This was the beginning of the modern-day park.

km) of federal land was given to the State of Nevada for preservation. Around the same time, archeologists recognized the area's significance, and around 8,500 acres (34 sq. One of these, an American Automobile Association (AAA) official, coined the park’s name in the 1920s while driving through the area at sunset. They were later replaced by the Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute).Ī road connecting Salt Lake City with Los Angeles was built through the area in 1912, which resulted in many visitors traveling through the park. After a harsh drought sometime in mid-1100 AD, these tribes migrated away from the region. Nevertheless, they lived and farmed in the Moapa Valley nearby and ventured to the Valley of Fire for hunting, gathering, and religious ceremonies.Įvidence of their activities is seen at several easily-accessible petroglyph sites in the park, including Atlatl Rock (2,431 ft/731 m) and Mouse Tanks. Because there was little to no water in the vicinity, their presence in the park was never permanent. Evidence suggests that the Ancestral Puebloan people entered the park as early as 300 BC. The Valley of Fire was visited by humans beginning as early as 4,000 years ago. Two of the most notable animals in the park are bighorn sheep-commonly seen along park roads and trails-and desert tortoises, a rare protected species native to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Mammals include coyotes, kit foxes, spotted skunks, black-tailed jackrabbits, and antelope ground squirrels. Birds such as ravens, house finches, roadrunners, and sage sparrows dot the skies. During spring, visitors are treated to beautiful blooms of desert marigolds, desert mallow, and indigo bushes along many of the park’s roads.Īnimals in the park include a plethora of lizards and snakes, such as desert iguanas and chuckwallas, zebra-tailed, horned, and spiny lizards, coachwhips, speckled rattlesnakes, and sidewinders. Plants include creosote bush, burro bush, and brittlebush, and several cactus species, such as beaver tail and cholla. Valley of Fire is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. The same fault is responsible for similar formations at the nearby Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This fault-estimated to have formed around 65 million years ago-pushed older gray limestone above the younger red Aztec sandstone, creating much of the red/tan/gray visual contrast we see today. The other notable development in the park’s geologic history is the Keystone Thrust Fault. Over time, these dunes were buried and compacted, forming the distinctive red sandstone visible today. The park’s present-day appearance dates back to 150 million years ago, when a combination of wind and water erosion deposited large amounts of sediment, including sand and other debris, creating vast dune fields. The result is the array of sculpted arches, towering cliffs, and intricate, flowing rock patterns that define the park. Valley of Fire’s colorful formations were shaped by 150 million years of uplifting, faulting, and erosion.

Daytime temperatures regularly reach 115 ☏ (46☌). However, the park is sweltering in the summer, like much of southern Nevada. Winters are relatively mild, with daytime temperatures between 55☏ (12☌) and 75☏ (24☌), and nighttime lows rarely below 30☏ (3☌). The park’s average annual precipitation is a mere 6.5 inches (165 mm). The park has a warm, arid climate, typical of North America’s desert southwest. Valley of Fire sits at elevations ranging from 1,300 feet (395 m) to just under 3,000 feet (915 m) and is near the confluence of the Virgin River. In addition to the rock, the park features petrified wood dating back over 225 million years ago, as well as sprawling sand dunes. The result is a surreal landscape that has inspired photographers, painters, and filmmakers for decades. The deep red Aztec sandstone is married with contrasting tan, pink, orange, and white hues, resulting from various uplifted limestones, shales, and conglomerates. Valley of Fire is known for its vibrant red sandstone formations-arches, domes, towers, and canyons-which can appear to be “on fire,” particularly during sunrise and sunset.

Elephant rock valley of fire