I read about this area after the Southern Nevada Water Authority purchased the property. It had…read morebeen on my to do list for many years but I never took the opportuinity to visit. It's approximately 50 miles north of Las Vegas in the Moapa Valley. Having been in the area a few months ago hiking, the thought of making a visit here came to the front of my brain and this became part 2 of an exploration two of us did yesterday. The site was once a ranch. The palm trees are from a time when the area near here had a number of resorts because of the numerous warm springs in this area. The springs create this fork of the Muddy River that flows into Lake Mead. The springs have a temperature of about 90 degrees. There is a 3/4 mile loop trail with many interpretive panels so you know what you're looking at. It's a packed dirt walking path and it winds its way through the palm trees, along the Pederson Creek, and past the old farm implements from when this was a working ranch. The two of us took our time doing the loop, reading all the signs, and enjoying the sound of water. Desert rats like me don't hear water very much except in the shower so this area is a treat! If you come here, do stop at the Wildlife Refuge about 1/10 of a mile north of this area and administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Go and enjoy an un-desert like experience!!!

I took a drove out to the Warm Springs Natural Area to get away from the city for a spell. This is…read morea part of an old ranch that is now run by the SNWA. They have cleaned up the place making some repairs and devloping some trails. Now it is a cool place to walk around, see the animals and some rare dace fish that don't live anywhere else. You can enjoy the sounds of a babbling brook fed by the crystal clear springs of the area. Just don't go for swim. You'll disrupt the habitats. This is a hidden gem sort of place. So hidden that you may just have the place to youself. What more could you ask for?

The trails are easy to find and all are found starting from this main spot. Note they are not…read morepaved. The trails themselves have a lot of dirt and rocks, and don't offer the best views of flowers. However, if you time it right you may see some wildlife like lizards and tortoises. You can get a great overview of the city from here. Bathrooms were dirty. Signage was good and informative. There are a few benches and a picnic shaded area as well.

AWESOME! TOTALLY AWESOME!!! This was so much fun for our…read morefamily (2 adults & 2 kids 9 & 11). Decatur and the rest of UDA are great people. They are helpful, informative and patient with questions (even after watching a 30 min safety video:-) This is a 4 hour self guided ride. You just need to follow the onboard GPS to stay on/near the trail. The 1st section is 4x4 offrpad with some rock hill climb sections. After this you can choose between your next starting point. I recommend the sand dunes trail for both entry and return. No need to do the whole loop. This trail has berms, sand dunes, places to floor the pedal and has the same views as the trail. We did the other trail on our return to do the whole loop but wish we would have just stayed on the sand dune trails instead. It was totally worth it! My wife who is a "glamper" had a bunch of fun too. These guys are honest and won't try to nickel and dime you. We actually had some down time (45 mins) due to flat and tire replacement (due to my awesome driving) and were not charged extra. We used this time to eat our last minute mcdonalds purchase before our ride and took photos. All in all it was a terrific day with the family.

Great experience all the way around - great staff, easy check in, good equipment, great nav system…read morefor main trail ( a MUST have here btw).

WOW! This was an amazing short, kid-friendly, and as-difficult-as-you-want-it hike! The main…read moretrail is mostly sandy. This wasn't an issue on the beautiful, 50°, clear-weather day we were there late December. However, you may choose to climb here and there to get different views or a different level of workout. There are petroglyphs along the hike which is especially fun for kids to look out for and spot. At the start of the trail there is a key that gives possible interpretations for the symbols. We think we got to the end of the trail. There was a sharp "up" right after a small puddle of water after turning left that didn't seem to have a way down. The trail was well-trafficked but it didn't feel crowded. Everyone was passed was very kind and there were even enough people to take group photos for us every now and again.

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 place is truly beautiful. So many scenic routes, trails and rock formations. No pictures do it…read morejustice. I need to shout out Carol at the visitor center. She was kind, friendly, patient and had an answer for every question. She was curious about our travels and really pleasant to talk to. I feel like she is just a volunteer but someone give that woman a bonus or something. She deserves it and really added to our experience.

Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most breathtaking places I've ever visited. The bright red…read morerock formations almost look like you're on another planet, and every turn offers another incredible view. The scenic drive alone is worth the trip, but there are also plenty of great spots to stop, explore, and take photos. I especially enjoyed seeing the unique rock formations and the ancient petroglyphs. Everything was well maintained, and it was easy to spend several hours just taking in the scenery. If you're visiting the Las Vegas area, this is an absolute must see and well worth the drive. I would definitely come back again.

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.

I originally found out about this place from a site I follow on Facebook, Roadtrippers (awesome…read moresite, by the way) and I had one of those, "what the" moments finding out this place is a quick 90-120 minutes away from where I live. A quick drive up I-15N and exit #112, Bunkerville (this is just south of Mesquite), and follow the signs to Whitney Pockets. You will the infamous Bundy Ranch area. The road is paved until you hit the Whitney Pockets area, then a HCV vehicle is needed. I did see a passenger car attempting to drive thru here, I guess it could be done, but it's not a place I would want to get stuck. Once you hit the trailhead area, you'll see a large red sandstone wall in the middle of nowhere. This is where you park. There are some really cool, preserved petroglyphs on the wall here. Make sure you look up to see them, they're kind of high up. From there it's a walk on a dirt road and dry wash to the area. There aren't any marking or cairns for the turnoffs to hit the trail to Little Finland, so it's best to go with someone who has been before, or do your research. The area is pretty darn cool. The sandstone rock formations get the name from wind and erosion that has made the made the rock appear to have fins. The area is really delicate, so be careful not to ruin what nature and time has created. Once you're in Litle Finland, there are more petroglyphs as well as some running water through the area. The minerals in the water made the water and rock turn colors, the entire area made me think I was on Mars. If you've ever been to Goblin Valley State Park, this is a miniature version of it. It's a pretty cool day trip.

Little Finland (aka Hobgoblin's Playground and Devil's Fire) is a magical place where wind and…read morewater have sculpted red sandstone rock into fantastical shapes. I just explored this unique area with my boyfriend and a group of hikers today. Located in a remote portion of the remote Gold Butte region of southeastern Nevada ( south of Mesquite), Little Finland was a challenge to get to...about an hour on bumpy unpaved road but well worth the effort. The rocks there are very ornate and delicate, so please becareful. If you are driving north on I-15 from Las Vegas, exit at #112 (Riverside / Bunkerville), turn right and go 3 miles to cross the Virgin River. Make a right turn at the next road (Gold Butte Road), drive twenty miles on loud bumpy pavement, becareful of the free range cows, the hit the graded dirt road for four more miles. Finally, turn right at the sign that indicates Red Bluff Springs and drive four more miles on a sandy uneven dirt road that requires a high clearance vehicle. This is your day long adventure, make sure you go prepared. Bring warm clothing, gloves, hat, lots of water, a snack or lunch, sturdy boots and most of all bring your camera! The most fascinating thing about this place is the fantasyland of shapes--almost every rock appears to be an animal, face, or mythical creature. It is mixed in with the intricate red rock sculptures are fields of virtually white sandstone with sinuous waves, remnants of ancient sand dunes. In other places, the rock is covered with a thin white crust--salt that has crystallized out of groundwater running through the rock. Go see it to believe it!

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.