Southwest Vacation Feb23 - Valley of Fire State Park
Fire Wave - Seven Wonders Loop Trail
 
We spent our first day checking out Valley of Fire State Park, about 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas.  I had heard good things about it but really had no idea of what to expect.  You can read about a place, but until you see it, you can't imagine what its going to be like.  Especially a scenic park.  The Valley of Fire was exceptional.  It's as good as most national parks.
   
Approaching the west entrance, with red rock and snow capped mountains in the distance.
   
We hadn't even come to the visitors center when these guys crossed out path!  Five big horn sheep.  I've only seen these once before, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
   
 
   
That is a BIG horn.
   
Continuing on.
   
The view from the Visitors Center parking lot!
   
Lynnette finds a hole in the wall to hang out in.
   
Mountain Lions like red rock too.
   
An arch outside the Visitors Center, albeit a little one.
   
We drove north to the Fire Wave trailhead.
   
Here we go!  On the Fire Wave trail.
   
Looking back.
   
It was a little cool but not bad.  Keep in mind this trail is CLOSED from June 1 to September 30 due to the high temperatures.
   
I haven't seen red rock since September.
   
 
   
 
   
Looking east.
   
 
   
Looking back at that big rock outcropping where we started.
   
 
   
 
   
Looking back.  You can really see the streaks on the rock.
   
Looking east again.
   
 
   
This must be the "fire wave" area.
   
The Fire Wave is the poor man's "The Wave", a place I've become aware of only in the last year or so.  Supposedly, The Wave is the premier photographic destination in the US Southwest. Well, my friend, that is saying something!  It is located in the Coyote Buttes North area of the Utah Arizona border.  I was surprised to find it is an area that I've flown fairly close to -- just west of the Pariah River head and east of Kanab.  To see it requires a six mile round trip hike, and you have to win a lottery to do that.
 
"A permit issued by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required to see The Wave. Only 64 people per day (48 permits granted three months in advance and 16 permits granted one day in advance) are allowed in the area and demand far exceeds supply. During the most popular months (April, May, September, October) there can be an estimated 300 people applying for the sixteen daily permits. In the other months you usually have much less than a 50% chance of getting one at the daily lottery. Your chances are better if you're going alone, or in December - February."
 
That said, the hassle getting to see The Wave is worth it, as it gets comments like:  AMAZING, GORGEOUS, STUNNING, CAPTIVATING.
 
I'd like to do it someday.
 
 
   
More Fire Wave
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
A rare sight:  a water hole in the desert.
   
We entered an area called Pink/Pastel Canyon.  It's easy to see why.  I've never seen rock in pastel shades of pink and yellow like this.
   
Wow.  Beautiful.
   
 
   
 
   
We were on the Seven Wonders loop trail, and are now heading back to the parking lot.
   
Amazing rock formations.
   
Ice in the high desert.
   
Heading uphill.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
We made it!  Back to the parkig lot.  The loop was about 1.8 miles.  Great hike.
   
 
   
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