VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK

I wanted to drive here to celebrate "MELLE DAY". 8/8/2007 reason is that it's my favorite number is 8. every year i try to celebrate it. only me myself and i. my day to do whatever i want.  yes i am loony. :P i also wanted to think and relax. I am crazy to be driving in a 100 degree and dry weather.

today i wanted to the valley of fire. i have never been there before. it was a hot day in vegas 105 degrees. i drove out at 5pm there was mild traffic on the 15. after north las vegas it is clear then it becomes a 4 lane highway. it was a good drive. i had my ipod on played metallica, korn, white zombie and alice in chains. i love driving on an open 2 lane highway. i opened my moon roof and windows to feel the warm breeze on my face. i worE my LA DODGERS CAP. i do not like it when my face is tanned. it took me about 45mins to get there. this is the farthest i have driven outside vegas. this was farther than nellis AFB.

wow the mountains are so beautiful. i was stopped every 2 miles to take pics on the way there. i love the s curve roads. gosh i miss my old car. my car would love it. my little rice rocket would corner on rails LOL.

The scenic drive was bliss. this is similar in sedona, arizona. however, i think sedona is the best. i went to some of the landmarks. i need to go back when it's cooler. the sun just brings out the natural colors of the sandstone. enjoy the pics :)

i did not drive thru the park. the sun was settiing. i would exited on the east side. however, i would be driving near lake mead thru a 2 lane highway in the dark. it scary driving thru that. not big on drive thru boulder city. i would if the sun is up.

The similarly named park near Overton, 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas in Nevada offers a stark contrast - here, red is the dominant colour, of an undulating landscape with petrified dunes, strangely-shaped rocks and sandstone cliffs set amongst an empty, very scenic region near the north end of Lake Mead; the drive to the area from the south (state road SSR 167) passes buckled, layered cliffs and desert plains, often quite colorful, and with the blue waters of Lake Mead often visible to the east, but the valley is the most unusual place. It is one of the most colorful locations in the Southwest, especially at sunset when the rocks glow deep red and do indeed seem to be ablaze when seen from a distance. The landscape is made more striking by the surrounding black hills of sombre appearance.

Approach: All through traffic along the Valley of Fire Road has to pay a fee ($6 in 2006). The highway can become quite busy in summer, park of a scenic diversion between Las Vegas and I-15 to the north - it is an extra 55 miles, but more interesting than the interstate, which passes rather barren land between Las Vegas and the Arizona border. The park boundaries enclose the most interesting formations, along 10 miles of the road and extending over 30 miles to the north, to include a large area of mostly trackless land almost as far as Glendale, at exit 90 of the interstate.

Viewpoints: Driving to the park from east or west is equally scenic. There is a good visitor center near the west entrance, although it seems rather excessive for this relatively small park, with a few interesting cacti outside. Various viewpoints and named features along the road, including several short foot paths. Notable places include:

    * Petrified Logs - several colorful fossilised tree trunks, safely fenced off to deter souvenir hunters.

    * The Beehives - weathered, layered sandstone mounds, originally sand dunes in an ancient desert, now preserved in stone.

    * Mouse's Tank - a natural cavity in the rocks where rainwater collects - used by a water source by a Paiute Indian fugitive in the 1890s. This was not of lasting value to him, as he was captured and killed after several months in hiding. The trail that leads to the Tank passes various petroglyphs dating from before 1200 AD.

    * The White Domes - a separate region with varied desert vegetation and more rocks of contrasting color, reached by a 7 mile scenic drive or a hiking trail.