How To See Valley Of Fire State Park in One Day

We talk a lot about National Parks, but what about State Parks? Valley of Fire State Park is Nevada’s first state park, and even though it’s a desert full of red rocks, petroglyphs, and gorgeous hikes now, it was once completely underwater and home to an entirely different array of wildlife to the lizards, snakes, and desert tortoises that call it home now. Valley of Fire State Park is a fairly small park next to Lake Mead, and while you can definitely spend more than one day here, it’s also more than possible to see it in less than 24 hours. This is the ultimate itinerary for seeing Valley of Fire State Park in one day. Let’s start at the West Entrance to the park…

(Do this itinerary backwards if you’re entering from the East Entrance)

The Basics

Valley of Fire State Park costs $10 USD per car per day. As budget travelers, this was the inspiration for our one day trip—we didn’t want to pay a second time! Valley of Fire is also extremely dog friendly and our Border Collie, Lassen, was able to join us on every trail we hiked that day. None of the trails are extremely hard, even the longer Fire Wave Trail. I hiked everything in trekking sandals just fine!

Stop 1: Atlatl Rock and Arch Rock

The first major stop you’ll want to make during your day trip to Valley of Fire is Atlatl Rock and Arch Rock. They’re really close to each other, and you’ll find them near Atlatl Campground. Atlatl Rock is one of the main petroglyph sites in the park, some of which are over 4,000 years old. Arch Rock is your classic arch, and the good news is, it’s right next to the road, so you won’t have to hike yet if you’re still waking up!

Stop 2: Visitor Center

This is the only place dogs aren’t allowed, but it’s a good stop for you to get the lay of the land, ask some rangers your questions about the park, see the museum, and hit up the gift shop!

Stop 3: White Domes Road

While this isn’t technically a stop, this is the next place you’ll go during your journey. This road is about 6 miles one way, and isn’t recommended for oversized vehicles (25 feet +). This is the view you see when you look up pictures of Valley of Fire. Our next two stops are on the White Domes Road, so keep your eye on the map so you don’t miss them! There are plenty of other things you can stop and do, but these next two hikes are a must-do as long as the weather is nice!

Stop 4: Fire Wave Trail

This 1.5 mile hike is rated easy-moderate, depending on your hiking style. I personally did this hike in trekking sandals and found it easy. This trail starts off sandy and then turns to a rock trail that you must follow cairn-style posts to hike. You’ll end at a beautiful rock formation (pictured below) that’s reminiscent of Arizona’s “The Wave,” which you need permits to hike.

Stop 5: White Domes Trail

This is one of my favorite trails in the southwest. This short hike is only about a mile long, and is rated easy-moderate. It is a bit hard to follow unless you know to look for cairns, but it features a slot canyon, colorful rocks, and a historic movie site.

Stop 6: Elephant Rock

Our last stop of the day was Elephant Rock, a trail that’s located at the East Entrance. Elephant Rock is exactly what it sounds like—a rock shaped like an elephant! It’s only about a half a mile hike, and it’s rated easy. Make sure you keep an eye out though! You might miss it!

Valley of Fire is a state park that needs to be on everyone’s list. With plenty of easy and dog friendly trails to hike, you can’t go wrong with spending a day at this underrated southwestern park.

Sedona, AZ Bucket List

Sedona, AZ is already a bucket list destination for hikers, photographers, spiritualists, and vanlifers, but what do you do once you get to Sedona? From the crowded trailheads, to the must-see Uptown Sedona, this is everything you need to do and see in Sedona, AZ.

What to know before you go…

The best time of year to visit Sedona, according to the weather, is between October and April, but the best time of year to visit according to the crowds is in the summer. Sedona is located in Northern Arizona, so it gets really hot in the summer, making it almost impossible to hike. In the winter, though, the crowds make it so that you need to choose a hike the night before, and get there first thing in the morning in order to find a parking spot that allows you to actually hike.

Most hikes in Sedona that aren’t affiliated with a state park are dog friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friend along!

On the Soldier’s Pass Trail

Visiting Sedona Vortexes

Sedona is a highly spiritual location full of energy Vortexes. These are natural spaces that are known to be super energetically charged, so much so that spiritual people can feel an energy shift while they are near them. You can recognize them by the swirly “vortex trees,” and they’re often found at the top of hikes like Cathedral Rock and Boynton Canyon.

At the Boynton Canyon Mesa

Hikes You Should Do

Sedona is known for hiking. This is the main thing we do whenever we visit Sedona, and there are so many trails, I definitely haven’t hiked even close to all of them. These are my favorites for first time visitors, though, so that you get the best experience.

Devils Bridge: 4 miles RT, easy-moderate. Devils Bridge takes you to the famous bridge arch formation, where you can get your perfect picture. The trail starts on a 4x4 dirt road, and eventually climbs to the viewpoint. Be careful on the bridge though—it’s narrow!

Devils Bridge Trail

Cathedral Rock: 1.2 miles RT, moderate-difficult. Cathedral Rock is a straight ascent of about 700 feet up to a beautiful viewpoint and spiritual vortex. This hike involves some heavy rock scrambling, and I highly recommend going in real hiking boots.

Solider’s Pass Trail and Seven Sacred Pools: as long as you want it to be, easy-moderate. The Seven Sacred Pools are an easy .25 miles from the trailhead, but if you want to go to Soldier’s Pass or the nearby caves, you’ll be doing about a 4 mile hike. We liked returning by walking the 4x4 road to avoid crowds going to the Seven Sacred Pools from Jordan Pond.

The Birthing Cave: 2 miles RT, moderate. This cave trail is easy until it reaches a steep ascent during the last .25 miles to the top. Traditionally, Hopi women came here to give birth, which is part of how it got its name (the other reason being its yonic shape). This is a very busy trail, so be prepared for crowds, and if you want a picture perfect scene for the ‘gram, get there early!

Cathedral Rock Trail

Healthy Hippie Bites

Sedona is a true hippie town full of amazing plant based food. These are my favorite spots for any meal, any time of day.

ChocolaTree: If you’re looking for amazing lunch or dinner food, ChocolaTree has you covered for vegetarian food. With options for any budget and diet, including raw vegan, you’ll love this organic eatery. My favorite thing to order at ChocolaTree is the Mushroom Fantasy.

Local Juicery: If you’re looking for a quick bite for lunch, Local Juicery is an amazing choice. From smoothies and juices, to easy on-the-go meals, this is the place to stop for any food you’re craving. My favorite thing to order here is the Avocado Toast.

Berry Devine: For anyone trying to cool off after a hike, Berry Devine has got you covered. This acai bowl place carries organic acai soft serve perfect for quenching any thirst. My favorite thing to order here is the Vortex Bowl with agave instead of honey and vegan granola.

At a Vortex just after sunrise

Visit Uptown

Shopping, believe it or not, is another thing you have to do in Sedona. But not just any shopping: crystal shopping. Sedona’s Uptown is their version of downtown, with shops after shops, and restaurants you won’t find anywhere else. Aside from the clothes and art galleries, you’ll find endless metaphysical shops in Uptown, and these are the perfect spots to buy crystals and other spiritual goodies during your trip. My favorite metaphysical shop in Uptown is called the Center For New Age, a shop where the spiritual energy is high, and you’ll find the most genuine crystals in town. They also have affordable incense, a spiritual bookshop, and a vortex at the back of the store.

Sedona, AZ is one of my favorite places in the US, and as a spiritualist, it’s a must see for anyone who connects to the energy of the universe. Even if you’re skeptical, no one can doubt that the hikes here are incredible, and there’s no chance that there is a more beautiful desert town in the Southwest.

Live in a van? Check out last year’s Vanlife Guide to Sedona at the link below!