If you've never been to Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park, with its vibrantly colored canyons and red Aztec sandstone, put it on your list right now. The sheer beauty of it all is enough to blow your mind, with its astonishing rock formations, hikes, and ancient petroglyphs. It's a place you can't afford to miss. Though some of the major hikes like the Seven Wonders, White Domes, and the Natural Arch loops are closed from May 15 through September 30 for safety -- daily summer highs are usually between
100 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit -- the drive down the scenic White Domes Road gives you some spectacular views of the park, right from the air-conditioned comfort of your car.
The 46,000-acre Valley of Fire State Park was established in 1935, but the sandstone is from the Jurassic period, with human habitation beginning around 11,000 years ago. Petroglyphs from the Basketmaker culture are around 2,500 years old. It almost feels like you're in another world when you visit. You don't need to make reservations to drive the 5.5-mile out-and-back White Domes Road, though daily vehicle passes are $10 for local residents and $15 for those with out-of-state license plates. The drive on White Domes Road starts around the visitor center and heads to the beautiful white domes of rock at the end, with plenty of turnouts and parking areas to stop for pictures. This includes the Silica Dome Outlook that you can climb up (weather permitting) and the Fire Wave parking lot.
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What To Know Before You Drive The White Domes Road
White Domes Road in the Valley of Fire State Park is less than a 1.5-hour drive from Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport, so it's a good day trip if you're doing a bit of gambling or partying on the strip. You may even want to bring binoculars to spot the animals in the area, like bighorn sheep, chuckwallas, rattlesnakes, kit foxes, and jackrabbits. However, if you plan on stopping to do some hiking on open trails, there are a few things you should know first. Start by double-checking their status to see if they're open, and look at the temperature before you go. Hiking isn't recommended if it's hotter than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. You can bring your leashed dog with you, but do not take them if it's hot; the ground can burn their paws very quickly.
It's also important to be prepared. The nearest gas station to the visitor center is 18 miles away, so you should go in with a full tank. With temperatures that can hit 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll also want to ensure your air conditioning is working. Wi-Fi is available in the park, but you'll have to pay a fee. Make sure you let someone know where you're going, and stop in the visitor center so they're aware someone is out there. No drones are allowed without a special permit. Bring plenty of water and electrolytes when you visit, and know the best ways to avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Before hiking, it's also important to remember that some common medications can make you dangerously vulnerable to the effects of the sun, like those for high blood pressure, amphetamines for ADHD, some antidepressants, and thyroid replacement medication, to name a few.
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