This park is Nevada's oldest and largest one. It received its name from the red sandstone formations and the beauty of the Mojave Desert. According to history, the red sandstone formations were formed by the great shifting sand dunes around the time of the age of dinosaurs 150 million years ago. And it was this shifting and huge erosion that made this current landscape.

Here, you can hike/walk and see areas of ancient trees (petrified ones) and petroglyphs done by early man. In addition, you can camp and/or take pictures and maybe view the animals (coyote, kit fox, jackrabbit, etc.) and reptiles like snakes. We saw a variety of rock formations, such as the beehives. And we viewed the petroglyphs. I also got a chance to see a large lizard sunning himself on a rock formation. In addition, the park has a full-scale visitor center and offers several group areas. Last, Valley of Fire is open year-round. Because of all the aforementioned, I highly recommend this attraction for everyone, especially families.

The first thing you notice about this place is the color of the rock formations. They are, as the name implies, crimson like fire. As you enter the park, you realize that this is about as far from Las Vegas as you can get. There is no neon here, no ringing slot machines, and no pedestrian traffic. Even though the strip is only about 60 miles away, this park is centuries away from that. It is still original and undeveloped except for the roads upon which you drive. The only evidence of man (besides the roads and picnic areas) are the petroglyphs, which can be found among the rock formations. One other site that gives evidence of human habitation is the ruin of an old motel from the ‘30s when this park was originally established. Other than that, Mother Nature still holds the deed to this property. One can imagine that if you had a time machine placed among one of the many rock formations and then activated it, you would hardly notice if you were in this century or one far removed from the present day.

Hiking would be the main activity here; taking photos of all the amazing scenery would be a close second. Speaking of photography, this has been a favorite site for Hollywood over the years as several movies have been shot here. Two notable ones: Star Trek: Generations and The Professionals (of which the set can still be viewed on one of the hikes).

Do not take this park lightly during the summer. It can get very HOT here so come prepared if you plan to stray very far from your fellow humans. There is a marker near the eastern entrance of the park which tells the story of one unfortunate soul who did die here in 1915. A visitors’ center can be found here, which gives you an overall look at the park's history in particular and the region in general.

Lots of hiking trails and local folklore to see. The cabins were one of our favorite sights. These are very rustic cabins made of stone that were built to house travelers in the desert. There is a scenic loop drive you can take from Las vegas. Head south to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. The best time to see Hoover Dam is in the morning as the lines for the dam tour are the shortest. Then take the back road along Lake Mead to the Park.

Once you are through the park, you can take #15 back to Las Vegas.