The refuge is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Since this is a remote area, there…read moreis no visitor center nor rangers as one sees in other refuges or national parks and recreation areas. Instead, it is "staffed" by volunteers for US Fish and Wildlife. The area once had a number of resorts because of the warm spring waters. At one time, much of the area was owned by Howard Hughes. Supposedly he bought the land after seeing it from a plane flying over the area. This is home to a wonderful display about the endangered Moapa dace, a small fish with two fins on the bottom of the stomach. There is an area where there is warm spring water from above that flows through a specially constructed exhibit that allows the fish to live in the stream but also allows visitors to see the fish through the glass. After seeing the two dace that were in the one section (pointed out to us by one of the volunteers), we started a walk around the refuge. It is enjoyable to see how creatively they used the terrain to create this refuge and to protect the dace. We did not hike to the viewpoint at the top of the hill, but saved that for another visit when the need to visit a riparian area beckons us. This is out of the way for most people to bother with, but it's a super way to leave Las Vegas and enjoy the rural setting and the water.

The refuge is a very quiet and peaceful place, seemingly away from the hustle and bustle of Las…read moreVegas and any loud noises or crowds of people. It is not open in the summer months past May (I can see why as that area gets hot!). It is much smaller than other refuges located within a few hours of Vegas, but still nice to visit. I recommend bringing a lunch and sitting on top of the hill and taking in the nice views from there. One draw of this refuge is the moapa dace, a fish on the brink of extinction and unique to this area. There is a viewing water tank where you can see these in their natural habitat and it is so fascinating and neat to see! There are restrooms here and volunteer rangers; the rangers we saw were both very nice and informative. Great escape from the city for an afternoon!

VOF state park is DEF one of the cooler state parks in not just Nevada, but the US! The landscapes…read moreare beautiful, and very unique. I've not been to the wave but I have been to other slot canyons/antelope canyon, and the ring of fire trail leading to the scenic view of the fire wave is reminiscent of it!! There was also a pink sand slot canyon along that trail if you do the full loop (called the Pastel (pink) canyon trail). It's super cute and very unique, I did not see any other landforms quite like it on my road trip through Utah! Another short trail I enjoyed was the rainbow view trail - it's not long at all and is just a generally pretty, pink sand trail to a nice viewpoint. And the iconic valley of fire road view actually is just past this trailhead on your way back toward the main road (driving away from ring of fire trail). DO BE AWARE it gets hotter THAN out here. They have signs up at several trailheads that essentially say "drink water, you could die." I went on a day in April and it wasn't too bad, but it was still hot enough I was sweating a bit by the time I returned to my car, and it got VERY hot inside the car as well and took a hot minute to cool down. Overall though: this is one state park that is so unique it is absolutely worth traveling off the beaten path and the $10 entry fee to visit. The visitor center is also super nice and has lots of fun learning exhibits!

Valley of Fire is a 10/10 for families! It's not too far from Vegas (~1 hour), hikes are easy…read moreenough for small kids (and probably older adults too), and the April weather was perfect. Tips: - Pack way more snacks than you think you'll need. - Use a real restroom before you get deep into the park--the ones on-site were pretty rough. It's a must-do before the summer heat kicks in

A truly fantastic hike with changing scenic views along the way. The trail is also ever changing,…read morefrom sand, to packed dirt, to rocky/gravel, and steep stone steps. I personally recommend doing this trail counterclockwise. We're in our 30s, but my husband has bad knees and I get lower back pain; we find that the steep stone steps are far easier to go up than down. Having a walking stick while climbing the steps is also helpful. You will see some incredible things while hiking this trail. The texture on the rocks, the multitude of colors, windows, slot canyons, a portion of an old movie set, and some grand majestic views. Being an avid hiker and having hiked 80% of the trails within Valley of Fire, I'd consider this to be a moderate hiking trail. Note: There is a small covered picnic area with 4 tables as well as 4 gender neutral vault toilets near the start of this trail and next to the parking lot.

Amazing hike with beautiful scenery and moderate level…read more Starting out into the hike you have to walk through some sand which doesn't sound hard but it's actually strenuous on your body. Follow that down through some rocky man-made type rock stairs past an old movie set where you feel like you're in Star Wars Then follow that to the slot canyon. The slot Canyon is my favorite part of the hike. Very beautiful and unique. We just took our time going through the hike as we had some friends with us who were inexperienced hikers and we wanted to make sure everyone got through safely. I could've gone onto a few more hikes that day, but they were pretty tired. I will definitely go back here again. This was my second or third time here.

This trail (with the seven wonders loop) is my fave in VOF state park. If you only do one, this is…read morethe one I'd recommend! I love the variety of vistas along the trail, and the scenic viewpoint is so colorful and lovely. The pastel canyon trail is also really cute and unique - it's short but I love the pink sand, it felt like getting the pink sand dunes experience There's also plenty of parking at the trailhead despite it being a very popular trail. Def recommend :)

The Fire Wave trail in Valley of Fire state park connects to the Seven Wonders trails to make about…read morea 1.5 miles trail. Parking is on either side of White Dome road with one side of the parking area actually starting at the fire wave trail, and the other side being the Seven Wonders trail. The views, and the colors of the rocks are amazing, even if you don't have time to do the entire hike you can just step out and walk a little bit one either side of the trail and take in some spectacular views.

Very nice area for hunting waterfowl in southern Nevada. There are ponds, sloughs, and bulrushes,…read moreand fields. Parking is fairly close to the blinds which are well taken care of. Managed by NDOW and they do a great job.

Finally after passing the Overton Wildlife Management Area (abbreviated OWMA) a handful of years…read moreand exploring the landscape on Google Maps, this past Saturday I set my feet here, on a hiking adventure that lead me through the beautiful open spaces of the southernmost reaches of the Moapa Valley. OWMA encompass 17,665 acres of a desert riparian habitat where the town of Overton merges with the breathtaking landscapes of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Valley of Fire State Park. This is a popular spot for viewing wildlife, hiking, horseback riding, hiking, and hunting. When talking wildlife, OWMA is rich in wildlife. According to their website there are 265 species of birds seen here, 47 species of mammals, 22 species of fish, and 28 species of reptiles and amphibians. When it comes to wildlife there are many that come here to shoot them with cameras then others who come here to shoot them with guns. It is important to keep in mind that hunting season is September 1 to the middle of February. It is recommended that you call (702)-397-2142 to ask if it open the day that you plan to visit. Essentially, OWMA is a Spring hiking park. From this point forward, I will discuss my first hand experience here. It was part 3 of an all day adventure that started with a cruise on the North Shore Drive followed by the Lost City Museum. It tied in with the Lost City Museum because it is a part of the area it focused on where it ties in with the North Shore Drive in Lake Mead National Recreation Area because the Muddy River that flows through OWMA area discharges into Lake Mead. From Route 169, I pulled into a dirt road that ended at a parking area by a kiosk. On the way I passed a couple camping sites. From there I opened a gate before exploring the southern portion of OWMA. The hiking trail was a dirt road that reached out as far as the eye can see. Bordering it were forests of mesquite interspersed with cottonwoods and riparian plants. To avoid the Yelp character limit, I will get to the point of saying that the highlight of the hike were the fields the dirt road overlooked. The circular dirt road connected to additional dirt roads bordering the fields. The fields resembled life and death. Both Pintail & Wilson Ponds were dried pond peds. Nearby green fields adorned a landscape bordered by the mountains of Valley of Fire & Virgin Range in addition to a mesa. Interestingly the green fields represented part of the 160 acres used for farming. It was a surprise to see cattle on the land. It was another surprise to see how tiny the Muddy River was when I explored a spur trail. As I explored the OWMA, I was amazed by how different it was from the Mars landscape of Valley of Fire and North Shore Drive outside it. This reminded me more of hiking in a Florida Prairie than Mars. To put it simply, I was just amazed. I plan to return to OWMA next Spring. This time, I will skip the Lost City Museum and spend even more time here. When I return, I will be reaching it by ways of the North Shore Drive ($20 for 7 days or $40 annual pass). The sixty miles along the park road extended my adventure to and from Las Vegas.

Arch Rock is a sits just near the edge of the road on a scenic 2 mile loop filled with views of…read moreinteresting rock formations and gorgeous scenery. It is only worth a few minute stop and some people don't even get out of their vehicles; they just slow and stare or take a photo or two before continuing on. Still, it is an enchanting little arch and makes for a nice photo and I imagine depending on the sky at the time you visit you could get some spectacular shots. It's definitely worth keeping an eye out for when you are visiting Valley of Fire.

Arch rock is within the campsite loop road off the Valley of Fire highway. Where the location is…read morelocated southwest of visitors center. Unfortunately they don't allow you climbing to the arch. The arch is tiny from the distance but the formation surrounding is beautiful. It is interesting place to explore. Arch has been use on many postcards. It is symbol of the red rock.

This is a great 6.7 mile loop hike at Valley of Fire State Park. It is not a maintained trail and…read moreunless you know it's there, it's easy to miss. There is information at the Visitor Center, but the Visitor Center is undergoing renovation during this fall/winter. To get to the trailhead, drive in the Valley of Fire Road and keep going past the Visitor Center and then the Seven Sisters. After the turnoff to the Cabins, keep driving a little further and look for a small road on the left side that is for park employees only. This is the place to park as long as you don't block the road. The trailhead begins in a wash on the other side of the road. Cross the road and start into the wash. You'll see a sign that says "Charlie's Spring 5.5 miles" and on the hill to the right there's a monument with a cross on it. Hike down this wash. The monument is to Sergeant John C. Clark who died here in June 1915. You can walk up to the monument, but the hike is down the wash. Keep heading east in the wash. Several side washes come in from the right and left but stay in the main wash. It's gravel and hard to walk at times. The scenery is great! After about 2 miles, the wash narrows and you come to two gorgeous, sandstone dry falls. They are easy to climb down. A short time after the second dry fall, you'll start to see water as the spring water seeps out of the ground and forms a creek. Keep hiking. The springs stretch for about 1/2 mile. There are many reeds growing, a stream, and some beautifully eroded rock of various colors. At about the 3 mile point, you come to a power line road. Turn left and hike up this steep road out of the wash. Walk along the power line road until there's a split in the road, and you'll see a different wash heading back to the northwest (left). This is the different wash to take to get back to the car. Hike up this side wash until it gets so narrow you have to climb out and go cross country. Head north (right) and in about 1/2 mile, you'll come to the Valley of Fire Road near the east entrance fee station. Now all you have to do is get to the road, turn left, and walk the road back to your car. NOTE: I do not recommend you do this hike in a loop fashion unless you take GPS coordinates. The sandstone may tend to look the same if you don't know where you're going. Instead, hike down to the springs, enjoy, and then hike back the way you came. Here is a link to my EveryTrail report on this hike with GPS coordinates you can download to your GPS unit. I am also including a link to my website so you can see more photos. EveryTrail GPS coordinates: http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=880776 More photos: http://gallery.me.com/nkresge#100778 Happy hiking!

First hike for the New Year...yeah!! Hiked this trail for the first time today! Located inside…read moreValley of Fire. Pay the $10 per vehicle fee and a good idea to make a stop at the visitor center and grab a map. We got there today around 12:15pm and finished at 3:15pm. It took us around 6 miles, easy-moderate loop in the backcountry of the park. Roughly a half mile in to the Valley of Fire, from the East entrance, you'll see a "historical marker" sign and a grave marker on your left. Go ahead and park in one of the pull outs and follow the unmarked trail down in to the wash. From here you can follow the wash for 2.5 miles to the spring. The trail is unmarked and the hike continues down the wash for about 2.75 miles to the spring. I don't like walking in the silky sand, however it was pretty cool we came across fresh bones, probably a bobcat attacked a big horn sheep. We also saw more bones near the spring which creeps me out a little. After a few miles of hiking, we approached a small section of narrows and slot canyon. I loved this area. It was dry but would have made a beautiful waterfalls.

I first visited St. Thomas in 2007 and I only had a paper map I had printed to give me some idea…read morewhat I was looking at. When you're trying to compare a street grid with dirt trails in the desert it can be difficult to know what you're looking at. Now a decade plus later, the National Park Service has installed many interpretive markers with lots of information and many have maps so you can see what you're looking at and where the loop trail goes. Have a Nevada State Parks pass, I drove up the 15 and got off and came through Valley of Fire State Park. At the east entrance to VOF, you make a turn south on Northshore Road. Just after the Lake Mead NRA fee booth, there's a dirt road that is on the left. That's the road that's marked with a sign that says St. Thomas Cove. You travel a well graded dirt road for three miles to the parking area for the hike. From the parking area, the trail starts down a hill and in 3/10 of a mile, you're on flat ground. It's amazing to think that you're walking where Lake Mead once covered the area. There are freshwater clam shells all around. Eventually, you come to a junction where there are two interpretive markers. This is the beginning of the loop hike and you can complete the loop either clockwise or counter clockwise. Make sure you read the markers as they have great information on the history of St. Thomas and the foundations at which you're looking. The cooler weather is the best time to go. The summer heat would make this an unpleasant and dangerous hike. There is a pit toilet a short distance away from the parking area in what was a place where the road went to the lake to launch boats.

Spent Earth Day hiking this trail for a local history lesson with some friends. Check the other…read morereview for the background info, but know to come with a hat and/or sunscreen and plenty of water, as there is no shade on this trail. The loop takes you through the remains of a former city, hence the name. There are websites you can pull up to look up info on each of the sites as you go, from the old general store to the ice cream shop and more. The trail is clear and you can venture off of it easily. More than the various human artifacts, my favorite part was being able to walk through the dessert and see hundreds of sea shells crunching underfoot. It's surreal to think that it really wasn't that long ago that all of this was underwater. Trail is dog-friendly and is located in the Lake Meade area, requiring a car entry fee. There's also a museum in town to get more info related to this area. Pop into Sugar's for a meal before or after.

It is one of the shorter trail and easy access for Valley of Fire. It is 1.1 miles from Valley of…read moreFire. The entire trail last 1 miles round trip. Sandy trail with least strength and elevation differences is minor. Along the trail has petroglyphs on the wall. We saw human holding hand. I believe there is very much how many in the family. We also saw shape like goat, big horn sheep or deer. The drawing is interesting for many years ago. At the end of the track like small pool where look like mouse trap. This trail just need to bring camera. You will not require water.

This was our first hike inside the Valley of Fire. It is only .7 mikes but on the scorching day in…read moreJuly it was pretty challenging because of the heat. The trail is fairly easy to walk but the surface is soft sand so it takes a little longer to hike than it would on a hard surface. (In July the sand is so hot it burns right through your socks & sneakers!) Also there's not much breeze because there are large sandstone formations on each side of the trail. At the end there's a small opening where you can spy a hidden water source down a ways. (We May not have spotted it if we hadn't seen some birds flying overhead because there was no additional signage.). The trail is called a Mouse's Tank because there was a renegade Paiute Indian who was said to have secluded himself here in the 1890's. The Mojave Desert is extremely hot & dry; so this water source most likely kept him alive. Although the hike was short, I feel like it could have been marked a little better. Like I mentioned we almost missed the water source at the end of the trail because there was no signage. There were also supposed to be petroglyphs along the way, however we missed those too because there was no signs pointing them out.

Freak yes. Come here…read more Valley of Fire is a one-of-a-kind park with natural formations that look like beehives. There are petroglyphs that are thousands of years old. There are places where there are covered picnic tables and BBQ grills. Overnight campsites available. Get a discount on the entrance fee if you are a Nevada resident.

Very cool and easy to get to. You can climb all over these rocks pretty safely. Kid friendly. We…read morehad a Big Horn Sheep grazing about 30 feet away from us.