Why It’s Called the Valley of Fire in Nevada and How to See It

They say the Valley of Fire state park in Nevada is named for the red sandstone formations, but it’s probably also the blazing intense heat in the park where 115-degree temperatures aren’t unusual. The area was formed by the uplifting and faulting of geography, followed by erosion during the time of dinosaurs 150 million years ago (if you believe in that sort of thing). It now has a Mars-like landscape, with a likewise unlivable environment. Unless you’re a lizard. Though even the lizards have a tough time living in the Valley of Fire. Hiking Through Fire I visited the Valley of Fire with my friend Erica (hi Erica!). We had three hikes planned for the day and were hoping to beat the heat, so we left early. Unfortunately, by the time we left the St. George area at about 6:15 am, it was already about 80-degrees. So much for good intentions. As we drove the two hours into Nevada, you could watch the thermostat on my van rise like it was a ticker tape. I’d periodically shout out the temperature for fun. “99-degrees!” “We hit 100! No, wait, 101 .. 102!” In the winter, the area averages mid-70s with an […]

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