There Are More Natural Wonders Than There Are Miles Along This Beautiful Hiking Trail In Nevada
By Natasha Kayes|Published April 19, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
One of the most famous state parks in Nevada is Valley of Fire. You could spend days exploring the sand, red sandstone, and gray limestone of this desert wonderland, but there is a relatively small area that is specially packed with spectacular sights. This trail of natural wonders in Nevada packs a lot of surprises into a fairly short hike.
The Fire Wave and Seven Wonders Trail is a 2.3-mile loop. This otherworldly landscape is full of surprisingly vibrant colors and striking rock formations.
There are a variety of trails you can choose from in the park, but this almost-circular loop is a tour of seven specific natural wonders that will awe and inspire you.
The first wonder you will encounter is Fire Cave where the rock has been deeply and intricately eroded into a fascinating rock sculpture.
Not far from Fire Cave is a smaller arch a little higher up on the rock face which is etched with deep shades of pink and orange.
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You will want to use a GPS or navigation map to make sure you don’t miss Crazy Hill, as it is located farther up in the rocks just after and east of Thunderstorm Arch. Almost like a liquid poured-art painting, rings, and pools of color, encircle this mound of stone.
You will see this narrow mini-slot canyon break off from the path. It is absolutely worth exploring and then returning to the main path. The unique vertical striations are pretty spectacular.
Also called Striped Rock, from at least a couple of angles, you will notice a familiar shape in the orange markings on the white rocks. The contrasting colors here are truly remarkable.
With all of the oranges, whites, and browns in the surrounding rocks, this small canyon, called Pink Canyon or Pastel Canyon, stands out with its pretty pink shades.
The Fire Wave Trail completes the loop and presents you with a jaw-dropping, swirling “wave” of rock that seems to morph and shift as you walk around and view it from different angles.
As with all of the rock formations on the loop, as the light and shadows move throughout the day, the vibrant hues change and become even more intense.
Due to intense summer temperatures and virtually no shade in the Valley of Fire State Park, it is recommended that you visit this natural wonders trail is between early October and late May. Have you hiked this trail to discover the seven natural wonders? Share your experiences with us in the comments. Keep exploring and check out another incredible attraction in the Valley of Fire.
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