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Valley of Fire State Park is a popular stop for travelers in southern Nevada. Many Las Vegas regulars are amazed to find 46,000 acres of stunning sandstone formations just an hour’s drive from The Strip, and these colorful formations are explored by almost 800,000 people each year. Desert bighorn sheep are commonly sighted, and their presence in petroglyph panels (rock carvings made by Native Americans hundreds of years ago) throughout the park indicates a centuries-old human admiration of wildlife in the area. Although it was traversed long before the development of roads, Valley of Fire became a destination for motorists over 100 years ago.

The first all-weather road connecting Salt Lake City to Los Angeles was the Arrowhead Highway, constructed during the auto trails period of the 1910s. It passed through Las Vegas, Nevada and the nearby area now known as Valley of Fire State Park. Arrowhead Highway made this part of the Mojave Desert popular among motorists, but the beauty of this land was realized long before the 1910s and its colorful sandstone formations had already been explored for centuries by indigenous peoples.

In the 1920s the United States Numbered Highway System was established, and the aforementioned route was eventually replaced by I-15. This new system provided a more direct link between major cities, ultimately turning certain scenic sections of Arrowhead Highway into desirable detours. In the 1930s, one of those picturesque destinations was designated as a state park- Valley of Fire. The name came before the designation and was meant to describe the way the rocks appear to be on fire when illuminated by the sun’s rays at sunset.

People visit Valley of Fire State Park today for many of the same reasons they did back in the early 1900s, although now in greater numbers. The park’s first year of operation (1935) saw 9,000 guests; in the 2020s it is not uncommon for that many people, if not more, to pass through in a single week.

The Valley of Fire we know today exists as a stunning terrain of petrified sand dunes, their history spanning back hundreds of millions of years, bordered by limestone formations that are even older and provide evidence of a shallow sea that once covered the landscape. In addition to astonishing views, another popular sight in the park are the petroglyphs- rock writings made by indigenous people long before Arrowhead Road was even conceptualized. These carvings tell stories about the landscape, offering a different type of advice than modern day guests typically seek.

This area has captivated people for centuries and it is this appreciation that allows all 46,000 acres to be protected. At a time when habitat loss and human habitation pose threats to multiple species, places like Valley of Fire offer necessary safe havens for wildlife, and management provides more opportunity for the historic petroglyphs to be preserved.

While marked trails and access to park staff help guests explore the area safely, they are not immune to the dangers of the desert, and the thing that has taken the most lives in Valley of Fire is heat-related illness. As many as 80% of park guests come from outside the state of Nevada, and the lack of firsthand experience with this type of climate and terrain could partially be to blame for many mishaps. Even with numerous warnings posted, guests still hike as temperatures climb as high as 120F/48C. With heat radiating up from the rocks below and the sun beating down from overhead, managing the amount of heat-related search and rescues was more than staff could safely handle, and the decision to seasonally close the one trail that saw almost all weather-related fatalities (Fire Wave) was made in recent years.

Prior to this seasonal closure, search and rescues in the summer were one of the biggest challenges faced by park staff, but another challenge that remains the increasing number of visitors. Spring and Fall bring more campers than the park’s 76 campsites can accommodate and more hikers than can be accommodated at trailheads with limited parking. Volunteer campground hosts assist with maintaining the campgrounds and staffing the visitor center’s information window during the busier seasons, and an upcoming reservation system, planned trail maintenance, construction of a new Visitor Center, and installation of more restrooms are a few things that will help the park provide for the increasing number of people who visit in hopes of seeing the geologic wonderland.

Motorists that drove along Arrowhead Highway over 100 years ago likely could not have predicted, but also likely would not be surprised by, Valley of Fire’s growth in popularity over the decades.

Kayla Wolfe is Valley of Fire’s Park Interpreter. Her favorite part of the job is helping people notice and appreciate the little things they may not have expected to enjoy like animal tracks, bacterial communities that provide nutrients to plants, and the often feared creatures of the desert like tarantulas, scorpions, and solifugids (camel spiders).

Postcard of Valley of Fire circa 1924, Valley of Fire Arrowhead Road, Postcard circa 1931, Postcard of Petroglphs circa 1950s