The Seven Wonders Loop: Out of the 30+ hiking trails in The Valley of Fire State Park just 1 hour and 20 minutes from the Strip, the most famous is The Fire Wave Trail. This visually jarring 1.5 mile wave is made of Navajo sandstone shaped by eons of wind and water erosion—its swirling bands of red, pink, and gold-toned sandstone form a natural, undulating wave that looks like it has a fabulous paint job. The impressive, fiery strata are reminiscent of Upper Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona (which you must visit if you enjoy the Fire Wave), and the Fire Wave Trail is probably my favorite hike near Vegas—as a photographer, its abstract arches and rosy hues, which change depending on the time of day, are especially captivating.
The Fire Wave Trail is the main portion of a longer 2.5-3 mile hiking trail called The Seven Wonders, but make sure to pay the other six a visit while you’re there. Less than half a mile away are magical hidden detours: Kaolin Slot Canyon, a pale and pink white sandstone canyon that is especially enchanting at sunset, and Pastel Canyon, a stretch of cream and lavender in an otherwise red landscape. There’s also Fire Cave, a textured alcove featuring a delicate honeycomb of eroded sandstone; Thunderstone Arch, a large, wind-carved arch resembling a thundercloud suspended mid-burst; and Gibraltar Rock, a massive red sand fortress rising sharply from the ground. But my favorite of The Seven Wonders (after The Fire Wave, that is) is Crazy Hill: This wild formation looks like melted rainbow sherbet, with flowing bands of red, yellow, purple, and white blending into each other across a rounded knoll. Crazy Hill is less visited than Fire Wave but equally compelling with its complex geological layering, much like Artist’s Palette in Death Valley. The Valley of Fire State Park is open from sunrise to sunset and has a $10 entrance fee, or $15 for non-Nevada residents. Photography lovers, make sure to bring your cameras.
White Domes Loop Trail: Also at Valley of Fire State Park, this easy but incredibly scenic 1.1-mile loop trail takes you through a slot canyon, sandy washes, and over beautiful Aztec sandstone. Expect a lot of other hikers along the trail, so get an early start to avoid the heat and crowds–especially in the summer, when daily temperatures reach over 100 degrees.
Southeast of Las Vegas: Clark County Wetlands Park
A half-hour drive from the Strip
