Fire Wave Hike - Valley of Fire State Park

This is a 1.2-mile roundtrip hike to one of the iconic landmarks in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada.

If you love amazing landscapes of multi-colored rocks, this one is not to be missed.

To get to the Fire Wave Trailhead, you drive from the Visitors Center on White Domes Road and park at Parking Area 3. The trailhead is across the road and there is a sign indicating the trail is .6 miles one-way.

​With today's thermometer expected to hit 100 degrees, we hit this trail early to avoid the sweltering heat and the crowds. A heat warning was in effect.

We were fine with our 7:30 a.m. start.

Along the way, we saw several lizards and I had to get my photos.

The trail was marked by yellow-topped posts.

Once on this red rock section, we looked back to see where we had come from. We had rounded the left side of the large rock formation.

​Soon, we came to a sign pointing us to take a hard right turn up the rocks.

At the top of the rocks, we were treated to an expansive view of beautiful, contrasting colored rocks.

To our right, a yellow mountain had contrasting swirls.

And then we came to what they call the Fire Wave.

I took several photos from different angles, and you can see many of them in the slideshow below.

We had it all to ourselves most of the time we were there, so we just sat and admired the beauty while having a snack.

This young Chuckwalla lizard came out to enjoy the sunshine with us.

One last photo as the sun got higher before we headed back.

We followed the trail markers and the sign pointing to the parking lot.

You can actually do the Fire Wave as part of a two-mile loop hike that includes Kaolin Wash and Pastel Canyon. We may do that before we leave the area.

On the way back, I took more lizard photos. I watched this Great Basin Whiptail feed on insects before it scampered away.

Going back around the large red rock formation, there was a larger Chuckwalla sunning and, apparently, shedding.

We then started the climb up toward the parking area. What a great, short hike.

Now, the Fire Wave in Valley of Fire has often been compared to "The Wave" of North Coyote Buttes in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Having been lucky enough to win a lottery for a permit to hike North Coyote Buttes (click the link above for our experience), I have to say the comparison is a stretch.

However, there is no lottery or permit for this hike so access is easier, it's much shorter, and it does offer some of the rock swirl patterns on a smaller scale. Do both (if you can get a permit for "The Wave") and compare for yourself.

​Neither will disappoint.