canyons or a visitor center stop.
• Petroglyphs: side light shows the carvings best. Never touch or trace them.
• No drones, and protect gear from blowing sand.

Because the park closes at sunset, it's not a night-sky destination for day visitors. Campers can see the stars. More spots in our photography guide.

Camping

The park has two campgrounds, Atlatl Rock and Arch Rock, set among the red rock. Nevada State Parks says all campsites are available by reservation. Fees are $20 per vehicle per night for Nevada vehicles and $25 for non-Nevada vehicles, plus $10 for sites with utility hookups. Camping is the only way to see sunset and sunrise inside the park.

• Bring plenty of water, food and warm layers: desert nights get cold outside summer.
• Check fire restrictions before you bring firewood; don't collect wood in the park.
• Summer camping is possible but very hot, and many trails are closed.

The Geology in Brief

The red rock is Aztec sandstone, formed from wind-blown sand dunes during the age of the dinosaurs, then buried, cemented and later lifted and eroded. Iron oxide gives it its color: red layers carry more iron, white and cream layers less. The slanted internal lines you see at the Fire Wave and elsewhere are cross-bedding, the preserved faces of ancient dunes. Wind and occasional flash floods keep sculpting the soft rock into the arches, holes and "beehives" around the park.

History and Petroglyphs

People have used this area for thousands of years. Ancestral Puebloan people farmed along the nearby Muddy River and left rock art here, and the Southern Paiute, whose descendants still live in the region, followed. The petroglyphs show bighorn sheep, human figures and geometric designs. The Lost City Museum in Overton, run by the State of Nevada, displays artifacts from the Ancestral Puebloan settlements near the park.

The park was established in 1935, making it Nevada's first state park, and the Civilian Conservation Corps built some of its early stone cabins and facilities in the 1930s.

What to Bring

• Water: at least a gallon per person for a day visit, more if hiking. Water is available only at the visitor center and campgrounds.
• Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, light long sleeves. There is almost no shade on the trails.
• Shoes with grip: sand and slickrock are slippery in sandals.
• Food: nothing is sold in the park. Pack lunch; there are picnic areas.
• A park map and offline maps.
• Layers in winter: mornings can be near freezing.

Wildlife and Safety

• Heat: the main danger. Even outside the summer closures, avoid hiking in the middle of hot days, and turn back if anyone feels dizzy, sick or confused. Call 911 for heat stroke.
• Flash floods: stay out of washes and slot canyons if storms are around, especially in late summer.
• Getting lost: sandy routes can be hard to follow. Note landmarks and carry a map; stay put in shade if lost.
• Wildlife: desert bighorn sheep are often seen near the roads. Keep your distance and never feed them. Watch for rattlesnakes in warm months, and never handle a desert tortoise.

Planning Your Day Trip

Half day (cool season)

• Leave Las Vegas early and enter the park near sunrise.
• Drive White Domes Road; hike the Fire Wave, then White Domes.
• Stop at Rainbow Vista and walk Petroglyph Canyon to Mouse's Tank.
• Visit Atlatl Rock and Arch Rock on the way out.

Full day

• Add the visitor center, Elephant Rock and the Seven Sisters, a picnic lunch, and a longer loop such as Seven Wonders.
• Stay for late-afternoon light on the Fire Wave, then leave before sunset.
• Exit east and return via Overton, or combine with Lake Mead on the Northshore Road.

Summer (May 15 – September 30)

• Arrive at sunrise and treat it as a scenic drive: Atlatl Rock, Arch Rock, Elephant Rock, the Seven Sisters and Petroglyph Canyon.
• Be back in the car by mid-morning.

On weekdays until the end of 2026, remember to enter from the east. For other outings, see our Red Rock Canyon guide and our Hoover Dam guide.

Is Valley of Fire Worth It?

Yes, for most visitors with a car and a free morning. It is a shorter drive than the Grand Canyon or Zion, and the color and variety of the rock are unlike anything in the city. Go between October and mid-May to hike the Fire Wave and White Domes, check the entrance situation for your day, and bring more water than you think you need. Red Rock Canyon is closer and better for bigger hikes and climbing; Valley of Fire is better for short walks among the formations and for petroglyphs.