A truly fantastic hike with changing scenic views along the way. The trail is also ever changing,…read morefrom sand, to packed dirt, to rocky/gravel, and steep stone steps. I personally recommend doing this trail counterclockwise. We're in our 30s, but my husband has bad knees and I get lower back pain; we find that the steep stone steps are far easier to go up than down. Having a walking stick while climbing the steps is also helpful. You will see some incredible things while hiking this trail. The texture on the rocks, the multitude of colors, windows, slot canyons, a portion of an old movie set, and some grand majestic views. Being an avid hiker and having hiked 80% of the trails within Valley of Fire, I'd consider this to be a moderate hiking trail. Note: There is a small covered picnic area with 4 tables as well as 4 gender neutral vault toilets near the start of this trail and next to the parking lot.

Amazing hike with beautiful scenery and moderate level…read more Starting out into the hike you have to walk through some sand which doesn't sound hard but it's actually strenuous on your body. Follow that down through some rocky man-made type rock stairs past an old movie set where you feel like you're in Star Wars Then follow that to the slot canyon. The slot Canyon is my favorite part of the hike. Very beautiful and unique. We just took our time going through the hike as we had some friends with us who were inexperienced hikers and we wanted to make sure everyone got through safely. I could've gone onto a few more hikes that day, but they were pretty tired. I will definitely go back here again. This was my second or third time here.

It is one of the shorter trail and easy access for Valley of Fire. It is 1.1 miles from Valley of…read moreFire. The entire trail last 1 miles round trip. Sandy trail with least strength and elevation differences is minor. Along the trail has petroglyphs on the wall. We saw human holding hand. I believe there is very much how many in the family. We also saw shape like goat, big horn sheep or deer. The drawing is interesting for many years ago. At the end of the track like small pool where look like mouse trap. This trail just need to bring camera. You will not require water.

This was our first hike inside the Valley of Fire. It is only .7 mikes but on the scorching day in…read moreJuly it was pretty challenging because of the heat. The trail is fairly easy to walk but the surface is soft sand so it takes a little longer to hike than it would on a hard surface. (In July the sand is so hot it burns right through your socks & sneakers!) Also there's not much breeze because there are large sandstone formations on each side of the trail. At the end there's a small opening where you can spy a hidden water source down a ways. (We May not have spotted it if we hadn't seen some birds flying overhead because there was no additional signage.). The trail is called a Mouse's Tank because there was a renegade Paiute Indian who was said to have secluded himself here in the 1890's. The Mojave Desert is extremely hot & dry; so this water source most likely kept him alive. Although the hike was short, I feel like it could have been marked a little better. Like I mentioned we almost missed the water source at the end of the trail because there was no signage. There were also supposed to be petroglyphs along the way, however we missed those too because there was no signs pointing them out.

I originally found out about this place from a site I follow on Facebook, Roadtrippers (awesome…read moresite, by the way) and I had one of those, "what the" moments finding out this place is a quick 90-120 minutes away from where I live. A quick drive up I-15N and exit #112, Bunkerville (this is just south of Mesquite), and follow the signs to Whitney Pockets. You will the infamous Bundy Ranch area. The road is paved until you hit the Whitney Pockets area, then a HCV vehicle is needed. I did see a passenger car attempting to drive thru here, I guess it could be done, but it's not a place I would want to get stuck. Once you hit the trailhead area, you'll see a large red sandstone wall in the middle of nowhere. This is where you park. There are some really cool, preserved petroglyphs on the wall here. Make sure you look up to see them, they're kind of high up. From there it's a walk on a dirt road and dry wash to the area. There aren't any marking or cairns for the turnoffs to hit the trail to Little Finland, so it's best to go with someone who has been before, or do your research. The area is pretty darn cool. The sandstone rock formations get the name from wind and erosion that has made the made the rock appear to have fins. The area is really delicate, so be careful not to ruin what nature and time has created. Once you're in Litle Finland, there are more petroglyphs as well as some running water through the area. The minerals in the water made the water and rock turn colors, the entire area made me think I was on Mars. If you've ever been to Goblin Valley State Park, this is a miniature version of it. It's a pretty cool day trip.

Little Finland (aka Hobgoblin's Playground and Devil's Fire) is a magical place where wind and…read morewater have sculpted red sandstone rock into fantastical shapes. I just explored this unique area with my boyfriend and a group of hikers today. Located in a remote portion of the remote Gold Butte region of southeastern Nevada ( south of Mesquite), Little Finland was a challenge to get to...about an hour on bumpy unpaved road but well worth the effort. The rocks there are very ornate and delicate, so please becareful. If you are driving north on I-15 from Las Vegas, exit at #112 (Riverside / Bunkerville), turn right and go 3 miles to cross the Virgin River. Make a right turn at the next road (Gold Butte Road), drive twenty miles on loud bumpy pavement, becareful of the free range cows, the hit the graded dirt road for four more miles. Finally, turn right at the sign that indicates Red Bluff Springs and drive four more miles on a sandy uneven dirt road that requires a high clearance vehicle. This is your day long adventure, make sure you go prepared. Bring warm clothing, gloves, hat, lots of water, a snack or lunch, sturdy boots and most of all bring your camera! The most fascinating thing about this place is the fantasyland of shapes--almost every rock appears to be an animal, face, or mythical creature. It is mixed in with the intricate red rock sculptures are fields of virtually white sandstone with sinuous waves, remnants of ancient sand dunes. In other places, the rock is covered with a thin white crust--salt that has crystallized out of groundwater running through the rock. Go see it to believe it!

Not too far from the (paid) NPS Henderson entrance is this moderate 2-3+ mile (you choose) trail…read morethat starts right off the parking lot. Shaded picnic areas and rudimentary restrooms are at both nearby 33 Hole parking lots. The first (and last!) hill warrants good hiking footwear and your attention. Uneven and unmaintained so find a map online for best results. Bring water, bring Fido, dress for the weather and pack out your trash. The views and slot canyon are worth it!

This hike is unpaved, and someone can easily get lost. There were times when I had no idea where I…read morewas going, and luckily, the navigation on here told me I was going the wrong way. The hike, in general, is excellent. You see a little river, go under tunnels, and hike up a small hill. There is enough nature to look around rather than just dirt and rocks because we are in a desert. Not too many people around either, which is nice, that it isn't too crowded. Unfortunately, I did not see any owls. Lastly, you do have to pay an entrance fee to come inside, I believe it was 20. Overall, the hike was easy, and I would come back.

This picnic area with a hiking trail behind it is stunning! It looks just like those awesome red…read morerocks you see in Valley of Fire, but its located in Lake Mead. There is even a mini elephant rock here like there is at Valley of Fire too. The picnic areas have shade and BBQ pits, and some space in between each one. Nice. There is a bathroom here as well and a decent amount of parking. The hiking trail takes you around the different rock formations and is pretty easy. The best part about it is the views and seeing all the neat formations. Definitely a nice stop or even hangout spot for a while.

We really like this place. It is so versatile for entry level and intermediate level hikers. There…read moreare some nice areas with shaded picnic tables where you can stop and have a bite to eat and then decide who wants to go and do a little hiking and who wants to stay back and chill at the picnic table under the shade. Last time we were there, they had a wedding and some really gorgeous photos .

I first visited St. Thomas in 2007 and I only had a paper map I had printed to give me some idea…read morewhat I was looking at. When you're trying to compare a street grid with dirt trails in the desert it can be difficult to know what you're looking at. Now a decade plus later, the National Park Service has installed many interpretive markers with lots of information and many have maps so you can see what you're looking at and where the loop trail goes. Have a Nevada State Parks pass, I drove up the 15 and got off and came through Valley of Fire State Park. At the east entrance to VOF, you make a turn south on Northshore Road. Just after the Lake Mead NRA fee booth, there's a dirt road that is on the left. That's the road that's marked with a sign that says St. Thomas Cove. You travel a well graded dirt road for three miles to the parking area for the hike. From the parking area, the trail starts down a hill and in 3/10 of a mile, you're on flat ground. It's amazing to think that you're walking where Lake Mead once covered the area. There are freshwater clam shells all around. Eventually, you come to a junction where there are two interpretive markers. This is the beginning of the loop hike and you can complete the loop either clockwise or counter clockwise. Make sure you read the markers as they have great information on the history of St. Thomas and the foundations at which you're looking. The cooler weather is the best time to go. The summer heat would make this an unpleasant and dangerous hike. There is a pit toilet a short distance away from the parking area in what was a place where the road went to the lake to launch boats.

Spent Earth Day hiking this trail for a local history lesson with some friends. Check the other…read morereview for the background info, but know to come with a hat and/or sunscreen and plenty of water, as there is no shade on this trail. The loop takes you through the remains of a former city, hence the name. There are websites you can pull up to look up info on each of the sites as you go, from the old general store to the ice cream shop and more. The trail is clear and you can venture off of it easily. More than the various human artifacts, my favorite part was being able to walk through the dessert and see hundreds of sea shells crunching underfoot. It's surreal to think that it really wasn't that long ago that all of this was underwater. Trail is dog-friendly and is located in the Lake Meade area, requiring a car entry fee. There's also a museum in town to get more info related to this area. Pop into Sugar's for a meal before or after.

After finding this trail on Google Earth, I had to try it out. I have hiked it twice and I really…read morelike the trail. The trail is just about 3 miles round trip--out and back. There are two bluffs from which you have some great views of Lava Butte, the Las Vegas Wash, and the mountains that surround Lake Mead and the environs. To get here, come in the fee booth on Lake Mead Parkway to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. In approximately 2 miles, turn left into Las Vegas Bay. Very shortly, a road goes off to the left. Take this road. It will lead you for about a mile to the camping area from which you'll hike. There are about 4 spaces before entering the camping area. DO NOT park in the camping area unless you want to pay the fee for camping. Walk into the camping area and turn left at the diagonal street with a #1. This takes you to a brushy area and there is a sign for the trailhead. The trail starts there and is lined by rocks for quite a distance. Along the way to the first bluff, you have a great view of the Las Vegas Wash as it winds its way to Lake Mead. You'll hear the rush of the water also. The first bluff gives you a nice overall view of the area but it's only part way. From here, the trail goes down and across the desert to the second bluff. The trail is very easy to follow. There are no side trails anywhere. Just follow the path so many have made. At the second bluff, there's a steep drop off, so just look. You can look upstream of the wash and see the weir by the Northshore Road bridge. You can also see this side of Lake Las Vegas. This is a good spot to have a snack and spend some time enjoying the great view. Retrace your steps to the parking area. As you hike out and back, keep and eye out for animals. The first time I did the trail, I saw a coyote and this time there were a lot of quail. This trail is very Covid friendly. I saw no one on the trail the first time I hiked it, and this time, there was one couple. They turned around at the first bluff so my friend and I had the trail all to ourselves. I do recommend hiking boots. There are shop lava rock you may be stepping on and the extra protection hiking boots give you is worth it. Happy Trails!

Last Saturday was the second time that I experienced Bluff Trail in Lake Mead National Recreation…read moreArea (LMNRA). I entered Bluff Trail stressed and left refreshed. Bluff Trail is eye candy, exercise, and a "relax in nature" hot spot. A couple hundred feet from where Bluff Trail starts at campsite 72, a scenic overlook to the right of the amphitheater awards the hiker with beautiful vistas of the Las Vegas Wash and distant Lake Mead.The overlook of Las Vegas Wash gushing through the canyon toward Lake Mead reminds me of the Grand Canyon. In reality, this could be a western addition of the Grand Canyon. Miles east of this scenic overlook, Lake Mead develops into the Colorado River which flows through the Grand Canyon. Looking down, the water and greenery is a tranquil change of scenery in the Mojave Desert. The scenic overlook by itself is worth the $10 LMNRA entrance fee. Bluff Trail is relatively short with gradual elevation changes. From my experience, the leading segment gives the premium scenic views of the Las Vegas Wash and is well maintained. When I progressed beyond the leading segment, the challenge level advanced from easy to moderate-difficult. Approximately halfway, there is a gravely and rocky segment. To pass this segment without a check-in at the emergency room, required me to sit on a large rock and carefully hop onto the sand. At this point, Bluff Trail starts to meander away from the Las Vegas Wash and onto desert bluffs. It appears that there is no true end of Bluff Trail. It merges into the open spaces of the Mojave Desert. Bluff Trail is between a one and two hour experience. I recommend combining Bluff Trail with Wetlands Trail and Boulder Beach. I suggest bringing the following: sunscreen, inexpensive sneakers, water, binoculars, and $10 for the LMNRA fee station.

The refuge is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Since this is a remote area, there…read moreis no visitor center nor rangers as one sees in other refuges or national parks and recreation areas. Instead, it is "staffed" by volunteers for US Fish and Wildlife. The area once had a number of resorts because of the warm spring waters. At one time, much of the area was owned by Howard Hughes. Supposedly he bought the land after seeing it from a plane flying over the area. This is home to a wonderful display about the endangered Moapa dace, a small fish with two fins on the bottom of the stomach. There is an area where there is warm spring water from above that flows through a specially constructed exhibit that allows the fish to live in the stream but also allows visitors to see the fish through the glass. After seeing the two dace that were in the one section (pointed out to us by one of the volunteers), we started a walk around the refuge. It is enjoyable to see how creatively they used the terrain to create this refuge and to protect the dace. We did not hike to the viewpoint at the top of the hill, but saved that for another visit when the need to visit a riparian area beckons us. This is out of the way for most people to bother with, but it's a super way to leave Las Vegas and enjoy the rural setting and the water.

The refuge is a very quiet and peaceful place, seemingly away from the hustle and bustle of Las…read moreVegas and any loud noises or crowds of people. It is not open in the summer months past May (I can see why as that area gets hot!). It is much smaller than other refuges located within a few hours of Vegas, but still nice to visit. I recommend bringing a lunch and sitting on top of the hill and taking in the nice views from there. One draw of this refuge is the moapa dace, a fish on the brink of extinction and unique to this area. There is a viewing water tank where you can see these in their natural habitat and it is so fascinating and neat to see! There are restrooms here and volunteer rangers; the rangers we saw were both very nice and informative. Great escape from the city for an afternoon!