Valley of Fire State Park.............

After leaving Ehrenberg, we headed to our new backyard in Las Vegas. As we drove in to the area, we could see the snow covered mountains in the background overlooking the strip in Las Vegas. The campground is located about 5 miles from the strip, so we are out a bit away from the glitz. We actually came to the LV area to explore some of the surrounding parks on the outskirts of Vegas.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.....

High on our list was the Valley of Fire State Park. For more information, click here. Once again, the views did not disappoint. We were enamored of the diverse rock formations here. Everywhere we looked was gorgeous. The first "stop" for us was the Beehive rock area, and the rocks really did look like beehives. Lots of young folks exploring on the rocks. Our kids would have loved this place when they were young! You are free to climb on anything here.

driving through Valley of Fire State Park

Beehive area

these rocks really did look like beehives! 

kids were having a great time on the rocks here

As we headed towards the Visitor's Center, we passed such crazy rock formations. The earth went wild here. In addition to all of the beautiful rock formations, with distinct features and colors, there were petroglyphs to see. 

great formations throughout the park

a very scenic drive, even if you don't get out of the car

To view some of the petroglyphs, we had to climb a set of stairs, that didn't seem toooo bad for those afraid of heights. Glyphs were waiting up there to be viewed! An added incentive. I know it doesn't look too bad, but it wasn't easy for me, especially coming down. I had a little freak out....all I can say is, poor Tom! I really wish I could just walk down those steps by myself like everyone else. I'm a package, I know...

Atlatl Rock....note the stairs

I think I can...I think I can....I think I can......(she thought to herself)

view from almost at the top (trying to get my courage up to go the few more steps up)

cool arch

focusing on the glyph, not the height...ahhaha

I'm right behind you Tom! Really!

very cool glyphs...love the trees

close up (I did make it to the top!)

this was a stretch for me....I had a bad time of it (height wise). I can see through the stairs! Yikes!

Moving on towards the Visitor's Center, we stopped again for a look at Arch Rock. This park seems to have a lot of variety of things to explore! Personally, I liked the rocks near the Visitor Center. They reminded be of Bedrock and I half expected Fred Flinstone to come riding around the corner. Haha.

cool formations everywhere

Arch Rock

There's the Visitor's Center

Just so cool!!

waiting for Fred and Barney to come winging around the corner there...hahaha

The view from the Visitor Center is also quite something. The expanse of land and the rocks .... just so cool. After talking with the ranger, we headed out to explore a bit more of the park. We decided to do a short hike to check out the petroglyphs, being that it was getting later in the day (read: hotter!). We plan on coming back to the park another day to get an early start on some of the interesting hikes available here.

It looks like hallowed land, doesn't it? It is

the road through the park was very scenic

The Mouse's Tank was a short hike through sand. There is a "tank" at the very end of the trail that collects rainwater, and we actually saw water in the tank! Surprising for the desert. Along the sandy trail are numerous rock formations, and petroglyphs. The kids out hiking with their parents were having a ball climbing on all the rocks and exploring the different rock features. Our kids would have loved this too (back in the day)!  

We spotted a few lizards, but thankfully no snakes. It was pretty hot in the sun, and again, that radiant heat really gets you too. Though the air temperature was about 71, it felt a whole lot hotter. Like 91! Its so important to bring water with you even on the short hikes. This hike was less than a mile round trip, but some older people we passed seemed to be struggling, especially walking through sand! The pictures show the way to the "tank"....it was a fun hike!

Mouse was an outlaw that hid in this area...so the story goes

we love this stuff!

heading out on this short trail

ugh...sand...sun....what can I say....it was worth it though!

looks like a landscaping feature, doesn't it?

cool

very scenic little hike

lots of petroglyphs here....what is the message?

lizzy

kids were having a great time in these rock formations

hot?

catching a break in the shade

how cool is that?

the trail just meanders through the rocks

another story from the past

the petroglyphs are on the shiny black sections of the red rock surface

exploring - beautiful red rocks

very interesting

looks like a fake movie set, doesn't it?

such cool formations

close up

bighorn sheep?

there it is...the tank....beyond which is a canyon...and a steep drop!

time to turn back

another lizard (they were everywhere)

red rock country

another panel

isn't that pretty?

look Susie...an arch

The park is nicely set up with numerous covered picnic areas, and bathrooms, which is always a treat. We enjoyed one of our delicious lunches, if you like peanut butter that is, and the view from our table was awesome! Like I've said many times before, our lunches may not be the greatest, but the views are amazing.

we'll have the table with a view please (wow)

Afterwards, we spent a bit of time driving through the rest of the park and stopping for photo ops along the way. There are several areas to park, and we took advantage of all of them. Aren't the views amazing? Just look at some of those colors! We loved this place!

isn't that incredibly beautiful

no words....

the drive through the park is really nice

beauty around every corner

another amazing view

It seemed every corner we turned, we were saying "wow". Just gorgeous views! Not only the rock formations, but the vibrant colors too. And when the colors are mixed together in the same area, its really breathtaking.

just gorgeous

another gorgeous view

how cool is that

the desert is beautiful!

and here we have some more examples of gorgeous rock landscape

the views change around every corner, it seems

the desert colors are extraordinary

look at the variety of colors

so many colors

wow!

turn another corner, and the view changes....

the distant mountains add a nice dimension to the views as well

driving through fantasy land

check out those formations

and then we have.....

the colors are amazing

another view

Valley of Fire.....amazing!

more stunning views

other-worldly

I will never lose my sense of awe at these views

heading through the rocks

doesn't that look like a hand?

those are the "seven sisters" behind me

nice cairns (at the petrified tree exhibit...but really, all the color around here distracted us from the tree!)

To get back to Las Vegas, we drove the scenic Lake Mead Loop, North Shore Road. What a road!!! We figured we'd be driving around Lake Mead, but the reality was we drove through scenic hills with amazing views across the road. Again, every turn in the road seemed to bring us a new pleasant surprise. We stopped at several pullouts for photo ops. Towards the end of the drive, Lake Mead came into view, but we weren't really too close to it. We could see, however, that it was a canyon filled with water. It had the "bathtub ring" and rocks jutting out in the lake. Very cool! This is a beautiful country!

another drive through fantasy land

isn't this amazing? pinch me!

love the colors

incredible views on this drive too...the North Shore of Lake Mead

again....gorgeous!

stunning vista

Lake Mead

Lake Mead

Lake Mead back there on the left

the views today were amazing

I am not even going to apologize for the many pictures in this post. It wouldn't be right not to share these views....and...truth be told.....I want to always remember the beauty I saw today.