THE ROAD LEADING TO OUR CAMPSITE AT VALLEY OF FIRE…AS SEEN FROM OUR MOTORHOME.
APRIL 8, 2014. About 60 miles from Las Vegas on the road to Lake Mead lies Valley of Fire, a Nevada State Park. The closest town, nine miles distant, is Overton. Not much there. The drive today from Las Vegas was absolutely beautiful…long stretches of open road all to ourselves with majestic hills and cliffs in the distance. We felt lucky to be here, having exactly the kind of experience which prompted our Journey in the first place. We stopped frequently to take pictures and were pleased with how they looked. We looked forward to sending copies to friends. And then…all of that became secondary…
We made a turn and entered the park…Absolutely unbelievable! What we saw is the visual highlight of our Journey so far! This is God’s Country…a spiritual feeling simply exudes from the red earth and rock formations. We almost felt as if we should whisper…at least speak in low voices, lest we disturb the absolute peace and serenity all around us. Thank goodness I’d bought Florence a dash camera for her birthday. We’re just learning how to use it and post to You Tube, but if you watch the clip I’ve posted here you’ll at least get an idea of the beauty of this place. Hopefully as we learn more about the camera the quality of future posts will improve.
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK is the oldest state park in Nevada. It covers an area of almost 42,000 acres near Lake Mead. It was dedicated in 1935 and became a National Landmark in 1968. It derives its name from red sandstone formations, formed from great shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park’s attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun’s rays. The elevation is about 2,000 feet. Complex uplifting and faulting of the region, followed by extensive erosion, have created the present landscape. The Rainbow Vista looks across 150 million years of time. The great maze of canyons, domes, towers, ridges and valleys that you can see from the lookout were carved from sand deposited during the time when dinosaurs walked the earth. It is wild and virtually untouched wilderness. If I’d seen a dinosaur lumbering around the rocks, I really wouldn’t have been surprised! That tells you what an almost unreal experience it is to be here. For those not sure if the desert is worth exploring, Valley of Fire will change your mind!
Desert Bighorn Sheep live in the red rock formations.
Our campsite at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. Look at my flag…we had a pretty stiff breeze this afternoon.
Another picture of the winding road through the Park. I can picture Brad riding one of his Harley’s in this part of the world!
NOTE TO OUR SAN DIEGO CAMPING FRIENDS. This spot is obviously too distant from San Diego for one of our monthly trips, but keep it in mind as a place to visit if you can get away for even an extra-long weekend! It’s only about a six hour drive from home and its proximity to Las Vegas makes it an absolutely perfect place to visit for a great time! I honestly think this is a more beautiful and awe-inspiring spot than the Grand Canyon. You can drive or hike right down into the place, not just marvel from a vantage point on one of the canyon walls. A very spiritual feel permeates the campground, especially with the shadows at dawn and dusk. Your phones and computers won’t work here…but you won’t even care! Open up your calendar and plan a visit!
As the sun begins to set, the rock formations turn brighter shades of red.
