Valley of Fire State Park, State park in Clark County, Nevada
Valley of Fire State Park is a protected natural area in Clark County in southern Nevada. The landscape shows sandstone formations in red and orange shades, shaped by wind and water over thousands of years.
Valley of Fire State Park began in 1931, when 8,760 acres of federal land were transferred to Nevada. Civilian Conservation Corps crews worked from 1933 into the early 1940s, building campgrounds, trails, stone visitor cabins, ramadas and roads. The park opened in 1934 and was officially designated by the state legislature in 1935, making it Nevada's oldest state park.
The name comes from the bright red rocks that glow like flames at sunrise and sunset. Visitors often walk the short trails to see ancient rock carvings etched into the smooth stone walls.
Access roads are paved, and several parking areas sit near the main hiking trails. A visitor center offers maps and information for orientation before exploring the desert paths.
The park's red Aztec Sandstone formed from shifting dunes about 150 million years ago. The formations appear to be on fire when they reflect the sun's rays, which gave the park its name. The park also preserves three stone cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
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