Valley of Fire State Park

An underrated park
An hour away from Vegas
Skip the strip, take the drive
Scenic views without the lights
Be a kid, you’ll surely see
Zebra stripes or ice cream swirls
Even fried egg on a platter?

A short side trip before flying back home, but the moment I entered the park, I’ve wished I could have stayed longer.

This was on the last day of this trip, after the backpacking trip in Havasupai, and camping at Red Rock Canyon. My flight was in the afternoon and I was thinking of doing something before heading to the airport. Should I just go to the Strip?

Last night at camp, I said to myself. If I could break camp early, I would drive to the Valley of Fire State Park, spend maybe 2hrs for a quick tour, and drive to the airport for the flight. I wanted to see the Fire Wave. That’s all.

I broke camp earlier than expected. With gear packed and loaded in the car, a quick stop at Starbucks for my morning coffee (large macchiato with extra espresso and almond milk, please?), and off to I-15N to the park (I hated the part where I had to pass the city traffic just to get to I-15N, but all was well when I got to the freeway).

This is why I said I wished I could have stayed longer in the park. The drive was more scenic than Red Rock Canyon. The landscape was colorful. I came here just for the Fire Wave. But the park has more to offer. There’s more to see than just the Fire Wave. Sigh.

After some time exploring the Fire Wave like a kid, it was time to go. Couldn’t afford to miss my flight. I just have to mark this place and come back again. Camping and star gazing next time, perhaps.

Care to join me for some ice cream swirls?