USA Valley of Fire

Parking lot #3 in Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada primarily serves the Fire Wave trailhead. That trail starts on the east side of the road. A short 10 minute walk down the drainage on the west side of the parking lot will lead to a wonderland of colorful sandstone including “Crazy Hill” (aka; Rainbow Rock) and a handful of small but photogenic arches. There is a slab of sandstone on the east side of the road that offers numerous compositions including this one looking north.

Early morning or late afternoon works best. I like to go on a cloudy or even overcast day when the red, yellow, orange, pink, purple (virtually every color in the rainbow) sandstone is especially brilliant. Especially after recent rain when the color saturated sandstone landscape is full of water pockets, making this a photographer’s paradise. In fact, Valley of Fire is a great location after heavy rain since most areas there are accessed via a well maintained paved road.

From the Valley of Fire Visitor Center drive 13 miles (21km) to the Fire Wave parking area (parking lot #3). There is parking available on both sides of the road. Park on the east side of the road and walk north about 40 yards (35 meters) to a slab of sandstone where there’s a large (and also photogenic) rock on the right side of the slab. Avoid visiting during the summer when temperatures frequently exceed 110° F (43C). Fall and winter are great times to visit. If you visit during summer, make sure you carry plenty of water.