Top Desert Parks: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Near the north end of Lake Mead NRA, Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most photogenic locations in the Southwest, famous for the red, pink, cream and yellow Aztec sandstone which is exposed across much of the area, and eroded to create narrow ravines, arches, petrified dunes, strangely-shaped boulders and many other formations. Away from the colorful rocks, the surroundings are typical of the Mojave Desert, with broad plains and distant, dark mountain ranges. The park also has petroglyphs and petrified wood, while its facilities include a popular campground, a scenic drive and a few short trails.

Valley of Fire: details, map