Fire Wave Trail In The Valley Of Fire State Park, Nevada
The Fire Wave Trail may be a newer trail in the Valley of Fire State Park, but it is quickly becoming one of the most popular ones. The Fire Wave is a breathtaking, must-see sight. It features swirls of striped sandstone formations. When the light hits the Fire Wave, it radiates beautiful hints of red, pink, white and orange, resembling fire. Hence, the name.
The Fire Wave is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) round-trip hike with the option to continue onto the 7 Wonders Trails, Pastel (Pink) Canyon and White Domes Trail for those looking for a longer hike.
Difficulty:Â Moderate
Length:Â 1.5 mile / 2.4 km (round trip)
Suggested Duration: Around 40 minutes to an hour
Signage:Â Some signs and trail markers
Facilities: Visitors center, restrooms, water refill stations
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Key Features Of Fire Wave Trail
- Located in Valley of Fire State Park, the oldest state park in Nevada
- Known for its stunning striped sandstone formation called the “Fire Wave”
- Offers unique geological features
- A relatively short and popular hiking trail
- Part of the larger Valley of Fire State Park trail system
- Suitable for hikers of various skill levels
Facilities And Services
- Parking at parking lot #3
- The visitor centre is a short drive away (restrooms and water fill stations are located here)
Before You Start Hiking Fire Wave Trail
A few things are important to know before you begin hiking the Fire Wave Trail. First, there are two entrances to the Valley of Fire State Park, one on the west and one on the east side. Both require you to pay a fee to enter the Valley of Fire State Park.
As of November 2022, the fees are as follows:
- US$10 for Nevada Vehicles
- US$15 for non-Nevada Vehicles
- US$2 for bikes
There is a visitor center within the park with souvenirs, restrooms, water refill areas and a help desk, where you can see which trails are open (some trails may be closed due to extreme heat). Its hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can download digital park maps for free on the Avenza Maps App. We encourage you to download the app and map before hiking, as the service can sometimes be spotty within the park.
Make sure to bring plenty of water and a reusable water bottle to refill at the visitor center before heading out to hike.
To access Fire Wave Trailhead, park at parking lot #3 off of Mouse’s Tank Road. The trailhead is located across the street, where you will see a small sign, a clearly defined trail and trail markers throughout.
Once you reach the Fire Wave, you can either turn around and head back in the direction you came from or continue onwards to the 7 Wonders Trail.
Make sure to check with the Nevada State Parks website or contact the Valley of Fires visitor centre to see if the trail is closed. During times of extreme heat, the Fire Wave Trail will be closed as there is no shade along the trail.
Stay on the designated trail and watch for scorpions and snakes. Dogs are allowed on the trail as long as they are on leashes. It is important to follow the Leave No Trace Principles whenever you are out enjoying nature. Whatever you take in, be sure to take out. Do not feed any wildlife or leave any trash.
To learn more about the Valley of Fire State Park, click here!
Our Experience Hiking Fire Wave Trail
The Fire Wave Trail was one of the first hikes we completed when we visited the Valley of Fire State Park. We had heard about and seen photos of it, and we knew we had to see it for ourselves! We did not realize until we got there that we would be able to complete multiple hikes off this trail and turn it into one big hiking adventure.
Before hiking, we stopped at the visitor centre to fill our water bottles and then went to parking lot #3. The drive is incredibly scenic and gives you a glimpse of what’s to come on the trails.
The trail started off sandy and eventually turned into sandstone. There are beautiful sandstone rocks throughout the trail to admire. Once we reached the sandstone portion of the trail, we looked around for the trail markers to help keep us on the right track. Here are a few photos of the trail leading to Fire Wave.
Once we reached the Fire Wave, we were astonished by the rolling hills of bright red Aztec sandstone. Even though it was a cooler day, the sun was still hot, and there was no shade in sight. Make sure to bring plenty of water!
We took some time to admire the views before continuing down the trail, where we reached a sign that indicated the end of the Five Wave Trail. We chose to continue hiking onto the 7 Wonders Trail (which includes the Pastel (Pink) Canyon).
Checklists And Recommended Gear
The Fire Wave Trail does not have any shade. It is important to prepare accordingly, as the desert heat is no joke. The following is our recommended gear list.
- Phone or camera
- Sunhat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Water Bottle
- Comfortable walking or hiking shoes – Women’s // Men’s
- Jacket (weather-depending)
- Cascade Hiking Poles (optional)
Related Hikes
Other Hikes In The Valley Of Fire State Park
- White Domes Trail
- Pastel (Pink) Canyon Trail
- 7 Wonders Loop
- Elephant Rock Loop
- Arrowhead Trail
- Rainbow Vista
- Balancing Rock
- Charlie’s Spring
- Natural Arches
- Mouse’s Tank
- Pinnacles Loop
- Prospect Trail
Other Hikes In Nevada
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- Mount Charleston Wilderness Area
