Valley of Fire State Park
October 13, 2005
Provided by: Carl Crumley
Summary authors & editors: Carl Crumley
Less well known than nearby Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire State Park is still only 55 miles (88 km) northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada and is well worth a day trip. This scenic valley derives its name from dramatic red sandstone rock formations, which were originally deposited on the floor of an ancient sea approximately 150 million years ago. The vivid red color of these sandstone rocks is due to the presents of iron oxide. Early Native Americans hunted in this area more than 1,000 years ago, and their heiroglyphs or drawings can be found etched on rocks throughout the park.
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