Fire Wave
Striped rock.
John Fowler — CC BY 2.0 · Akos Kokai — CC BY 2.0 · zoso8203 — CC BY 2.0 · Andrea Schaffer — CC BY 2.0 · Anna Irene from Frankfurt, Deutschland — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy — CC BY 2.0 · Henning Witzel henning — CC0 · Jackie Royall — CC BY-SA 3.0
Nevada's oldest state park, covering nearly 19,000 hectares of the Mojave Desert about 80 kilometres north-east of Las Vegas. It takes its name from red sandstone formations that seem to be on fire when they catch the sun. The rocks formed from shifting sand dunes about 150 million years ago, leaving rippling layers of red, pink, white and orange, and the park was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968. Its best-known sights are the Fire Wave with its wave-like stripes, the White Domes road winding among the rocks, natural rock arches and ancient petroglyphs left by Native peoples on the rock walls. Entry is $15 per non-Nevada vehicle, it is open from sunrise to sunset, and many popular trails close from 15 May to 30 September because of the extreme heat, per Nevada State Parks. Autumn and spring are the best seasons; always carry plenty of water.
Striped rock.
On the rocks.
Through the rocks.
Mojave Desert, about 80 km north-east of Las Vegas
Autumn and spring, as many trails close from 15 May to 30 September because of the heat, per Nevada State Parks.