Detour: The Valley Of Fire

From the frozen north into the Valley of Fire.
From the frozen north into the Valley of Fire.

Sometimes that detour in our travel plans is meant to be as we discovered the Valley of Fire State Park in the Moapa Valley Nevada. So far this may have been one of the highlights of our trek south to spend the winter out of the snow back home. We hate big cities and strongly dislike popular tourist areas and anywhere else that reservations are required.  Las Vegas, a destination for many, holds no interest for us besides they were preparing to hold the Taylor Swift Superbowl  in that city. That morning from our home in a truck stop we discovered a road that would allow us to bypass Las Vegas and take us by the Valley of Fire State Park…cool let’s try that and see what happens, a unanimous decision from the boardroom table. Being as we were going to be early for our planned Truck Camper Adventure Rally time was not a problem and it also took us by the Hoover Dam.

Just a warning if your offended by photographs of rocks best leave now.
Just a warning if you’re offended by photographs of rocks best leave now.
Charlotte asked how many photographs of rock can you take...I said thousands but I'm only going to share a few.
Charlotte asked how many photographs of rock can you take…I said thousands but I’m only going to share a few.

Never having travelled south in our RV before this was all new to us when we arrived at the State Park. We were asked how long we were going to be in the park. We had no idea so I told him we were either just passing through or if we found a place to camp may stay. He charged us $15 US to enter or approximately $20 Canadian. Ok we were fine with that. As it turned out it was the best money spent as we totally enjoyed the entire experience and the Park.

Just a drive through this fantastic park is worht it. I almost hate to promote it as it may become overrun as other popular parks that need a reservation to visit.
Just a drive through this fantastic park is worth it. I almost hate to promote it as it may become overrun as other popular parks that need a reservation to visit.
Some rocks look like they were formed into shapes if one uses there imagination.
Some rocks look like they were formed into shapes if one uses their imagination.
We were lucky enoug to get a campspot for a few days before reservations kicked in to effect.
We were lucky enough to get a campspot for a few days before reservations kicked in to effect.
This is probably why they called our campground Arch Rock.
This is probably why they called our campground Arch Rock
Lots of arches formed by nature through out the park.
Lots of arches formed by nature throughout the park.

The park covers 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops mixed in with grey and tan limestone. The park contains many hiking trails, and ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. It has a visitor center which we found provided information on geology, ecology and history of the park and area. There are two campgrounds totalling 72 sites all with shaded tables, grills water and restrooms. A dump station and showers are available. What spoiled the Park for us is the reservation system as all campsites are available by reservation with 14 maximum stay limits. We were told after stopping at the information center if we could find a spot that was not reserved we could stay just deposit $10 US (approx. $13.80 Can.)  This was great there were two spots open and we grabbed one depositing our US $10 cash in the box. We spent the day touring the park, we stayed in the Arches campground where there were many arches in the rock formed by nature. We got to see our first mountain goats with some young up in the rocks. We also got to meet our first American Nomad, Keith a young man (around 40ish I suspect) who claimed he was a sort of anti-social type who preferred to stick by himself. Well for our entire time there he talked non-stop and we spent several hours visiting, we found his nomad life interesting and he taught us a lot about travelling and camping in the US. We were impressed with his openness and friendly conversation especially for a self-proclaimed introvert.

Just love the shape the rocks take, red in color and almost hand shaped.
Just love the shape the rocks take, red in color and almost hand shaped.
Our first view of Mountain Goats and our last as it turns out.
Our first view of Mountain Goats and our last as it turns out.
How many images can you take of goats...lots.
How many images can you take of goats…lots.
They keep getting better now I'm getting the hang of wildlife photography.
They keep getting better now I’m getting the hang of wildlife photography.
This may have been my best the adults were making sure they were between me and their young ones.
This may have been my best the adults were making sure they were between me and their young ones.

We enjoyed the park so much that day we decided to stay over another day, Charlotte  dutifully placed our $10 US in the box and registered for another day and as we were really enjoying the views and meeting those camped there, a couple in their Airstream from Regina, Saskatchewan our home province. About 3 that afternoon after returning from a hike we get the “knock” I open the door to a park Ranger who asks us if we have paid our $15 I said yes when we came in and told her we paid our $10 for the extra night. She was definitely doing her job and she informed me just to be in the park was $15 per day…oops now we know. Our site was costing us $25 US or $34.50 Canadian, have I said our dollar sucks. The Park was worth it and although we would have like to stay longer the sites were all reserved as the season was beginning. So if you’re so inclined to book your life in advance you should probably reserve a site if planning on staying.

This beats Vegas for us anyday. Hiking is a must.
This beats Vegas for us anyday. Hiking is a must.

We lucked out this time but there is a lot of BLM land around the area we can stay on, no reservations required. We love the freedom of staying or leaving so tying ourselves to a deadline or committing to a campground that could be a disaster is not in our books. We are travelers enjoying the country we happen to be in. that being said the park has a lot to offer and we enjoyed it totally well worth missing out on the sights, sounds and the crazy traffic of Vegas.

This hike was definately worth it althoug at one point we almost turned back.
This hike was definitely worth it although at one point we almost turned back.
The movie set may have been a bit of a let down but the hike fantastic.
The movie set may have been a bit of a let down but the hike fantastic.
Some parts of the hike were not groomed and securing your footing was important.
Some parts of the hike were not groomed and securing your footing was important.
Once down in the canyon the hike was much easier and beautiful.
Once down in the canyon the hike was much easier and beautiful.
One gets to feeling very small in here.
One gets to feeling very small in here.
Ha even Charlotte has gotten the rock photo bug... if one again uses their imagination these rocks take on different forms.
Ha even Charlotte has gotten the rock photo bug… if one again uses their imagination these rocks take on different forms.

Our second day we took a road winding through the mountains to a hiking trail that took us back to the remains of an old movie set. The remains were a bit of a letdown but the hike was so worth it they called it an intermediate difficult hike but we found it a bit of a challenge as did a few others part way along the hike.

The site of the Petroglyphs just amazing.
The site of the Petroglyphs just amazing.
The way up how did they sign the rock 2000 years ago the steps looked pretty new.
The way up how did they sign the rock 2000 years ago the steps looked pretty new.
An art form or a story about life 2000 yeas ago.
An art form or a story about life 2000 yeas ago.
We saw a number of Petroglyphs in the area.
We saw a number of Petroglyphs in the area.
Another interesting area to check out.
Another interesting area to check out.
Lucky for us our truck camper is able to get almost anywhere. There is a lenght restriction on this road.
Lucky for us our truck camper is able to get almost anywhere. There is a lenght restriction on this road.
Talk about fitting into the envierment when building.
Talk about fitting into the enviroment when building.
just a different angle of the well preserved Cabins.
Just a different angle of the well preserved Cabins.
Just one more rock photograph.
Just one more rock photograph.
As always the view from the "condo" back door is amazing we are so lucky to have detoured to The Valley of Fire.
As always the view from the “condo” back door is amazing we are so lucky to have detoured to The Valley of Fire.

The petroglyphs were amazing and while there we met a young man from England who moved to Vancouver and was now living and travelling in his SUV and enjoying every day seeing the sights south of our border. As amazing as this park was the US is full of nature’s beauty from canyons, forests, Rocky Mountains to desert and I can see why so many people we met can live and travel exploring their country in some form of an RV.

I have been imagining seeing my favorite cowboys ride this area, time to go because the imagination is becoming real.
I have been imagining seeing my favorite cowboys ride this area, time to go because the imagination is becoming real.
Okay...it's all good it's real. See you all down the trail somewhere.
Okay…it’s all good it’s real. See you all down the trail somewhere.

I’ve been told I get too wordy by a neighbour who follows the blog, he is no doubt right I’ll end it here so enjoy the photos of the Valley of Fire at least. More to come in future blogs on our winter experience and boondocking in the good old USA, did I mention our dollar sucks.

Subscribe if you wish notification of when I get around to posting by email; promise no junk mail I do this for the fun of it. Keep healthy and safe; we hope to meet you somewhere down the road watch for the studiowest.ca Northern Lite.

Gerry (RV cowboy)

Charlotte

Practicing Nomads and loving it!

79 thoughts on “Detour: The Valley Of Fire”

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