White Domes Trail In The Valley Of Fire State Park, Nevada
The White Domes Trail is the most popular hike in Valley of Fire State Park. The trail, which is only 1.1 miles long, offers a variety of terrain and scenery. Hikers will traverse sandy desert, tall and colourful sandstone formations, narrow slot canyons, and even see old “ruins”. These ruins are actually the remains of a 1965 movie production called “The Professionals.” If you only have time for one hike in the park, this is the one you should choose!
Difficulty:Â Easy
Length: 1.1 miles / 1.8 km (loop)
Suggested Duration: 30 to 50 minutes
Signage: Some
Facilities: Parking lot, restrooms, information kiosk
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Key Features Of The White Domes Trail
- Located in Valley of Fire State Park, the oldest state park in Nevada
- Connects to Prospect Trail and the 7 Wonders Loop
- Leads to Kaolin Wash – a short slot with sandstone walls
- A scenic and well-maintained hiking trail
- Passes through diverse desert landscapes
- Highlights unique red and white sandstone formations
- Suitable for hikers of various skill levels
Facilities And Services
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Picnic area
- Information kiosk
Before You Start Hiking The White Domes Trail
Before you begin hiking the White Domes Trail, there are a few things to know. The first is that there are two entrances to the Valley of Fire State Park, one on the west and one on the east. 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 are also three ways to reach the White Domes Trail. Either via the designated parking lot or connecting onto it from Prospect Trail or 7 Wonders Trail. With the expectation of Prospect Trail, all other ways will take you past the visitors centre, which is a great spot to stop for souvenirs and restrooms, refill your water and speak with the help desk (if need be). Here, you will also be able to see which trails are open. Depending on the time of year, some may be closed due to extreme heat. The hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
As mentioned, there are three possible ways to complete the White Domes Trail. You can park at the White Domes Trail parking lot and complete just the 1.1 miles (1.8 km) loop, which is breathtaking enough on its own.
The second option is to start on the 7 Wonders Trail, which begins at the Fire Wave Trail. It is only around 3.2 miles (5.1 km) in length, including the White Domes Trail. We suggest you bring enough water for this hike, as most of the trail is in the direct sun. We chose to complete the 7 Wonders Trail and then continued onto the White Domes Trail, which took us around an hour and a half to complete.
Lastly is the Prospect Trail. It is a moderate 9.3 miles (15 km) round-trip that connects to the White Domes Loop. We highly encourage you to bring multiple reusable water bottles of your choice and sun protection, as this is one of the more strenuous hikes within the park and involves scrambling.
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.
As always, 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 The White Domes Trail
When we hiked the White Domes Trail, we started at the Fire Wave Trail and continued on the 7 Wonders Trail through to Pastel (Pink) Canyon and then into Kaolin Wash Slot Canyon, which led us to the White Domes Trail.
The connection between Pastel (Pink) Canyon and White Domes Trail started off open, then quickly turned into a spectacular narrow trail with sandstone walls – this is part of Kaolin Wash. Arguably, this was one of our favourite parts!
We did reach a section that had a large amount of water pooling. We had to do a bit of maneuvering to avoid this. Please be aware if it rains a few days before your hike (photo below for reference).
Nonetheless, winding through these incredible geological formations was well worth getting our feet a bit wet!
Once we made it through the slot canyon, the trail opened up again. The rest of the hike featured a beautiful array of colourful sandstone rock formations. The trail was well-marked and defined, making it easy to navigate.
This was unlike any hike we had done before. Being from the East Coast of Canada, we are used to hiking either through the woods or along the ocean. Hiking through the Valley of Fire State Park was our first time exploring the desert, and it most certainly won’t be our last!
Checklists And Recommended Gear
When hiking the White Domes Trail, it is important to prepare accordingly, especially if you plan to continue onto the 7 Wonders Trail or Prospect Trail. The following is our recommended gear.
- Phone or camera
- Sunhat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Water Bottle
- Comfortable walking or hiking shoes – Women’s // Men’s
- Jacket (weather dependent)
- Cascade Hiking Poles (optional)
Related Hikes
Other Hikes In The Valley Of Fire State Park
- Fire Wave 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
