Community · Nevada
Valley of Fire State Park Sends Weekday Visitors to East Entrance and Plans a Dec. 1 to 14 Maintenance Closure
Construction at Valley of Fire's main west entrance sends Monday-through-Thursday visitors to the east gate through 2026, and the park will close Dec. 1 to 14 for annual maintenance, the Review-Journal reported.
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What happened
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada's first state park, has construction under way at its main west entrance, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal feature on fall hiking at the park. The Review-Journal reported that the work continues through 2026. Visitors arriving Mondays through Thursdays must detour to the park's east entrance, and both entrances are open Fridays through Sundays.
The park is also scheduled to close for annual maintenance from Dec. 1 to 14, the Review-Journal reported. Valley of Fire sits about an hour northeast of Las Vegas off Interstate 15.
Why it matters for visitors
The Review-Journal described fall weather as favorable for a visit. It noted that the mostly sun-exposed scenery along the Seven Wonders Loop is off-limits to visit in summer because of extreme heat. The paper's advice was to arrive early and find parking near popular trailheads.
Growing crowds
Hiking has drawn visitors since the park opened in 1934. According to the Review-Journal, visitor numbers have grown along with Southern Nevada's population. At least 750,000 people a year now come to see the park's trails, rock formations, petroglyph panels, petrified trees, historic cabins and movie set remnants.
Hours and fees
The park is open from sunrise to sunset. The Review-Journal reported that the day-use entry fee is $10 for Nevadans and $15 for everyone else. More information is posted at parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire.
The new visitor center
The park built a $30 million visitor center to serve its growing number of visitors. The Review-Journal said the center opened a year ago, and it is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Exhibits cover plants and animals native to the Mojave Desert, geology dating back 500 million years and 2,000-year-old petroglyphs. The Review-Journal reported that the cultural history presentations were developed in collaboration with the Moapa Band of Paiutes. The center also has a slot canyon replica and a short orientation film narrated by William Shatner, who starred in "Star Trek Generations." That film was partially shot at Valley of Fire.
The Seven Wonders Loop
The Review-Journal highlighted the 2-mile Seven Wonders Loop, which it called moderately strenuous. The trail starts at Parking Lot 3. That is also the starting point for the busy Fire Wave trail.
Starting at the Fire Wave
The Fire Wave is the first section of the loop. The paper said starting there is the easiest approach for first-timers. It warned that the Fire Wave has a short, steep descent near the start that can be hard for hikers with unsure footing. A map at the trailhead can help with direction.
Slot canyons and navigation
Past the Fire Wave, the loop continues clockwise. Hikers follow a sandy wash, pass through a short slot canyon known as Pink Canyon, use a painted crosswalk over White Domes Road and enter a second short slot canyon. Later on, brown slats mark an upward route that can be hard to spot, and the Review-Journal noted that hikers using AllTrails and other navigation apps have an advantage. The loop ends back at Parking Lot 3, which stays out of view until the final moments of the hike.
What to watch next
- Valley of Fire State Park is scheduled to close for annual maintenance from Dec. 1 to 14, according to the Review-Journal.
- Construction at the main west entrance continues through 2026. Visitors arriving Mondays through Thursdays are detoured to the east entrance.
- Both entrances remain open Fridays through Sundays while the construction continues.
